Kinetika

Who we are

Kinetika is an internationally renowned company with an 18-year track record combining world-class design with community engagement projects. With a team of talented artists from a variety of technical and cultural backgrounds, we work with communities to create ambitious projects that are rooted in their place of origin, and leave a lasting legacy.

The company was founded in 1997 by textile artist and designer Ali Pretty, inspired by her early professional experiences in Trinidad and India and a belief that the arts have the power to change the world for the better. Kinetika is probably best known for its spectacular commissions for high profile events such as the London 2012 GB Athletes Parade and the closing ceremony for the London 2012 Paralympics, the 2009 FIFA World Cup Ceremony in Abu Dhabi and the ‘Beijing 2008′ Olympic Cultural Festival in China.

It has also produced a series of inspirational carnival events, beginning with Din Shuru, a breathtaking show with 1,000 performers created in Kolkata at the invitation of the British High Commission in 2003, and continuing with Tiger Out East and Tiger and the Emperor in 2006 and 2007 and a five year UK wide project, Imagination Our Nation.

Since its inception, Kinetika has been committed to engaging diverse communities through a series of participatory projects, ranging from schools workshops and community-led collaborations to carnival parades and city centre performances. It is always determined to provide a high quality experience for participants, often successfully engaging hard-to-reach or culturally deprived communities, raising aspirations and building a sense of place. Recently the company has developed a series of projects inspired by walking as a tool for exploring the landscape and encouraging communities to forge stronger links with each other. 

Kinetika’s commercial work is now produced by Kinetika Design Studio, which manages design commissions, events and stadium gigs. Projects are delivered by a growing network of talented, professional artists, from textile designers, painters, make-up artists and sculptors, to choreographers, engineers, puppet makers and live performers.