‘Hit The North’ prepares for 10th birthday bash with biggest street art festival yet
Press release
29th March 2023
Over 75 local and international street artists are set to make a ‘splash’ in Belfast as they gear up for ‘Hit The North’, making this year’s celebration the biggest street art festival in the UK and Ireland.
Organised by Seedhead Arts and supported by Hennessy, the festival is marking its 10th birthday and will see Northern Ireland play host to award-winning artists including ROA and Studio Giftig, who claimed the ‘Best Mural of 2022’ title at the recent Street Art Cities Awards.
Running from 20th – 30th April, the 10-day celebration includes fringe events and exhibitions including walking tours and sketching sessions before culminating in a ‘paint jam’ on Sunday 30th April on Kent Street, Belfast. Spectators can enjoy street food by local vendors while soaking up the party atmosphere with a set by musician David Holmes as they watch murals come to life.
Adam Turkington, Director of Seedhead Arts says this year’s festival is particularly special as it coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. “Our rich cultural history for mural art is part of our heritage and through ‘Hit The North’ we’ve been able to bring this tradition into the twenty-first century,” explains Adam. “Over the last decade, the number of NI street artists working full-time in the sector has increased ten-fold and through their local and global murals they are effectively ‘painting’ Northern Ireland as a leading destination for urban culture and the arts.”
Jamie Jamison from key partner Hennessy adds; “To celebrate its 10th birthday, this year’s festival is set to be bigger than ever as we expand the festival site and welcome even more artists as well as an urban sports demo. As well as marking the occasion with incredibly creative murals, there will also be street art walking tours and sketching sessions across the ten days. Hennessy is a passionate supporter of the arts and we are proud to help bring the festival to life again this year.”
‘Hit The North’ Street art festival is also supported by Linen Quarter Bid, Arts and Business and the British Council. To find out more visit: https://www.seedheadarts.com/street-art/htn23
ENDS
Notes to editors
Photo captions: The 2023 ‘Hit The North’ Street Art Festival, supported by Hennessy, will see over 75 renowned international and local street artists create a breath-taking array of modern murals across Belfast’s city centre between 20th – 30th April. Kent Street in the city centre will play host to a ‘paint jam’ on Sunday 30th April to close out the festival as it celebrates its 10th birthday.
