Europe's largest street art and graffiti festival returns to Bristol
UPFEST Presents is back for 2024
Europe's largest street art and graffiti festival returns to Bristol - with the 17 days of events kicking off later today (17 May).
UPFEST Presents will be popping up at a number of different venues across BS3 with a 'jam-packed programme of free-to-attend' workshops, like painting and street art tours.
Workshops will range from ‘can art’ with Rose Popay to drama sessions with Acting Out to Posca paint-pen workshops and the return of their signature doodle wall as well as artist panel discussions, street art tours, open-creative sessions and more to keep guests entertained throughout the Upfest-ivities. Bristol-based street art icon, Andy Council, will also be leading ‘Dino Drawing’ workshops on the 25th & 26th of May utilising pencils from creators of high-quality products for all things creative, Faber-Castell.
Known for his urban detailed work, Council draws everything from huge cutaway diagrams of cityscapes right through to dinosaurs made from streets and houses - so guests of all ages will be in very good hands.
Alix Smith from Tape Art Project supported by the original ‘washi’ tape from Japan, mt Masking Tape, will lead a number of tape art design sessions as well as a massive public installation at the Tobacco Factory where visitors are invited to come down, join in and make their own mark.
All the workshops will take place at various venues throughout Southville and Bedminster. With the full programme available soon, attendees of UPFEST PRESENTS will have the opportunity to explore every inch of BS3 through creativity.
Steve Hayles, co-founder of UPFEST PRESENTS, said: “We’re grateful to have Yuup come on board and partner with us to help manage this huge series of over 100 workshops which have been made possible and free with financial support from Arts Council England. When it comes to creativity and art, Yuup’s values align perfectly with ours and they know the city and the communities that make it so great. With the celebrations taking place over three weekends and the days in between, including May half-term, we have no doubt that everyone will find their new superpower, and leave UPFEST PRESENTS with a new skill, passion or great memory. It’s been a massive community effort to bring this all together, and working with volunteers and Yuup has allowed us to provide independent creatives a huge platform to share their skills.”
Lewis Wright, Head of partnerships at Yuup said: “Partnering with one of the most creative events in the Bristol calendar is epic. Welcoming hundreds of local and international artists over the past 15 years, we can’t wait to be a part of it this year. We pride ourselves on being able to offer tailor-made experiences to people across Bristol, Bath and Birmingham (and soon Cardiff), and to do this alongside the street-art event will provide independent
businesses a platform to share their unique skills, and help people develop and unleash their artistic flair.”