The Goa Sand Art Festival creates awareness about a picky issue, provides a platform for forthcoming artists to showcase their talent and persuades this eco-friendly form of art. Goa sand art festival is an annual event of Goa organized by Sand Cult - Sand Sculpting Company in association with Goa Tourism. It is a strong three-day initiative by the Government of Goa. The magnificent Candolim beach of Goa hosts this three day event in the month of December, just before Christmas.
Goa sand art festival aims at showcasing and promoting this exquisite eco friendly art in India. The festival also focuses on creating awareness about various issues by incorporating them in the themes of sand art. The accomplished artists from different regions in India participate in the festival to exhibit their art. The event also forms a platform for the upcoming artists to demonstrate their skills. Jerry Jose owns the credit of first conceptualizing and organizing such a unique festival.
History of the Goa Sand Art Festival
Goa sand art festival commenced in the year 2009. Global warming was the first theme of this festival which found outstanding expressions through six different sand sculptures. In the first year of the festival around 12 upcoming artists participated and most of them were sculptor students from Goa, Pune and Mumbai. Each sculpture in the event represented a campaign highlighting the theme in an exclusive manner. The entire team collectively created a breath taking sand sculpture of `Mother Earth` which was the most fascinating feature of 2009 sand art festival. In the following years different themes ornamented the festivals. In 2010 the event depicted the wildlife conservation whereas in the year 2011, Marine Life - Unseen Treasures under water was the central theme. The 3 day festival depicted the theme of Wildlife Conservation on Candolim Beach in Goa.
This three days art festival of Goa flaunts different forms of sand art including sand drawings, sand dance and sand sculptures and attracts both inland and outland tourists. Free workshops are also organized for the sand art enthusiasts. The event invites people even from distant regions for having an unmatched experience where apart from exhibiting their art, visitors can just write messages or play with sand. Devoid of any competition, sand art festival of Goa is all about the love for sand art.
Goa Tourism has decided to make the festival an annual feature of its tourism calendar.
