Hit The North Takes The Fifth!

Hit the North with Beck's – the Street Art Festival that literally reaches the parts others can't – is set to return on 21 and 22 September.

Ireland's biggest Street Art Festival will be illuminating and animating inner city Belfast for the fifth time, with the help of some of the BIGGEST names in international street art today.

From Mexico to South Africa and Lurgan to Dublin, street artists and muralists will be descending on the city to bring their unique brand of colour, flair and creativity to radically transform North Street – a famously neglected jewel in Belfast's crown.

Hit the North's Organiser Adam Turkington, of Seedhead Arts – who recently stepped down from his 7-year tenure as manager of Culture Night Belfast – revealed that he'd "cleared the decks" to dedicate his time to growing the festival and fully concentrate on making 2017 the most successful year yet.

He said: "During my time at Culture Night Belfast, Hit the North just kept growing and growing until it became impossible to run alongside my commitment to Culture Night. So, much as I love Culture Night it had to go. Hit the North is now the biggest Street Art Festival in Ireland and now that I can give it my full attention it can only go from strength to strength."

Among the dozens of top artists "Hitting the North", one name - Manchester's world-conquering duo, Nomad Clan – particularly stands out.

Cbloxx and AYLO aka Nomad Clan have been noted as 'one of street art's finest female duos' by Widewalls magazine, the worlds largest street art online publication, as well as 'street arts hottest UK talent' by Global Street Art blog, and pegged as one of the Top 5 Female Street Artists in the world by The Guardian Newspaper. Adam explained how lucky Belfast was to have them over.
 
"I can't overstate what a great line-up we have this year. Not only do we have some of my favourite ever artists coming to present brand new work here in Belfast, but it is such a coup to get Nomad Clan over to Hit the North. These guys have transformed the way street art is viewed, and their work is just staggering.

"Add to that that we've got Dan Kitchener and Irony returning whose previous Belfast visits have produced murals that have become iconic Belfast landmarks. I invite everybody who has even a passing interest in street art or thinks our city could do with a little more colour and vision to Hit the North with us. You won't be disappointed"

Hit the North is a Community Arts Partnership Project. CEO Conor Shields said: "Hit the North represents for Community Arts Partnership a great opportunity for edgy, international contemporary arts practice to reach new audiences and participants. It has become one of only four international street art festivals in these islands, and offers an alternative vision for our public space.

"CAP is delighted to work with our long term programme partner Seedhead Arts and welcomes the sponsorship we have received from Beck's, Arts, Business and Belfast City Council and The Community Relations Council."

Victoria Brown – Brand Manager Beck's Ireland added: "As a global beer brand, Beck's has been supporting local artists across the world from Bremen to Dublin to Miami. This is the third year we have partnered with Hit The North, recognizing that it's such an amazing stage for local artists, while bringing international talent to the streets of Belfast."

 Hit the North with Beck's takes place on 21 and 22 September.
For full programme information, go to seedheadarts.com/hit-the-north