Over 95,000 people celebrated local and international artists during the first weekend of festivities, making Brisbane Festival 2008 one of the biggest cultural events in Queensland.

The Black Arm Band: murundak welcomed the whole city at the festival's launch on Friday 18 July featuring Australian artists including Lou Vennett, Kutcha Edwards, Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach who performed works from an inspirational songbook of contemporary Aboriginal life. 

By student reporter Pamela Grumetza

Running with kites. Photograph: Pamela Grumetza

With over 900 performances, the 2008 Festival is packed with plenty of free events ensuring all of Brisbane's residents and visitors can enjoy the 17 day programme presented by Artistic Director and CEO Lyndon Terracini. 

‘At Brisbane Festival 2008 we have tried to create a cultural and artistic environment that enables the community of Brisbane to experience exceptional theatrical and musical treasures that would otherwise not be possible,' Mr Terracini said.

Following the great success of Brisbane's 2006 festival where approximately 130,000 people attended suburban events, this year's festival features ten events to be staged at suburban locations around Queensland's capital.

‘Across Brisbane was one of the stand out elements of Brisbane Festival 2006 so we're excited to build on it in 2008.  Brisbane is growing and changing rapidly, with a wonderful tapestry of community microcultures making up this vibrant and exciting city,' he said.

Façade. Photograph: Pamela Grumetza

Locals and visitors to Brisbane enjoyed a day of family entertainment at the inaugural Running with Kites Festival at Murrarie on Saturday. 

Taiwanese Kite masters Wen-Fu Tsai, Shun-Cheng Ho and Hung-Nan Hsu as well as local kite artist Tony Rice showcased beautifully crafted masterpieces and brought the skies to life while some of Australia's best street performers provided entertainment on the ground.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said, ‘Brisbane Festival, which is inspired by the world's best creative minds, plays an important role for our city and in my vision for a vibrant, creative Brisbane.'

Many unsuspecting locals have experienced irregularities in their daily routines as alleyways throughout the CBD have come alive with street performers, art installations and innovative designs.   

Street Performers Brisbane Festival 2008. Photograph: Pamela Grumetza

‘As I was heading back to work from lunch, I glanced up the road and was surprised to see a massive face looking down at me,' Cameron Bowden said.  ‘It definitely brightened up my day.  All the art around the city at the moment is definitely a nice change from the regular hustle and bustle of every day life that we are led to believe to be the norm.'

The giant head by Melbourne artist Christopher Langton is hanging high above Burnett Lane in Brisbane's CBD. 

The GPO walkway is also host to an interactive project by local design studio Inkahoots, encouraging visitors to get involved by moving under sensors to register their opinion on a selection of topics.  Over 10,000 votes have been cast since the festival's launch. 

Brisbane Festival 2008 has crossed geographical boundaries by going beyond the CBD and suburban locations to feature a world premier multimedia artwork reaching regional locations.  Big Square Eye presents an hour-long detonation of young language in moving image using innovative video works in 16 Retravision outlets across Queensland. 

International productions exclusive to the 2008 programme include The Kingdom of Desire performed by the Contemporary Legend Theatre of Taiwan, Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters and Peter Brook's The Grand Inquisitor.  

The biennial festival which began in 1996 is one of Australia's most highly respected and acclaimed performing arts festivals.