Singapore's leading Arts company for the young, ACT 3 International is proud to present a memorable celebration of an activity steeped in tradition and much loved till today -- kite flying.

The kite embodies scientific achievement, artistic beauty, cultural importance and sporting fun, while the unique pursuit instils a sense of community spirit and adventure. Soaring for the second year, the NTUC Income Kite Festival Singapore 2010 is an amazing showcase that captures the essence of kites and kite flying from all over the world, and is an exhilarating platform for people of all ages and all walks of life.

Three key segments make up the festival and take place from May to September 2010 -- Kite Education Programme for Schools, Kite Festival Singapore Road Show and Exhibition, and Kite Flying Days.

New this year is the Kite Education Programme for Schools, which kick started the festival from 17 to 27 May 2010 to enrich young minds and souls through the world of kites. Thereafter, the Kite Festival Singapore Road Show and Exhibition will be held for the public in seven malls island-wide from 30 July to 10 September 2010.

These two events are a run-up to Kite Flying Days on 18 and 19 September 2010 -- a large-scale weekend extravaganza of activities and performances. All events will boast exciting and varied activities that range from kite education, kite making and kite flying. This year, it will be held in a new location right in the city at The Promontory @ Marina Bay, making it a truly accessible weekend out!

Elaborates Ruby Lim-Yang, Artistic Director of ACT 3 International: “We would love for all to captivated by this experience and appreciate kite flying whether you are new to the sport, have flown kites as a child, or have performed with stunt kites. The sky is the limit!”

The first NTUC Income Kite Festival Singapore was held in 2009 at West Coast Park to great success and saw an estimated 8,000 people attending various events. In addition, about 70,000 people attended the pre-festival events in malls.

30 July to 10 September 2010 – Kite Festival Singapore Road Show and Exhibition
To be held island-wide in seven malls at different periods – Ang Mo Kio Hub, IMM, Sembawang Shopping Centre, Lot One Shoppers Mall, Junction 8, Plaza Singapura and Raffles City, these shows are free to the public and encompass stunning kite displays spanning 2000 square feet, indoor kite flying demonstration, and interactive kite making workshops. The exhibition, entitled Surf The Wind is from The Drachen Foundation – a U.S. based non-profit corporation devoted to increasing and disseminating kite knowledge worldwide. For schedule and location details, the public can also log onto www.act3international.com.sg

Highlights include:
•    Wall of Wind – a series of 16 box fans that generate wind for visitors to test their creations
•    Kite making stations
•    Indoor kite flying demonstrations
•    Sky Gallery – an exhibition of kites from around the world

Schedule:
Ang Mo Kio Hub – 30 July to 1 August 2010 (Demonstration only at 3pm)
Raffles City Shopping Centre – 3 to 9 August 2010
Sembawang Shopping Centre – 11 to 15 August 2010
Lot One Shoppers Mall – 17 to 22 August 2010
Plaza Singapura – 24 to 29 August 2010
Tampines Mall – 31 August to 5 September 2010
IMM Building – 7 September to 10 September 2010

The exhibition will open daily from 10am to 9pm. Demonstrations and programmes will take place on weekends at the following times: 11am and 3pm: Kite Making With The Master, 1pm, 2pm, 5pm and 6pm: indoor flying demonstrations.

18 and 19 September 2010 – Kite Flying Days at The Promontory @ Marina Bay
Back for the second year with even more activities and talents, Kite Flying Days will showcase the best of kites and kite flying. The public can take in the full glory of these beautiful objects in a wide open space with their own kites as well. One and all can look forward to a festive atmosphere that is enhanced with performances from musicians, dancers, puppeteers and magicians; kite making workshops; and exciting performances by ten international kitemasters from Thailand, Switzerland, Japan, Malaysia and the U.S – eight more than last year. This free event will be held right in the city at The Promontory @ Marina Bay, Marina Boulevard. The nearest MRT station is Raffles Place, and parking can be found at NTUC Income (One, Marina Boulevard) and Marina Bay Financial Centre.

Background on the Inaugural Kite Education Programme for schools – 17 to 22 May 2010
Held in conjunction with NTUC Income Kite Festival Singapore was a series of 28 fun-filled school shows called ‘More Than Paper and Sticks’ for nearly 30,000 youths from 7 to 17 years old. Led by kite experts Danny Lau from Malaysia as well as performer Johnny Toronto from Canada, they encompassed demonstrations and in particular an exciting kite flying segment that featured indoor kites.

Through these programmes, youths learnt the fascinating aspects of kites and indoor kite flying, including interesting nuggets such as:
•    Origins of kites – historical and cultural background
•    Types of kites – from art to stunt varieties
•    How to fly a kite

The beauty of kite-flying is its ability to create or revive interest, engage the young and encourage expression, creativity, social cohesion and evoke a sense of adventure. These education programmes were free for schools and teachers were also be given a Kite Resource Pack which can be used to extend learning of kites in interdisciplinary fields of art, science, technology, social sciences and history.