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Ipswich set for street art spectacle with Wild Walls Festival

Ipswich is gearing up for a vibrant celebration of street art and community spirit this September as the Wild Walls Festival transforms the town with murals, workshops, and family-friendly events.

Why it matters: The four-week programme runs from 6 September to 5 October and will showcase local talent, bring internationally renowned artists to Ipswich, and create what could be one of the largest murals in East Anglia.

The big picture: Art Eat Events CIC and The Subversiv Collective have joined forces to deliver this inaugural street art festival, supported by Arts Council England, Ipswich Borough Council, and Ipswich Central .

A large-scale mural on the Ashtons Legal building by Woskerski
A new large-scale mural on the Ashtons Legal building by WOSKERSKI(Tim LeggettThe Ipswich Society)

Key details:

  • Features new large-scale murals, including a 576 square metre piece on the University of Suffolk's James Hehir Building

  • Additional murals will be located at The Hold, Ashtons Legal building, and Great Colman Street with smaller pieces appearing in unexpected places around town

  • Offers free urban art workshops, an art market, and a virtual reality graffiti exhibition

  • Includes free screenings of three iconic films at King Street Cinema

  • Concludes with a ticketed closing party at The Baths on 5 October

  • Renowned artists ATMA, NYCES, WOSKERSKI, and KB Design developed mural designs with local young people during summer workshops

  • A new street art trail will guide visitors through the works

Many will recognise Lily's mural adorning the Viking Aquatics shopfront in town
Ipswich-born and Suffolk-based Lily Hammond is one of the Wild Walls artists(Lily HammondLily Hammond)

What they're saying:

  • Iona Hodgson, Wild Walls project manager: "We are very excited to offer locals and visitors the opportunity to see this work and celebrate the town's street art culture during the Wild Walls Festival."

  • Nigel Ball, Head of Arts at University of Suffolk: "It is exciting that a contemporary street art festival of this kind is coming to Ipswich, celebrating not only local talent but also bringing in internationally renowned artists to the region."

How to attend: Most events are free. Those using Ipswich Buses to attend will be reimbursed in cash on arrival.

What's next: Full programme details and artist information available at www.wildwallsfestival.com. Film screenings can be booked at www.kingstreetcinema.co.uk.

The bottom line: Wild Walls Festival promises to inject creativity into Ipswich's urban landscape, offering residents and visitors a unique opportunity to engage with street art culture.

You can read it for free thanks to the generous support of PLMR Genesis and Evolve Business Solutions

Despite a lack of promotion, the big reveal drew a good crowd of passersby

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