VIRTUALLY UPFEST AS STREET ART FESTIVAL GOES DIGITAL
Street art fans from around the world will be virtually welcomed to UPFEST this year. ‘Virtually Upfest’ is an online version of the world-famous street art festival and will take place this month between 25th-27th September.
Working in collaboration with virtual reality studio, ZubrVR and with the help of Arts Council England’s emergency response funding, the team at UPFEST has reconstructed the usual Bristol backdrop with a TRON style feel, and designed an alternative way for users to experience the festival after the Covid-19 pandemic forced 2020’s edition to be cancelled.
The virtual world will give users from across the globe the chance to explore over 30 new pieces of commissioned work by a spectrum of UK artists specifically for the virtual world. The team at Upfest are also proud to announce the equal allocation of artists commissions within the virtual world of female and male artists, including: Zoe Power, Silent Hobo, Lucas Antics & Andy Council.
The announcement of Virtually Upfest coincides with positive news of allocated dates, subject to licence, funding and making the festival Covid secure, the festival will return in the flesh on the 5th & 6th of June 2021, with an extended programme starting a few weeks before this date. Artists who were successful in being allocated a space in 2020 will be given first refusal on returning to the festival next year.
Due to Covid-19 the event was unable to take place as planned in June this year, but this experience is set to give users across the globe the opportunity to virtually visit the much loved streets of Bristol ahead of the return in 2021. Access to the virtual world will be free continuing the Upfest Organisation ethos of making art accessible for all.
