Skip to main contentEnter
Join 7,200+ people who care about this town
Ipswich.co.uk logoSupport our work
News

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 Start, Build & Grow and PLMR Genesis

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

We're regenerating Ipswich – but we can't do it without you!

People tell us every day that our work matters – that it's making Ipswich better; that it's needed. But our work costs money, and unlike the Ipswich Star, we're not funded by national advertisers or owned by corporate US overlords. For just £4.75 a month, you can help fund our mission to restore pride of place and accelerate the much-needed regeneration of the town we call home.
Become a member →

In other news...

News

Revolution Ipswich among 62 bars facing closure threat

Revolution Ipswich could close after its parent company moved towards administration, putting more than 3,000 jobs at risk nationwide, though bosses say they are in advanced talks to sell the business.
by
Continue reading →
News

Sizewell B seeks £800m extension to secure around 600 jobs to 2055

EDF Energy announced it is seeking government backing for an £800m investment to extend Sizewell B's operations by 20 years beyond its planned 2035 closure, that would secure around 600 permanent jobs in Suffolk until 2055.
by
Continue reading →
News

Charity football tournament calls on businesses for Suffolk Mind

Commercial cleaning firm Vivo Clean has launched its first-ever charity five-a-side football tournament to help bring Ipswich businesses together for mental health support and raise vital funds for Suffolk Mind.
by
Continue reading →
News

NHS seeks views on future of Suffolk community health services

The NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board has launched a major engagement exercise asking residents how £100 million worth of community health services should be delivered over the next decade.
by
Continue reading →
News

How the Post Office scandal is being told on stage in Ipswich

A new play based on the Post Office scandal, which saw sub-postmasters wrongly accused of theft due to faulty Horizon software, arrives at the New Wolsey Theatre next month, bringing the story to life through the experience of Barkham sub-postmistress Pam Stubbs.
by
Continue reading →
News

Mid Suffolk Business Exhibition returns in March

Stowmarket Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Mid Suffolk Business Exhibition on Wednesday, 25 March 2026, at The Barn, Stonham Barns.
by
Continue reading →
News

Babergh backs Ipswich culture bid as county shows united front

Babergh District Council has become the latest authority to throw its weight behind Ipswich's City of Culture campaign, with councillors unanimously agreeing to give "wholehearted" support to the bid that will benefit the "whole county."
by
Continue reading →
Load more content
Our journalism is free thanks to
Our journalism is free thanks to
Want our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday?

Have you subscribed to our free weekly newsletter?

If you haven’t, you really should. You’ll get our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday afternoon, just in time for the weekend. You can unsubscribe at any time, although 99.7% of people don’t.

  • Lee Walker
  • Joe Bailey of Brighten the Corners
  • Mark Hubert
7,260+ people are already loving it