The festival is themed “Mythology-II” this year and is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality and the Muratpaşa Municipality, and has attracted wide interest from both Turks and foreign visitors. The festival, in Lara, showcases over 100 sculptures created by 30 sculptors from 10 countries. The works are based on 35 main themes and were created in one month, using 7,500 tons of sand.
Speaking to the press, Karaca said that many tourists were brought in groups by tour agencies and that Russian, German and Dutch tourists frequented the festival in particularly high numbers. Along with tourists from Europe, Arab tourists have also shown strong interest in the sculptures, especially one based on the Middle Eastern folktale of star-crossed lovers Layla and Majnun.
“Special lighting and illumination create a different atmosphere for the festival at night, which also attracts interest. Since the festival opened, to date nearly 50,000 people have visited,” he said. The festival runs through November. Karaca also shared information about next year’s planned festival, revealing that the 2011 theme would be Turkish history. “Beginning with tales of Orhan, everyone who visits our festival will have the opportunity to see briefly and learn about Turkish history. From Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror’s conquest of İstanbul to the Ergenekon legend, the works will represent the most important periods, events and people in Turkish history -- and a fine sculpture of Atatürk will also be there,” he said.
Organizers hope to utilize 3,000 more tons of sand in next year’s festival for a total of 10,000 tons worth of sculptures. Within a few years’ time the Antalya festival can become the largest of its kind anywhere in the world, Karaca said.
