Since 2001, the International Festival of Sand Figures has been held annually at the walls of the Peter and Paul Fortress, in the very heart of St. Petersburg. The best sculptors of the world come to it to please the residents and guests of the Northern capital with their creativity.
In 2001, a four-meter sand sculpture was erected on the Hare Island in St. Petersburg for Cosmonautics Day. This initiative aroused such great interest that it was decided to hold the first festival of sand figures in St. Petersburg in the same year. It was attended by 15 teams from different countries, who competed in the construction of sculptures on the theme "Samples of cities in the world."
Since that time, every year in the middle of summer (the opening day of the festival varies) connoisseurs of seasonal sculptures - a new direction in art for Russia - come to St. Petersburg. Some - to demonstrate their skills, others - to enjoy the meeting with the beautiful. The venue, the natural beach of the Peter and Paul Fortress, which is the symbol of St. Petersburg, gives a special flavor to the festival. On it, all the sculptures look significant and majestic. The theme of the festival changes every year.
In 2012, the XI International Festival was held, timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Russian animation. And for the period of the festival, which has already become traditional, the beach of the Peter and Paul Fortress temporarily turned into "Mult-Island".
It is not easy to become a participant of the St. Petersburg International Sand Figures Festival. The interest in him is so great that the best sculptors of the planet consider it an honor to take part in the Russian competition. For a place in the team and the right to represent their country, they have to wage a serious struggle and pass a strict selection in the form of creative competitions and preliminary defense of projects.
In 2012, the festival brought together masters of seasonal figures from 30 countries: the USA, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Russia. The teams included world-famous sculptors, so in 2012 it was decided to abandon the competition. As the organizers of the festival explain, it is impossible to choose the best among the masters of this level.
But after the official opening of the exhibition of sand figures on July 20, 2012 on the beach of the Peter and Paul Fortress, the festival participants will hold free master classes for children from 6 to 12 years old, where they will teach young sculptors the basics of mastery.
