SALISBURY Cathedral grounds came alive on Friday night, as Salisbury International Arts Festival opened to the sounds of chanting monks, rhythmic drumming and the visually stunning environmental film Baraka.

For the next two weeks, a variety of events will be taking place in and around the city, under festival director Jo Metcalf-Shore's overall theme of Resonate, to create a lasting impact on both audiences and artists in a celebration of world cultures.

Picnicking families met costumed stilt-walkers, who weaved their way among more than 100 giant batik silk flags, installed in the grounds by Young Colours, a youth arts project created by the artist Alex Grant, in partnership with Salisbury-based arts organisation Circular Arts. The flags have been made by blind/sight-impaired and disabled/challenged young people throughout Wiltshire, in workshops supported by Alex Grant and his team, and it is hoped it will remain on site until the end of the festival on June 12.

The Tibetan monks of the Tashi Lhunpo monastery gave a demonstration of massed dances and sacred music before offering a prayer as a blessing for this year's festival.

They were followed by an energetic band of drummers from Ghana, Kakasitsi, who got many people up and dancing, before the Mayor of Salisbury Jeremy Nettle officially declared the festival open.

Dean of Salisbury the Very Reverend June Osborne asked everyone present to stand while she said a prayer to bless the festival, which was followed by an open-air screening of Baraka.

Heartless thieves have blighted the festival opening by taking some of the giant batik flags made by disabled young people.

It is thought that about five or six of the 9ft by 2ft flags were stolen during opening night on Friday.

The 100 flags took the 80 young people nine weeks to make, at art workshops across the county.

Alex Grant said: "I am saddened that anyone would steal works made by disabled young people. Some of them haven't seen their flags yet, because they couldn't make the opening night, and one or two may not see them now because they have been stolen."

Mr Grant is appealing for the flags to be returned, with no questions asked.

Anyone who has a flag can return it to the Journal offices, in Rollestone Street, Salisbury, hand it in at Salisbury police station, or call Mr Grant on 01722 324111.

For more festival coverage see this week's Journal.