Upfest
{{short description|Annual street-art festival in Bristol, England}}
{{Infobox festival
| name = Upfest
| image =
| caption = Mural in Bedminster during Upfest 2015
| status = Active
| genre = Street art, graffiti
| frequency = Annual (biennial since 2023)
| location = Bedminster and Southville, Bristol, England
| years_active = 2008–present
| founders = Stephen Hayles and local artists
| attendance = {{circa}} 50,000 (pre-2020 estimates)
| area = {{circa}} 30,000 ft² painted surfaces (2015)
| organiser = Upfest
| website = {{URL|https://www.upfest.co.uk}}
}}
Upfest is a street-art and graffiti festival held in the Bedminster and Southville districts of Bristol, England. Since its founding in 2008 by Stephen Hayles, it has grown from a one-day event by twenty artists to what is described as Europe’s largest street-art festival.{{cite news |last=Devine |first=Matt |title=Upfest 2015: Europe’s largest street art and graffiti festival – in pictures |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2015/jul/27/upfest-2015-street-art-graffiti-festival-in-pictures |work=The Guardian |date=27 July 2015 |access-date=28 May 2025}}
Upfest also curates a spin-off event called Weston Wallz in nearby Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, commissioning large-scale murals in the town since 2021.{{cite web |date=26 August 2024 |title=Weston Wallz to make a splash as world-class artists create spectacular sea-nic views |url=https://wsm-tc.gov.uk/weston-wallz-to-make-a-splash-as-world-class-artists-create-spectacular-sea-nic-views/ |access-date=28 May 2025 |website=Weston-super-Mare Town Council}}
History
The festival was founded by printer and gallery owner Stephen Hayles as a not-for-profit venture to raise funds for the children’s charity NACOA. By 2011 Upfest had attracted more than 250 artists and donated £15,000 to the charity.{{cite news |date=2 June 2011 |title=Celebrate home of graffiti |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810153942/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Celebrate-home-graffiti/story-12655804-detail/story.html |access-date=28 May 2025 |work=Bristol Evening Post}}
A peak was reached in 2015, when 250 artists from 25 countries painted 30,000 ft² of wall space over three days. The festival traditionally centred on North Street and the nearby Tobacco Factory; larger editions extended into Greville Smyth Park.
The 2021 edition was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was replaced by the "75 Walls in 75 Days" project.{{cite news |date=5 July 2021 |title=Bristol street festival Upfest postponed until 2022 because of Covid |url=https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-07-05/bristol-street-festival-upfest-postponed-until-2022-because-of-covid |access-date=28 May 2025 |work=ITV News}} The Weston Wallz event was also established at this point, later becoming a permanent event.{{Cite web |title=Weston Wallz is Back! |url=https://superculture.org.uk/listings/weston-wallz/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Super Culture |language=en-US}} In 2024 "Upfest Presents" hosted more than 100 international and UK artists over seventeen days;{{cite news |date=11 April 2024 |title=Upfest street art series announces 2024 line-up |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-68787347 |access-date=28 May 2025 |work=BBC News}} roughly half of the £250,000 budget was provided by Arts Council England, the remainder through sponsorships and crowdfunding.
Format and programming
Upfest ordinarily combines live mural painting with music, exhibitions, panel discussions and street-art tours. Programming is curated but non-juried, and participation remains free for artists. Since 2023 the main gathering has alternated with "Upfest Presents", a two-week distributed programme across multiple Bedminster venues, introduced to curb rising infrastructure costs while retaining free public access.{{cite news |last=Perera |first=Milan |title=Upfest returning to south Bristol |url=https://www.bristol247.com/festivals/news-festivals/upfest-returning-to-south-bristol/ |work=Bristol24/7 |date=17 May 2024 |access-date=28 May 2025}}{{Cite news |last=Dhame |first=Sofia |date=2024-04-10 |title=Upfest 2024: full lineup announced |url=https://www.bristol247.com/culture/art/upfest-2024-full-lineup-announced/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Bristol24/7 |language=en}}
= Weston Wallz =
Since 2021, Upfest has curated Weston Wallz. Originally launched as a modest mural trail, the event has grown into a major event in the town,{{cite news |last=Hughes |first=Lorna |date=26 May 2025 |title=Weston-super-Mare street art festival returns with 75 colourful murals taking over town centre |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/weston-super-mare-street-art-10196916 |access-date=28 May 2025 |work=Bristol Post}} delivering more than 75 permanent murals to date.{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Jack |date=23 May 2025 |title=Popular street art event Weston Wallz to return in July |url=https://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/25182680.popular-street-art-event-weston-wallz-return-july/ |access-date=28 May 2025 |work=Weston Mercury}} The festival spans a week each July, featuring live mural painting by international artists.{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Sarski |date=22 July 2022 |title=Weston Wallz street art festival returns |url=https://www.bristol247.com/culture/art/weston-wallz-street-art-festival-returns/ |access-date=28 May 2025 |work=Bristol24/7}}{{cite news |date=25 July 2022 |title=Street art spreads across town as Weston Wallz returns |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-62284689 |access-date=28 May 2025 |work=BBC News}} Locations have included seafront landmarks and historic town-centre buildings such as the RNLI Gift Shop, Oxford Corner Café, and Old Post Office Lane.
Alongside the painting programme, the festival includes the "S.M.Art Sprayjam" and workshops at the Italian Gardens, promoting engagement among young people and families. Co-creation initiatives with local youth are also supported by partner organisation Super Culture. The project is jointly backed by Weston-super-Mare Town Council, Arts Council England, and local sponsors.
Impact and reception
Commentators highlight Upfest’s role in establishing Bristol as ‘‘the home of British graffiti’’ and in supporting emerging street artists alongside figures such as Inkie, Jody Thomas and Thierry Noir. Local authorities credit the festival with contributing to cultural tourism and urban regeneration in BS3. Stephen Hayles received a letter from Prime Minister Theresa May in 2017 in recognition of his work as part of Upfest and its charitable contributions.{{Cite news |last=Pipe |first=Ellie |date=2017-08-24 |title=Prime minister awards Upfest founder |url=https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/prime-minister-awards-upfest-founder/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Bristol24/7 |language=en}}
See also
- See No Evil, another street-art festival held in Bristol, Europe's largest when it was held in 2011, and partly organised by Upfest staff.