We (Liverpool) aren't the only ones celebrating being the Capital of Culture this year. Stavanger in Norway is also Capital of Culture and they too are recovering after their opening weekend. Below is a look at their party taken from their website.... Sam x

Stavanger’s European Capital of Culture Year Launched
Saturday, the Stavanger region of Norway officially launched its year as European Capital of Culture with the ambitious vision: Open Port. More than 50.000 people crowded the city of Stavanger, where young and old from all over the region collaborated with French company CPM to build a gigantic parade through the streets of town - followed by spectacular outdoor shows, before massive fireworks kicked off the evening parties with concerts and performances at a number of venues in the city – a spectacle unprecedented in Norway.

- Our programme brings together local, regional and national artists with the most potent creative forces from elsewhere in the world. Stavanger2008 is about participation and about building something that will last, Mary Miller, the Scottish director of the Capital of Culture-year says.

Through four seasons, outstanding international guest ensembles as Muziektheater Transparant of Belgium, the Oskaras Korsunovas Theater of Lithuania, the Inbal Pinto dance company of Israel and Handspring Puppet Company of South Africa will work as guest artists in Stavanger2008, using the Stavanger region as a cultural laboratory, and work with a number of the region’s own artists.

The European Union has nominated European Cities, and later Capitals of Culture since 1985.When the honour this year goes to Liverpool and to Stavanger, its neighbour-town Sandnes and Rogaland county, the region draws on it’s history, cultural heritage and spectacular natural surroundings.

- Our landscape is key – expect the remarkable as international and national artists combine to illustrate nature as never before, says Miller.

Stavanger2008 will this August see the outdoor world premiere of a new theatre work by Jon Fosse, and with Oskaras Korsunovas as director, with the sea and mountains as a backdrop. Later in August the dancers in Project Bandaloop will throw themselves off the mountain wall in Gloppedalen near Stavanger, combining art, acrobatics, music and movement.

The cultural year features more than 1000 events, many of which will be free and are set to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to Stavanger and the region. And Saturday was a promising beginning.

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