Whitstable's fifth Biennale got off to a great, if wet, start on the beach on Saturday.

A specially created silver hut at the Horsebridge, the festival’s head quarters, was the scene of the launch.

Biennale press officer Simon Steven said: “It was really successful despite the weather but we had hoped visitors would mill around on the beach afterwards but it was too cold and wet. It was just like winter.

“However, a huge amount of people came along and our numbers are well up so far on the last Biennale in 2008 as we counted all those who came to the venues on Saturday.”

But the weather did not dampen the spirits of organisers and those who turned up, many from well outside Whitstable.

The day before the launch the festival had attracted national media coverage in the Guardian, which described the Biennale as “a new pearl among the art-world oysters.”

Tickets for a special bus to bring visitors down from London sold out within a day, with many more catching the train.

The theme of this year’s Biennale, which ends on July 4, is film and performance, with a varied satellite programme also running alongside the main attractions. Although the festival is closed on Mondays, the venues are open the rest of the week, with most of the big events taking place at weekends.

To find out more about Whitstable Biennale events seewww.whitstablebiennale.com