Friday 16 July – Sunday 18 July and Friday 23 July – Sunday 25 July 2021

Presented by IF: Milton Keynes International Festival view work of 30 large-scale hand-painted flags. Internationally renowned UK company Kinetika is working with over 150 people from community groups in Milton Keynes to create a set of 30 large-scale, hand-painted silk flags for display at The Milton Keynes Rose.

Participants have been working with Kinetika’s lead artist Lisa Meehan and two Milton Keynes textiles artists – Jane Charles and Ciara Callaghan – to create flag designs.The Milton Keynes Rose in Campbell Park, which used mandalas to inform its distinctive circular design, has provided the inspiration for MK Mandalas. In their most basic form, mandalas are a geometric configuration of symbols used in spiritual traditions, as a guidance and meditation tool.Underpinning the project are themes that are resonant of our times – Coming Together, Going Outdoors, Saying Thank You, Appreciating Nature and Looking Forward.Participating Groups: The Frank Moran Centre, Camphill Communities, Broughton & Brooklands Community Connectors, Friends & Families MK, GrandMentors from Volunteering Matters, MK ACT, the MK Hindu Association, Sew and Grow, the YMCA MK and MK Collective.Founded by artistic director Ali Pretty, Kinetika has specialised in creating large-scale hand-painted silks for over 20 years. They combine world-class design with community projects to produce spectacular outdoor commissions that engage communities and diverse audiences.MK Mandalas: Kinetika Flags will feature as part of Milton Keynes Disability Awareness Day, with associated events at The Milton Keynes Rose on 16 July. An online gallery and film documenting the project will be created to accompany the project, and open family workshops will take place in July.