Lick of Paint will be Sheffield’s first dedicated mural festival, due to be hosted in September.
The festival is co-founded by Megan Russell and Alastair Flindall, two creatives based in Sheffield who aim to bring meaningful large-scale street art into public spaces.
Lick of Paint will bring together local and international talent, transforming Sheffield’s underpasses, walls, and unexpected corners with powerful public art.
Russell’s Reverie mural in Pound’s Park was named runner-up in the Street Art Cities Best Mural of the World 2024, and Lick of Paint builds on this attention by putting Sheffield on the map for global street art conversation.
“Lick of Paint won’t be Sheffield’s first celebration of street art but is set to be the first official festival,” said Russell. “We are keen to champion our own and bring international talent to the city, raising the profile of Sheffield as a creative hub.”
Not only will the festival put artists in the spotlight, but will feature several community-led projects as well. So far, ART+ at the Children’s Hospital, South Yorkshire Transport and Artworks SY have gotten involved.
Lick of Paint takes inspiration from top mural festivals like Upfest, Worcester Paint Festival, Cheltenham and Bring the Paint, but with a quintessentially northern twist. More specifically, with a focus on bold ideas, high standards, with a commitment to sustainable artistry and the people behind it.
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Flindall said, “As part of our commitment to fair pay in the sector and raising the profile of emerging and up-and-coming artists, we are developing a mentoring programme and opportunities beyond the festival’s reach to engage more artists in creating high-quality street art.”
The plan for the festival is to make it a regular feature in Sheffield’s calendar. Backed by a host of local and national partners, this includes Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield City Council, Spray Plant UK and 1 Up Access.
The festival will also highlight augmented reality (AR) and projection mapping, allowing audiences to explore the stories behind the art and interact with the murals in a fresh way.
The festival will be hosted from 6th-7th September, but its impacts are intended to last far beyond the weekend.