Cardiff to host global graffiti and street art festival for first time

Cardiff is set to host an international street art festival this summer as more than 100 artists from around the world descend on the city for the first ever Meeting of Styles Cymru.

Taking place from July 2 to 5, the international ‘paint jam’ will see artists creating large-scale artwork across Grangetown, Butetown and central Cardiff.

The festival is being led by Welsh artist Amelia Thomas, also known as ‘Unity’, on behalf of Cathays Central Youth and Community Project.

She said: “We want this festival to raise awareness of graffiti as an art form, changing the often negative narrative behind it and really show how HipHop culture can bring communities together.”

Meeting of Styles is a global street art and graffiti festival that celebrates creativity and cultural exchange between artists from across the world. Since launching in 1997, the festival has been hosted in countries including Germany, Finland, Sweden, Indonesia and the Philippines, with Wales now joining the international line-up.

The free-to-attend festival will be based at Canopi, with visitors also able to purchase tickets for a guided graffiti walking tour organised by homelessness charity The Wallich. The tours will be led by people who have experienced homelessness and will showcase artwork across the local area.

In the lead-up to the event, community workshops will also be held with local groups including The Wallich and EYST, teaching painting and graffiti skills.

Sean, who has been working with The Wallich and taking part in the workshops, said: “I found it quite therapeutic when listening to music and just losing myself in the art.”

Festival highlights will include live painting sessions from more than 100 artists, live music, beatboxing, breaking and the Wales v The World BBOY Battle.

Artwork sites will include Sevenoaks Park, the Millennium Walkway near the Principality Stadium, Wood Street and Callaghan Square.

The festival will also include a screening of the German graffiti film WHOLETRAIN by Florian Gaag, alongside an afterparty at Canopi.

Sevenoaks Park holds a special place in Cardiff’s graffiti community thanks to Lou Lockwood, who established the city’s first and largest open graffiti wall in memory of her son Roxe, also known as Bill Lockwood. Although sight loss means she no longer paints herself, the wall continues to be maintained by the community.

The event has been supported by partners including paint sponsor Loop, alongside funding from Arts Council Wales, Community Foundation Wales and FOR Cardiff.

Carolyn Brownell, Executive Director of FOR Cardiff, said: “We are thrilled to support the Meeting of Styles event coming to Cardiff. Public art is a vital ingredient in making places that people want to spend time in and this event’s combination of bringing world class talent to the city and developing local artists. We can’t wait to see what new artwork is produced at throughout the event.”

“We hope that the festival will inspire up and coming artists, as well as local people who will gain an insight into the strength of community in creating together.”