Founder and Artistic Director, Kinetika

Ali Pretty is the Founder and Artistic Director of Kinetika, established in 1997 to unite communities through extraordinary silk-based designs and public spectacles that inspire social action and enrich local environments. Prior to founding Kinetika, Ali had a distinguished career in carnival arts and a deepening commitment to community engagement.

Ali has spearheaded and collaborated on numerous large-scale events for diverse audiences worldwide, including WOMAD (1989-1992), the Atlanta Olympics (1996), the Athens Torch Relay - London (2004), the Beijing Cultural Olympiad (2008), the FIFA World Cup in Abu Dhabi (2009), the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant (2022), and the Cultural Olympiad for the Paris Olympics (2024).

Renowned for her artistic direction and hand-painted silk designs, Ali's work is celebrated for its unique style and its ability to foster community engagement, leaving lasting legacies.

Since 2012, Ali has developed transformative walking arts projects with diverse communities. By combining walking, talking, and large-scale silk designs, her work brings people together. She has led walks in Wiltshire, the Isle of Wight, Lincolnshire, Essex, and Thurrock, where she founded the annual T100 walking arts festival. This innovative place-making model has been successfully replicated in Ethiopia, Chile, and India. She served as the Artistic Director of Silk River, a project commissioned by the British Council as part of the UK/India Year of Culture in 2017. Currently, Ali serves as the Artistic Director of Beach of Dreams, a UK-wide coastal arts festival supported by Arts Council England and Historic England. This year-long creative programme, culminating in the 2025 festival, explores and activates the unique heritage, cultures, communities and climate futures of the UK’s coastlines.

Ali is a member of the International Board for the World Trails Network and chairs the Arts and Culture Task Team.