Mayor for Basingstoke, Cllr Dan Putty’s speech at our Popley Mini Festival Finale…

“Kala the Arts is only professional, culturally diverse organisation that has been working in Hampshire for over 26 years. I have also attended a lot of the functions that you have done from Eastleigh to Basingstoke. Kala the Arts is an education in arts charity, passionate about working with families and young children to promote diverse arts in the region for better arts education and community cohesion. And as you all know, my theme is Community cohesion for this year. So as long as I am mayor, this is one of my real themes that I have got. You see, the public project is to bring diverse arts to communities to take part in and experience. This is what is lacking if we don’t really experience the art side of what Sushmita and the team actually endeavour to put together for us. 

Kala the Arts aims to engage, entertain and empower local communities of all ages, groups and abilities through very diverse programs promoting cultural enrichment. Kala the Arts is collaborative and creative, bringing people together and breaking barriers through dance. Kala the Arts play a cutting edge role in the creative economy through digital growth and activities. They’ve created a thriving hub for arts, bringing education and production opportunity for communities. The Popley Mini Festival is also to honour and distribute certificates to children and volunteers who attended the public project.”