Bradford district is preparing for the biggest ever Bradford International Festival with more than 300,000 people expected to be involved, either as participants or as visitors. A diverse programme of events over eleven days from 12 to 22 June 2003 includes the biggest celebration of Asian culture in Europe, The Mela. With the over-riding theme of Love, big-hearted Bradford will show how one of the most multicultural populations in a UK city can come together to celebrate diversity, enjoy great art and entertainment and have a positive impact on the city.

Highlights from the programme include:

• The Bradford International Mela, the largest in Europe attracting over 120,000 people and featuring, amongst many others, Malkit Singh the biggest selling Bhangra artist ever.
• Lord Mayor's Carnival Parade: Heroes and Heroines of Love is the theme for the biggest and best parade, involving hundreds of local people and designed by Improbable Theatre's Graeme Gilmour.
• WORLD PREMIERE of a newly commissioned promenade production of The Emperor's New Clothes by award-winning theatre company, Mind The Gap.
• WORLD PREMIERE of Chol Theatre's The Ghost Lesson produced with children from two local schools.
• IOU Theatre's newly commissioned Tattoo, featuring a motorised anthill and teams of human ants.
• Spectacular Fireworks show by External Combustion internationally renowned pyrotechnics company
• Second National Fusion Awards: Artists, DJs and bands from across the UK compete for the award and the chance to perform at Europe's biggest Mela.
• Festival fringe, district-wide with Bradford-based The Love Apple at its core.
• Second National Mela Conference attracting Mela organisers from across the UK and overseas to discuss the development of Mela events as a major national platform for South Asian led arts and culture.
• Open House: visual artists transform homes and studios into public galleries
• Multi Faith Open Door Programme: Gurdwaras, mosques and churches encourage people to visit places of worship for the first time
• Secret Bradford: a series of unusual and unexpected guided walks around the district.
• International Kite Festival
• Acclaimed street artists from Europe and the UK bring the streets to life.

Virtually all events are free for the Festival. In excess of 200 events will be staged involving over 350 artists, 130 companies, 40 schools, hundreds of children and 80 community groups. Neil Butler, Director of Bradford International Festival said, "This year's festival is a fantastic mix of home-grown talent and energy with artists of national and international standing.

" There has been a fantastic response to our call for participation with many hundreds of school children and members of the community participating in the district wide programme, which in 2003 is a real creative fusion of cultures under the universal theme of Love. I am thrilled that we have attracted such artists as Graeme Gilmour and Malkit Singh, which I'm sure, will bring the crowds flooding back again this year. And to those that haven't been to Bradford's International Festival before, I can honestly say we would love you to be there." he added.

Baroness Lockwood, Chair of the Advisory Board commented, "The programme for Bradford International Festival is very strong and reaches deep into the heart of the district. The Festival was highly praised by the police and health and safety officials last year for its commitment to creating a safe and pleasant environment. This year it will build on its reputation for excellent standards, right across the Festival, to create what I'm sure will be the best family fun and entertainment, over a cracking eleven days."