News / Upfest
Upfest needs to raise £30,000 to put on 2022 festival
The Upfest team hope to bring the festival back bigger and better than ever for its 15th year – but they need support to do so.
Organisers have launched a fundraising campaign to raise the £30,000 needed to ensure Europe’s biggest free street art festival can return to the streets of Bedminster on the weekend of May 28-29.
The ambition is to put on the festival’s biggest ever lineup of local, national and international artists for what will be the first proper Upfest celebration for two years due to the pandemic.
is needed now More than ever
The festival’s new format will see street painting from 100 artists between May 5 and 25, followed by the main festival, which will take place in Greville Smyth Park for the first time on May 28-29.
Organisers say the crowdfunder will enable them to put on the free festival, with money going towards paying for the vital infrastructure it takes to manage the tens of thousands of visitors. It will also fund materials for the festival’s 400+ attending artists, each of whom pay for travel and accommodation for the festival themselves.
Upfest founder Stephen Hayles says: “We’re incredibly proud of the growth of Upfest over the past 15 years. However, as we’ve grown so too has the cost to run the free festival.
“Crowdfunding has always played a huge part in funding Upfest and presents a perfect opportunity to raise the money needed to put on the festival and also give something back to the people who support us each year.
“As we are moving to our first ever park location, we are excited to be able to host more people than ever amongst our artists live painting in one of Bristol’s best green spaces.”
The Upfest team need to hit their £30,000 target by April 10 this year.
People can also support by buying the fourth edition of the official Upfest book, which s available via Fundsurfer for £30. An optional limited edition framed copy includes a surprise back cover featuring an exclusive piece of original artwork from one of the street artists featured in the book.
Organisers are calling it a street art “lucky dip” as people won’t know which artwork they’re going to get.
Contributors to the fundraising campaign also have the opportunity to get their hands on one of a number of rewards, from having their own mural created by Farrah to a stencil workshop with Diff.
Find out more and donate via www.fundsurfer.com/crowdfund/upfest-2022
Main photo: Upfest/Plaster
Read more: New main venue revealed for Upfest 2022
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