Artevento, the most complete and longstanding kite art festival, returns to the beach of Pinarella di Cervia from April 20 to May 1, 2024. The 44th edition of the International Kite Festival aims to promote dialogue and inclusion as tools for peace, while celebrating the culture and traditions associated with kites. Under the guidance of Art Director Caterina Capelli, this year’s edition promises to be a record-breaking event dedicated to the Emilia-Romagna region and its resurgence after last spring’s flood. The theme for the 2024 edition is the pink flamingo, symbolizing regeneration.
The festival, known as the “wind capital,” will host 50 delegations from all 5 continents and over 250 artists. Among the new additions this year are the Special Award for Flight Merits and the exclusive presence of “A Meadow of Books,” a reading festival for children and teenagers. In addition to the main events, there will also be exhibitions such as “The Hatchling: how we did it” by British designer and acrobatic flying champion Carl Robertshaw, as well as a showcase dedicated to German Master of KAP Kite Aerial Photography Wolfgang Bieck. The presence of international acrobatic flight champions, environmental installations, giant kites, and educational workshops for both children and adults dedicated to the pink flamingo are also highlights of the festival.
Special focuses will be dedicated to countries where the art of kite flying originated, with tributes to the culture and art of the Orient. Guests from China, Japan, and Korea will celebrate the year of the dragon, with a special emphasis on Korea as this year’s Guest of Honor in recognition of the 140th anniversary of bilateral relations between Italy and Korea. Japanese wind art and culture will be honored through a twinning with the Japan Kite Association and the Kite Museum of Tokyo, while a special tribute to China will delve into the Beijing tradition with the prestigious participation of Master Ha Yiqi and a special edition of the “Night of Miracles” in honor of the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo’s death.
The festival will feature various events and attractions, including acrobatic kite flying performances, environmental installations, giant kites, the “Gardens of the Wind” with kites fixed to the ground, night flights with the “Knock on the sky and listen to the sound,” the “Ceremony of the Flags,” and educational workshops for children and kite-making courses for adults focused on the pink flamingo theme. In addition, there will be collateral locations like the suspended space of Officina Artevento and the Rubicone Hall in the Salt Warehouses Compound. The presence of international champions, thematic exhibitions, and dedicated activities make Artevento 2024 a must-visit event for kite enthusiasts and art lovers alike.
