The first edition of ARTEPOLLINO another south will be held this summer in the Basilicata's side of Pollino National Park, the biggest natural park in Italy. In a unique natural context, in one of the most attractive natural areas of South Italy, world-famous artists will realize permanent site-specific artworks.

ARTEPOLLINO is a local development project inserted in "Sensi Contemporanei" programme, promoted by Basilicata Region, by, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and the Venice Biennale Foundation that aims at making know and enhance one of the most beautiful naturalistic areas in Europe.

For the first edition of ARTEPOLLINO another south a very prestigious Scientific Committee has been set up. First rate personalities of the world of contemporary art form this board, to which Basilicata Region assign the task of identifying the artists to be involved in the project. It is presided by Mario Cristiani, president of Arte Continua, and constituted, among others, by Vincente Todolì, director of London Tate Modern gallery.

The artists selected for the first edition of ARTEPOLLINO another south are all first-rate international contemporary art personalities: Anish Kapoor, Carsten Höller and Giuseppe Penone, who has benne invited to realize three large-size, site-specific, permanent artworks inside the park area.

that for the first edition invited some world-famous artists to realize on the Basilicata's side of the park some permanent environmental artworks thought to be just set in the light and colours of this uncontaminated landscapes. These works, as stated by Vicente Todolì "will be able to interpret the spirit of the place and, at the same time, to call the world attention on this region". The installations will be open to public since July the 18^th 2009, date of the opening ceremony. Anish Kapoor will realize his work in Sinni Valley, Carsten Höller in Frido Valley and Giuseppe Penone will work in Sarmento area.

Central figure in International contemporary art survey, Anish Kapoor has already projected for Pollino an installation named "Earth Cinema ": a sort of cut in the soil (45 meters long) where people can get in by two different sides. In the inside by a long basement window it will be possible to "see" the wonderful natural landscape, feeling as being part of it. Along a steam will rise the work of Giuseppe Penone named Vegetable Theatre: "a place totally included in the local landscape, made up by vegetable elements which will set the spaces and bound the parts" as the artist says. The round square theatre (with a diameter long 125 meters) is realized totally by natural elements such as threes, bushes and stones. In the middle there will be an expanse of water between the visitors and the stage. In this work what is pointed out is the artist's claim that there's no distinction between man and other things, a concept already manifested in his previous works.

Carsten Höller loves to provoke the public through the alteration of traditional perceptive dynamics. On a first view, what comes to light in his works is the ironic and playful aspect, but behind the innocent appearance, Höller introduces elements of doubt and uncertainty, so that ordinary perception of things is destined to change. An example of this concept of art are the big slides realized for Turbine Hall of London Tate Modern in 2006, defined by the artist as "thrill and happiness generators".

In Pollino, Höller will realize the installation named RB Ride: a huge merry-go-round with 12 arms for 24 persons. Placed on the hedge of a hill, by which a wonderful natural landscape appears, the artwork will run as an ordinary merry-go-round, but following a very slow, almost maddening movement.

ARTEPOLLINO another south will see also the start of an education and local activation project named "local communities" which will end on September involving artists such as Claudia Losi, Nils-Udo, Anni Rapinoja and the violoncellist Mario Brunello.

ARTEPOLLINO another south is the continuation of a contemporary art journey started in 2004 by Basilicata Region and signed by the Programma Quadro Agreement, which led to the realization of a first series of operations in the context of "Sensi Contemporanei" programme. After the great success of this first experience and tanks to the synergy between the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and the Venice Biennale Foundation, since 2006 has been possible to start a second stage of Sensi Contemporanei in Basilicata by planning the project ARTEPOLLINO another south.

To further develop this project, Basilicata Region promoted the constitution of Arte Pollino Association composed by young local people, tourism operators, art lovers with the aim of supporting the project by planning training courses in the schools and workshops.

With ARTEPOLLINO another south, Basilicata Region s betting on culture and particularly, on contemporary art, as prime mover of local development, making so possible to build up another South.