BELFAST.- The city of Belfast will get a fresh coat of paint on the May bank holiday weekend as two significant events shine a light on the city’s extraordinary public visual arts culture.

Backed by Belfast One Business Improvement District, the Hit the North Street Art Festival, organised by Seedhead Arts, was initially established over a decade ago as part of rejuvenation efforts in the North Street area of Belfast and since then has welcomed over 200 artists from across the world.

This year’s festival will be launched in the Bullitt Hotel on 1st May with a specially created artists’ market. The festival will then run from 2nd to 4th May. The weekend-long festival includes several new additions of public art across Belfast city centre alongside a collection of smaller new works, a series of street art walking tours, bus tours, beginner classes and workshops, and music.

Belfast One CEO Martina Connolly says the value of commissioned street art cannot be underestimated in terms of its contribution to the promotion of urban centres through increased footfall, safety and attractiveness. She says the programme of works generated by the festival will provide visitors to the city with a not-to-be-missed chance to see the works of world-renowned street artists.

“Belfast One has been supporting street artists for a number of years and visitors, traders and business owners have said how much they value the positive impact of quality art and seeing the city come to life through the creation of these works for all to see.”

“The festival may only last for a weekend, but its impact resonates the rest of the year because when we walk the city streets and see these magnificent works of art, we also value them for their power to rejuvenate, regenerate, establish a sense of safety, communal pride, and their impact on our city-centre experience. This year, we are excited to gain three new pieces of artwork across three key locations in the Belfast One area.”

“So, this bank holiday we can welcome the biggest street art festival seen in Belfast yet thanks to the return of the festival and the arrival this year of the first of its kind street arts conference, The Other Place, to be hosted at 2 Royal Avenue,” Martina continues.

The Other Place will provide a platform for artists and local stakeholders including shop keepers, traders, restaurant and bar owners and other businesses to engage with each other and to better understand how street art can positively impact urban areas for the better.

Coordinated by locally based Daisy Chain Inc, The Other Place will welcome Yasha Young who opened the world’s first ever street art museum.

Adam Turkington, director of Seedhead Arts says this is an important step forward for the city: “Street art is probably the best of all visual arts because it is accessible to all and free to see,” says Mr Turkington. “It not only rejuvenates tired urban corners and cheers up areas in Belfast which may not have benefited from much attention, but it also transforms the city into a vast exhibition particularly when the art is of such high, internationally recognised quality.”

Artists taking part in Hit The North this year include Hera, Taxis, Ajax Piper, My Dog Sighs, Slim Safont, Jo Caslin, Jack Lack, Ona Salvador, Philth, Roo, Sky High, Asbestos, Danleo, Ed Hicks, Fesa, Friz, Holly Pereia, KVLR, Wee Nuls and more.