Sand Sculpture Festivals

Sand sculptor Mark Anderson competes twice a year at the Jesolo International Sand Sculpture Festival Sculture di Sabbia. 2006 saw the ninth sand sculpture festival being held there, with an African theme. Organised by Sultans of Sand, the festival takes place on the Adriatic coast of Italy in Jesolo, Venice. Mark is one of 20 sand sculptors who attend the festival. The sculptors are given ten weeks to build their initial block of sand, followed by two weeks to carve a sculpture.

The festival takes place in June and December. June sees a different theme every year, past ones have included Africa, Hollywood, Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome. Every December there is a nativity theme. The festival has also seen a blessing from the Pope. For each festival, the beach is smoothed down and a large tent erected over the event site. Clean sand and water is brought into the site. Having prepared the site, the sand sculptors arrive to begin carving their works of art.

Find out more about the history of sand sculpting.

Final sand sculpture of African warrior 'Zulu'

Mark sculpting at the Sculture di Sabbia