World Bodypainting Festival

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A female model being painted.

The World Bodypainting Festival is an annual festival held in Seeboden, Carinthia, Austria, near the Millstätter See, on the third week of July every year.

The World Bodypainting Festival is the biggest annual event of the body painting culture and community. The festival is the first of its kind in the world and has become the "Mecca of Bodypainting". It draws over a hundred artists and models, and thousands of visitors, from all over the world every year. The Lake Millstätter See region's scenery is the stage, where bodies are boldly put on show, and each artist has the opportunity to show his/her own specialities - bodies painted with many different materials and techniques, and sometimes combined with the most fantastic costumes, masks and effects.

The festival lasts a week, of which the first four days consist of special workshops and lessons, and the last three days consist of the actual festival event, which is open to the public without prior reservation. The festival event is open for both adults and children, and many families come there together.

A male model being painted.

The artists compete in three categories: brush and sponge, airbrush, and special effects. At night time there is also a special UV effects contest. All categories have separate prizes and trophies. Artists can use either male or female models as they wish. All models must be wearing underpants while painted, but female models can go topless if they want. Many body painting models are unpaid and volunteer for the unique experience of transformation by the body painting artists.

As well as the body painting, the festival holds many live music events from various minor bands all over the world, and has several snack bars and cafés.

The festival coincides with Seebodner Kirchtag, a local community festival, held on the weekend only a few hundred metres from the Bodypainting Festival area. Some visitors attend both events.

[edit] Asia awards

In 2008, the festival will expand for the first time into Asia. A secondary festival, called the Asia awards, will be held in Daegu, South Korea, on the last week of August.