From 6 - 12 August, a unique journey into the essence and secrets of the Lofoten Islands, through colorful experiences, movement, hula-hoop, body and soul expression in wild nature will be organized by Vilija Vitkute, World Bodypainting Champion - Special Effects, 2019.

The Arctic Bodypainting Retreat happens once a year in Lofoten, Norway. It is for everyone - locals and international participants, men and women. Experienced and non experienced in bodypainting, hula-hooping or hiking - we are here to guide you, for you to learn something new. 

Bodypainting
One of the oldest art forms in the world. You will learn the basics of body-art , experience it in different techniques of camouflage, abstract, UV, special effects and face-painting.

Hula Hoop
- or hoop dance is a playful way of learning your body of new movements. In a class you will get an intro to hoop dance, learn new tricks and put them together as a sequence. A playful way of challenging your body and brain.

 A weeklong arctic adventure filled with:

• ​Learning new bodypainting techniques
• Playful hula hooping
• Movement meditations in nature
• New international friendships
• Arctic swimming
• Healthy meals

Information & Bookings 

The Korean Make-up Artist Association, KMAA is presenting a beauty exhibition in the prestigious Seoul City Hall in South Korea. The exhibition shows works from the beauty and bodypainting Industry with some Korean artists and many images from the past World Bodypainting Festival. Chairman of the WBA and Director of the World Bodypainting Festival Alex Barendregt has opend the exhibition last weekend, February 12th, 2023 with the KMAA President Yuri Kim as well as co-orgainzer Park Jung Min.

The exhibition is open until February 21st, 2023 and can be visited during the daytime from 9.00 am - 5.00 pm. Many memebers of the KMAA group are visiting and most of the big names in Korea are there. The images provided from the World Bodypainting Festival in Austria show a wide range of the best images taken.

Furthermore the purpose of the visit of Alex Barendregt is to co-create new programs in Korea with the community of the World Bodypainting Association. The KMAA is a prestigious organization that cooperates with Korean schools, where thousands of students learn about the beauty industry. They decide to develop the art of bodypanitng in Korea and expand the skills of the students in that field. The WBA together with Kim Yuri the president of the KMAA are going to introduce many programs and events over this year. Korean institutions has been for almost 15 years in partnership with activities around the World Bodypainting Festival and the WBA.

South Korea is a very special place to be, to enjoy the food, cosmetics, culture, architecture, art and much more. Many of us know that and have already gotten very excited about the upcoming happenings.

We are going to publish the first information very soon, stay tuned!

Gabi Hajek-Renner (internationally distinguished artist, WBA member and multiple world champion in bodypainting as well as owner of Austria’s Makeup School) has been working together with light artist and underwater photographer Martin Aigner and a dedicated team under the name “Reefvillage – Creating New Life!” for the creation of new habitats for the preservation of the underwater world. A number of unique projects have already been launched to raise money for the construction of coral reefs in regions where natural reefs have been destroyed.

For example, in 2018 and 2019, the sale of the REEFCALENDER, which set a world record for bodypainting on the Philippine island of Negros and on the Maldives created new habitats for underwater flora and fauna. Another project was completed on Monday, August 30, 2021 at the Sea Glam Gala of the Schlosshotel Falkensteiner in Velden am Wörthersee. At the Sound & Fashion Charity Evening in favour of Reefvillage, visitors were able to marvel at an international fashion show led by Creative Director Wolfgang Reichl. Musically accompanied by Eurovision Song Contest participant Vincent Bueno. The highlight of the evening, however, was the auction of an impressive camouflage body painting which was created together with the leading and freshly baked Miss Europa 2021 Beatrice Körmer, Gabi Hajek-Renner and Martin Aigner.

The picture was auctioned for 15,000 euros and sure with it again the construction of a new reef village.

More about Gabi Hajek-Renner// Austria's Make up School
More about the „Reefvillage- Creating New Life“

Imagine Corona Virus wiping out your income, loosing your father to suicide and then being diagnosed with ALS all within a few months. This year has been a hard one for many people around the world but for Rachel Deboer in San Francisco the challenges have come hard and fast.

Rachel is a substitute teacher, facepainter and entertainer. Covid 19 decimated all three of those industries. Now she is in the beginning stages of finding a way to deal with her diagnosis for a condition that has a mortality rate of 20 to 48 months with 10-20% of ALS patients surviving longer than 10 years. Rachel has shown amazing strength in finding her way through the diagnostic process and searching through the therapy options.

This can be an isolating and exhausting process. We would like to fund a trip to the World Bodypainting Festival in Austria for 2021 including flights, accommodation and travel costs for Rachel. This would give Rachel a chance to connect to her international artistic family for a week of love and support.

Lets make this dream of returning to her special artistic home, come true. (The gofundme for her monthly medical costs is under another page)
Step 1. Make a donation, something you can afford to do on a regular basis or a once off larger sum.
Step 2. Make a short video, selfie or text post on social media with a message of love and support for Rachel.
Step 3. Share the gofundme link with your posting and tag Rachel so she sees your message!

Let your message be inspired by her! Paint your face, write a silly song or poem, put filters on your selfie or find your favorite quote. Let your moment of giving be a moment to lift and connect both of you. You don’t have to have met Rachel to be inspired by her and show some love.
This fund has the goal of being paid out before her trip to Austria in July 2021 unless travel restrictions make that impossible in which case other travel arrangements will be made with her.
Please don’t: Tell her how to think, feel or act about her diagnosis. This is her journey. Lets see how beautifully her networks can come together from all around the world to love one, as we would all want to be loved.

Go Fund Me for the community Event 2021

Rachel's Facebook Call

Go Fund Me Donations for monthly treatment