Montreal’s festival was inspired in part by the celebration of urban art happening on the Wynwood Walls. Montreal started its own festival in 2013. There was already a lively street art and graffiti scene in Montreal, but the festival has catapulted it to another realm. For the large murals, they have a 50/50 mix of Canadian to international artists. They focus primarily on Canadian artists for the smaller venues, pop-ups and temporary art installations. The festival secured the support of the business improvement district for the St. Lawrence Boulevard. This has ensured that they can close the street for the

"The World of Banksy: The Immersive Experience", held at the Espace Lafayette-Drouot, is devoted to the world-famous street artist. About 100 works by Banksy (stencils, prints and murals) will be on display until December 31st. Banksy fans will find the artist's most famous works on 1200sqm like Gangsta Rat and controversial Kissing Coppers. Impressive mural reproductions are also exhibited like the well-known No Balls Game Banksy painted in London in 2009 and Waiting in Vain painted in New York in 2013. A reproduction of Banksy's work made on the Bataclan doors following the tragic terror attacks in 2015 is also

The Grenoble Alps street art fest began in 2015 with 30 artists and they now have over 180 works up. The most recent festival featured 38 artists painting 10 huge walls and over 70 other surfaces. They are now curating artists from outside of France for this years festival. The month-long festival has expanded both their physical space and their media. Grenoble now includes digital street art, exhibitions and a movie festival. The festival is also busting out of central Grenoble to include the nearby towns of Fontaine, Saint-Martin-d’Hères Le-Pont-de-Claix and Echirolles. Due to the Corona pandemic the programme has

Stencilibility was established in 2010, their manifesto states that “public space belongs to everyone who uses it” and “…if you don’t like it, improve it”. This is an organization not afraid to take on surprising projects and edgy subject matter. Tartu Estonia has an interesting cultural art scene; being a UNESCO city of literature and a welcoming environment for contemporary street artists to dwell and travel to.

POW!WOW! in Long Beach has a mission to bring happiness and colour to everyday life in their community. For the past three years, they’ve played host to many artists and they now have 90 murals spread around Long Beach. “POW!WOW! Long Beach is not only a mural festival but a learning experience for artists, volunteers, and community.”- Local artist Jason Keam The artist mix for the festival is about 50/50 local to external and they want to create an atmosphere where the artists learn from one another. They get local community involvement by hosting events in small local venues and

Vancouver Mural Festival’s mission is to create experiences that connect people with art. Over the past four years, they’ve added over 150 murals to the city and produced Western Canada’s largest free, annual celebration of public art. Diversity and inclusiveness are key factors in the mural festival’s ethic. Most of the participating artists are local, with a diverse range of experience in the visual arts (such as painting, animation and graphic design). The festival is also mindful to involve artists from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. About 30% of the murals are done by international artists. "Public art is

Eureka California is an interesting place for street art creation and viewing. The area is best known for its huge redwood trees and Victorian architecture, but amongst the relics of traditionalism, Eureka also has a large artist population residing there too. The city partners with local businesses to celebrate this melting-pot of cultures within the area and heavily features local artists at the festival. They also bring in external talent and mix in food and craft vendors to make the festival a destination event. “The community response and engagement that the Eureka Street Art Festival has created is truly beyond

Bright Walls founder Clay McAndrews has a passion for street art that was sparked by his travels around the States. After exploring the offerings of places like Miami and Boston, he wanted to bring quality wall art to his own small town. The mural festival is a carefully curated event that brings in world-class talent to enliven Jackson’s walls. It’s a community effort with local businesses providing sponsorship of food, equipment and of course, the walls as canvases. Bright Walls intends to provide festivalgoers with high-quality art in an intimate and entirely walkable setting.

Wide Open Walls is working on making art part of daily life in Sacramento. They are doing that by reaching a wide audience with their outdoor art gallery. They engage locally and have Sacramento artists on their board and steering committee. The festival invites a 50/50 of California and external artists. There is a strong California theme throughout the murals, which have recently included a tribute to workers who built the transcontinental railroad, California’s bear symbol and Johnny Cash (whose pioneering Folsom Prison concerts occurred near Sacramento).

The Crush Walls street art festival in Denver is livening up the RiNo neighbourhood, one mural at a time. They’re on a mission is to catalyze creative expression while transforming an area of Denver that is transitioning from a gritty warehouse district to an arty residential neighbourhood. The 2019 festival featured 70 local and 16 national/international artists. They also feature a pre-festival concert and a block party to close the event.  

"Writing the Future" traces the progression from street art into fine art that began to occur in 1980s New York with the emergence of Jean-Michel Basquiat. The work of Basquiat and his contemporaries broke down the boundaries dictated by race, background, and high vs. low art to shape hip-hop culture across the US and globally. The exhibition features multi-media works by Basquiat, including drawings, paintings, films, and music, as well as his collaborative works, which were produced alongside influential artists such as Keith Haring, Lee Quiñones, ERO, and Lady Pink. These artists shaped the world of art and design that