Whanganui Walls: Street art festival attracts top talent to brighten CBD

Eight artists will create eight pieces of art for Whanganui Walls. Photo/ Supplied

The organisers of Whanganui's inaugural street art festival hope the city can lead the way in hosting top talent and become a destination for street art tourism.

Whanganui Walls kicks off on March 28 and brings to town eight international and New Zealand-based artists who will create original street art work in the CBD.

Each artist will get a fresh wall to use as a blank canvas and turn into a public artwork over four days.

Organisers Simon Ormerod, who is a Whanganui-based street artist under the name Cracked Ink, and Shanti Sibbing have had the idea kicking for the festival kicking around for a few years.

"It was since moving to Whanganui that we thought it would be cool to have a street art festival here," Ormerod said.

Ormerod has been to festival all over the world and said: "We always talked about how street art festivals could be better".

"A lot of the festivals treat their artists well but they don't pay their artists and that kind of bugged me.

"We got talking and said 'we should do a festival and show them how its done'.

"And also bring it to Whanganui because we love it here and it would be rad to bring those elements together."

Visiting Whanganui Walls artists will be provided with accommodation, food and supplies, and be paid for their work.

"It's especially important for artists that are surviving off their art," Sibbing said.

The couple prepared a plan and a budget but sat on it for a while until Town Centre Regeneration project co-ordinator Ellen Young heard about it their idea.

Gina Kiel is one of the Whanganui Walls line up who will be mentoring budding artists. Photos/ Supplied

"She was super keen to get it," Ormerod said.

So they pulled together sponsorship from a range of sources including, Whanganui District Council and Whanganui and Partners.

Artists will arrive by March 25 and will get a few days to spend in Whanganui before they start their work on March 28.

"They're so excited," Ormerod said. "Some of them are coming and they're going to do some traveling around New Zealand as well."

He said it would be a great opportunity for the public to watch street artists in action over four days.

"When I paint in cities people are often a little confused at first and then as they days go on they kind of get it. It's nice to see that process.

"Whanganui is an art city and people understand the importance of culture and art and music."

Ormerod said the art left behind would be an ongoing attraction bringing people into the city.

"Not only have you got that weekend of people coming to town to enjoy the festival but the long shot of it is the visitors that will come to Whanganui specifically for the street art - which is massive."

Claire Foxton is one of several international artists who will be in town for Whanganui Walls.

The walls to be used by the artists have been offered up by owners who have been asked to donate towards the running of the festival.

"Most people were definitely keen," Sibbing said.

"It's an opportunity for them not only to improve Whanganui but improve their property."

As part of Whanganui Walls a video of the festival will be produced to promote Whanganui as a street art spot.

Whanganui Walls also includes a mentoring programme for younger artists to work with those on the line-up.

"When you get this calibre of artists coming to town it's kind of nice to have the opportunity to share that knowledge."

This year's Whanganui Walls also happens to coincide with the final weekend of Whanganui Artists Open Studios.