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Upfest returns to Bedminster’s streets for 2021
75 walls in south Bristol are to be transformed over the course of 75 days.
Upfest is coming to Bedminster again, with artists brightening the area with new murals. Starting on May 15, the 75 days of mural painting will culminate in the festival, which will take place on August 28 and 29.
Taking place in Greville Smyth Park, the festival will be supported by POSCA and see hundreds of artists paint live over the bank holiday.
is needed now More than ever
“It’s great to be getting started on painting the murals on the walls of Bedminster as the first element of Upfest 2021,” says festival co-founder Steve Hayles.
“To ensure we’re keeping visitors safe we’ve taken the decision to spread out the painting of the walls over the next three months, which means people can explore them and happen across our artists as they paint, in their own time and space.”
It’s a triumphant return for the arts and culture festival, which took place online in 2020, in a virtual world created by Montpelier-based augmented reality studio Zubr.
The announcement of 2021’s festival and the creation of 75 murals comes only months after six murals on North Street became the largest street art project in the UK designed and painted by female street artists.
Upfest makes an in-person return. Photo: Paul Box
For the duration of 2021’s Upfest, artist and illustrator Will Barras will take the title of festival artist, painting on the side of one of Bedminster’s newest additions, The Pony North Street.
The Pony North Street is the latest opening for Bristol chef Josh Eggleton, who also owns Salt & Malt, Root and the Kensington Arms.
“We are working with Bristol City Council to put together a plan for the festival, which if possible will move to August bank holiday weekend in a park for the first time,” says Steve.
“Our planning will be in line with the regulations around the easing of restrictions and more detail on that will be released over the coming months about the festival, artists featuring in Upfest 2021 were originally allocated a space in 2020 and it’s been great to be making plans to see them this summer!”
Main photo: Thomas Katan
Read more: Missing pieces in North Street murals jigsaw to be painted
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