Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
This is Bristol --
EUROPE'S largest urban arts festival, which for six years has converted the streets of Bedminster into a hive of creative activities, will not happen this year.
Organisers of Upfest said it was time to give the community, volunteers and staff a break.
The event usually takes place in North Street over the May bank holiday weekend.
Last year saw between 25,000 and 30,000 festival-goers turn up to see the unique displays of more than 600 artists who travelled from across the globe to south Bristol to parade their street art on boards and buildings.
Founder Stephen Hayles said the fallow year would provide the team with time to rethink the direction of the event. He plans for it to return in 2015.
Having started after Stephen and a few friends decided they wanted to have a paint-jam together, he said he was thrilled with Upfest's popularity.
Stephen had been working for an insurance company, but after losing his job in 2008 he began to search for a different career path – one that complemented his passion for art.
He then invited a few friends to paint with him and ambitiously told the owners of Bristol's Tobacco Factory that he could bag top artists.
Having landed a huge venue, he then told artists they could showcase their work at a top location in Bristol, and the festival grew from there.
Each year, Upfest's success has spread mainly by word of mouth.
Now more than 100 volunteers – all with a passion for street art – and five core members work throughout the year to make sure the event lives up to its reputation as Europe's largest urban arts festival.
"People have been unhappy we are taking a year out, but understanding," said Stephen, 35, of Bedminster. "Last year was such a success. We had three days of sunshine over the bank holiday weekend. Over the past six years, the festival we created has exceeded all expectations – we've had artists and visitors travelling from around the world to be part of the success.
"We thought it was time to sit back and decide which way we wanted the festival to go. We will still base it around Bedminster. I've spent most my life living in south Bristol and I think it's the prime place for street art.
"Bristol is very creative – people have an appreciation for a well-executed piece of street art. The council has definitely embraced street art. I think they can see its economic benefits – the Banksy exhibition attracted over half a million people.
"Street art is one of the main things which attracts people to Bristol. We don't have a beach – it's more our urban experience which is enjoyable."
He said during the 2015 festival organisers planned to tailor the event to fit in with Bristol's European Green Capital status.
"It's great the way the event has grown," added Stephen. "Everyone involved has a real passion for it." Reported by This is 16 hours ago.
Clik here to view.
This is Bristol --EUROPE'S largest urban arts festival, which for six years has converted the streets of Bedminster into a hive of creative activities, will not happen this year.
Organisers of Upfest said it was time to give the community, volunteers and staff a break.
The event usually takes place in North Street over the May bank holiday weekend.
Last year saw between 25,000 and 30,000 festival-goers turn up to see the unique displays of more than 600 artists who travelled from across the globe to south Bristol to parade their street art on boards and buildings.
Founder Stephen Hayles said the fallow year would provide the team with time to rethink the direction of the event. He plans for it to return in 2015.
Having started after Stephen and a few friends decided they wanted to have a paint-jam together, he said he was thrilled with Upfest's popularity.
Stephen had been working for an insurance company, but after losing his job in 2008 he began to search for a different career path – one that complemented his passion for art.
He then invited a few friends to paint with him and ambitiously told the owners of Bristol's Tobacco Factory that he could bag top artists.
Having landed a huge venue, he then told artists they could showcase their work at a top location in Bristol, and the festival grew from there.
Each year, Upfest's success has spread mainly by word of mouth.
Now more than 100 volunteers – all with a passion for street art – and five core members work throughout the year to make sure the event lives up to its reputation as Europe's largest urban arts festival.
"People have been unhappy we are taking a year out, but understanding," said Stephen, 35, of Bedminster. "Last year was such a success. We had three days of sunshine over the bank holiday weekend. Over the past six years, the festival we created has exceeded all expectations – we've had artists and visitors travelling from around the world to be part of the success.
"We thought it was time to sit back and decide which way we wanted the festival to go. We will still base it around Bedminster. I've spent most my life living in south Bristol and I think it's the prime place for street art.
"Bristol is very creative – people have an appreciation for a well-executed piece of street art. The council has definitely embraced street art. I think they can see its economic benefits – the Banksy exhibition attracted over half a million people.
"Street art is one of the main things which attracts people to Bristol. We don't have a beach – it's more our urban experience which is enjoyable."
He said during the 2015 festival organisers planned to tailor the event to fit in with Bristol's European Green Capital status.
"It's great the way the event has grown," added Stephen. "Everyone involved has a real passion for it." Reported by This is 16 hours ago.
