Jeff Clark: Creative director of Art Of Protest Projects
INTERNATIONAL mural artists will deliver York’s first creative mural festival at the Acomb Fest from July 3 to 5.
Run by Art Of Protest Projects and York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority, the three-day event will add up to 15 venues, four live mural paintings, ten art installations, more than 30 bands, DJs and performers, plus paint jam and spray battles, in a packed programme of creative events for all ages.
Watch the live paints with headliners including Australia superstar SMUG, known as “the world’s best photorealistic artist”; Sheffield muralist Peachzz, 2024 runner-up for Best Mural in the World; leading wildlife artist Curtis Hylton and returnee Acomb superstar Sledone.
“Look out for surprise renowned acts and secret pop-ups to follow for some pre-festival installations that will create a nature-inspired open-air art gallery,” says Art Of Protest creative director Jeff Clark.
Creative events and activities will be centred on Front Street, Acomb, with free street art workshops. Venues include Bluebird Bakery, SoJo, The Tap and The Fox, connecting all the green spaces and parks.
Each venue will have its own bespoke offer with individual tickets and availability being released on the Acomb Fest website, with live announcements to follow for details of bush craft, nature art, water art and artist talks.
Rare Collective will deliver DJs; nine artists will showcase their skills in live spray battles at the Carlton Tavern; a community cinema will run at Acomb Explore library and a spoken-word event at Book and Bevs.
A full programme of family-friendly free activities will be held at Acomb Methodist Church; That Acomb Arty Thing will host an artist market; the Gateway Church will mount art exhibitions and Fishponds Wood will run mini-beast trails.
Further events will be local history tours, light installations in Holgate Windmill and pop-up stalls run by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and York Civic Trust.
There will be specialist food and drink offerings throughout the festival, including Spirit Of Yorkshire and an international mixologist. Tickets and listings will become available at https://acombfest.co.uk/
Acomb Fest was shaped by speaking to more than 1,100 residents, leading to the theme of returning to nature. The festival was made possible by funding from York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund, Great Acomb Community Forum, City of York Council, York St John University, York and business and the community.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, says: “High streets are constantly changing, but they have, and always will be, hubs for our communities. That’s why I’m backing community-led projects across York and North Yorkshire.
“Like Acomb Fest, which will transform Front Street, Acomb, into an open-air gallery and event centre, creating legacy and vibrancy through co-production, talent development and sustainability.
“Residents and businesses understand most of what is needed in their communities, and I am proud to be backing their plans with my Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund.”
If you would like to be involved, please email acombfest.aop@gmail.com. Creative director Jeff Clark says: This is an inclusive project, so we would love to hear from community groups and businesses that would like to deliver activities during the festival or host events.
“We are keen to transform and uplift the area, so will be creating a wall library, so please get in touch if you have a wall to paint. We are here to celebrate local creatives so will be arranging a programme of events for artists to exhibit and be part of the festival.
“We are also keen for local musicians to come forward to perform at one of the local venues. There will be volunteer opportunities as well as the talent development programme.”