Tonight marked the opening of the XIII Edition of the Biennial of Young Artists from Europe and the Mediterranean at the Fiera del Levante in Bari, Italy. The Biennale Puglia 2008 was officially opened by a number of regional officials as well as the President of BJCEM, Luigi Ratclif. Attendance was very high, with artists, performers and musicians from throughout the Mediterranean region and beyond. We were also impressed by the regional attendance at the opening as well, with streams of locals arriving for the opening event by MTV.

Among other things, we loved the packs (heavy with catalogues) offered to the participants, presented in beautiful bags made by women in the Casa Circondariale Carcere (prison) out of recycled material. (For more info, see: http://www.madeincarcere.it)

The programme, which gets fully underway tomorrow, promises a diverse range of performances, workshops, and presentations ranging from gastronomical experiences to literary explorations. We’re looking forward to exploring the incredible talent on show here in Bari and will feature more here as the days go on.