This year’s festival opened with a packed Parken culture house, which came to see festival artist Trine Røssevold’s interactive works, created in collaboration with students from Fagerlia upper secondary school.

Artistic director Siri Forberg was proud to be able to welcome a program that appeals to all the senses, and especially to the hands. She quoted Imanuel Kant: «The hand is the window to the mind» when she described this year’s festival theme Hand’s work.

Behind the scenes, there was also a dress rehearsal for Thursday’s unique performance Sparks, by Francesca Grilli. A few selected ones were predicted in the hands of local children – see photo below, and know your visiting time on Thursday at Arbeideren !