Latest news with #SophieOdling
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Street art festival leaving 'real legacy'
Covering some of a seaside town's buildings with murals is creating a "real legacy", says the founder of a street art festival. Artists are painting murals across Weston-super-Mare until 27 July as part of the fifth Weston Wallz event. The town's artistic takeover is organised by the Upfest team - who put on Europe's largest street art and graffiti festival in south Bristol. Steve Hayles, co-founder of Upfest, said starting Wallz five years ago in Weston-super-Mare was "pushing the boundary". The town is hosting 50 artists painting 19 murals - which will bring the total number of murals created in Weston-super-Mare during Wallz over the years to 75. And the street artists have come from all over the world. More news stories for Somerset Listen to the latest news for Somerset Sophie Odling, who travelled from Australia to cover part of seafront pub Captains Cabin in a mural, said the event had lots of benefits for the town. "It's so rewarding to be able to contribute art to the local people. "It brings culture and art to the outdoors... it creates a lot of interest and whole different vibes, it draws a lot of tourism to the area as well," she said. Mr Hayles said putting art in public spaces was positive for people who could not get to galleries. "A lot of people find it difficult to go into museums and galleries so having artwork on the street creates conversation," he said. "Whether you like it or you don't, ultimately you've got an opinion. That's the really great thing about putting it in a public space," he added. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Street art festival returns to city for 2024 New murals unveiled at city rail station Related internet links Upfest
BBC News
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Weston-super-Mare Wallz street art festival leaving 'real legacy'
Covering some of a seaside town's buildings with murals is creating a "real legacy", says the founder of a street art festival. Artists are painting murals across Weston-super-Mare until 27 July as part of the fifth Weston Wallz town's artistic takeover is organised by the Upfest team - who put on Europe's largest street art and graffiti festival in south Hayles, co-founder of Upfest, said starting Wallz five years ago in Weston-super-Mare was "pushing the boundary". The town is hosting 50 artists painting 19 murals - which will bring the total number of murals created in Weston-super-Mare during Wallz over the years to 75. And the street artists have come from all over the world. Sophie Odling, who travelled from Australia to cover part of seafront pub Captains Cabin in a mural, said the event had lots of benefits for the town. "It's so rewarding to be able to contribute art to the local people."It brings culture and art to the outdoors... it creates a lot of interest and whole different vibes, it draws a lot of tourism to the area as well," she said. Mr Hayles said putting art in public spaces was positive for people who could not get to galleries."A lot of people find it difficult to go into museums and galleries so having artwork on the street creates conversation," he said."Whether you like it or you don't, ultimately you've got an opinion. That's the really great thing about putting it in a public space," he added.
