It has an eastern vibe
In the year of the Bejing Olympics this is really important. It resonates with the emergence of the Chinese and Asian economies and the rapidly changing world order. The Olympics will just be reaching their climax over the Festival weekend itself. As a Festival we have been good at looking south and west and to the near east. But Rising Sun urges us to look right to the far eastern horizon. It reminds us we are part of a global community that includes the tiger economies.

It has biblical resonance
But 'From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the Lord's name be praised' would have been too long for a title. So, shortening it to 'Rising Sun' makes it less explicit and more versatile. It's important that a Greenbelt theme can be rooted in the Christian story. Not just so we can answer our critics, but so that our community's prophetic, God-inspired imagination can be played out to the max.

It is a visually striking, evocative image
It lends itself very powerfully to graphic representation and communication. And it's great when Greenbelters arrive at the Festival having been challenged visually and in words to think about and feel their way into the theme beforehand.

It is open-ended and open to interpretation
This is very important in terms of Greenbelt's welcoming and inclusive embrace. You will all have your own takes on the theme. It will move and inspire you all in different ways. Bring these varied imaginations to Greenbelt, and let's see what we can cook up together.

It is about summer
We can only hope! Especially after the floods of last summer and the wilder, wetter climate we enjoy these days. And yes, of course, the theme has strong resonances with environmental degradation and global warming - stuff which Greenbelt is committed to addressing and playing its part in reducing by modeling as sustainable a practice as it can.

But there are a myriad of other angles on the theme. These are only a few; some of the more obvious resonances behind our adopting it. We're excited to see how it will plays out in our Greenbelt experience this year. Be part of it.