SEEK Urban Street Art Festival returns to Dundalk this weekend

SEEK Urban Art is poised to welcome another star-studded line up of artists from across the globe.

The festival will take place from Saturday 1st to Sunday 9th of July; artists will be arriving into town in the coming days, and the public are encouraged to visit the new mural locations and watch as the art unfolds over the course of the week.

This year’s artists and themes have been announced, and excitement is building to see what they will create, and just how they will do it.

The line-up is as follows; Roesia de Verdun by Studio Giftig from the Netherlands; Setanta by South African street artist Mister Copy; Joe Biden / An Irish Emigration Story by French artist Creaero; Railway Heritage Blueprint by Irish artist Cormac Dillon and keep an eye out for a bonus mural by returning artist Arthur 'ONER'.

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Town Centre Commercial Manager, Martin McElligott said: “Over the past four years we have all witnessed the transformation of Dundalk Town centre and the pivotal role this creative festival has played.

“Street artists from here at home, and around the world, have embraced stories from Dundalk’s rich history and heritage, and they have worked with us and our vision to reawaken these incredible stories.”

On Saturday 1st July an array of creative activities, including Spray Painting workshops for children and young people, will take place at Market Square from 11am to 4pm.

These workshops are free, but booking is essential www.seekdundalk.ie

The Creative Spark Mobile FabLab will be there also, and it will be a drop-in event, offering the opportunity for children to design their own street art!

Free guided walking tours will run throughout the festival too allowing visitors to experience the vibrant street art culture in Dundalk and explore the themes behind the artworks. Booking is essential www.seekdundalk.ie

Sarah Daly, Executive Director of Creative Spark, a partner in the SEEK Festival added: “We are excited to see what the artists will produce for the fifth year of the festival and delighted that it is extending over a longer timeframe.

“We are particularly grateful to Creative Ireland which is a significant supporter of the festival, and for their continued support of programmes for younger people to have the opportunity to meet, and be inspired by these talented artists.”

Acting Arts Officer & Creative Ireland Co-Ordinator Moya Hodgers said: “The Creative Ireland team in Louth County Council are delighted once again to support the SEEK festival this year.

“As part of our Culture and Creativity Strategy for 2023-2027, our actions include 'enhancing urban environments through embedding creativity into the civic spaces and streets…' and 'promoting the development and documentation of our cultural heritage by encouraging our communities to participate in its conversation and management'.”

Moya continued: “The SEEK festival is the perfect mechanism which allows us to achieve these actions, revitalising the streets of Dundalk and engaging the public in our cultural history through the creative process.

“I look forward to what the festival brings this year, in particular seeing the work of the new artists that have been commissioned.”

Senior Executive Officer, Colette Moss said: “Louth County Council are delighted to see how the SEEK festival is evolving and enhancing year on year since it first began, we look forward to seeing how this year’s murals will enhance the environs of Dundalk while the festival continues to become bigger and better.”

Stephen Middleton from Colourtrend said: “We are extremely proud to be a supporter of the SEEK Urban Arts Festival in Dundalk since 2019.

“Bringing art and colour to the streets and buildings of Dundalk in the form of murals has revitalised and enriched the town in a highly artistic and visual way.

“We look forward with anticipation to seeing what new and exciting characters and events from Dundalk’s rich history will be immortalised in murals in the coming year by local and international artists, creating and delivering a visual extravaganza through the medium of art for everyone in Dundalk and further afield to enjoy.”

Martin McElligott explained: “The ‘historical’ aspect of this project has in no doubt helped Dundalk transcend its identity.

“It has been an inspirational catalyst for change and has now become an essential creative pillar in our town’s brand, promise and destination proposition.

“It has been incredible to work with our loyal project partners Creative Spark and Louth County Council, and alongside our longstanding sponsors Colourtrend Paints, we have been on this journey together since 2019.

“This year’s festival is also kindly sponsored by Creative Ireland, The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Fáilte Ireland, Dundalk Tidy Towns, Zoma, Crowne Plaza Dundalk, Hire Direct and McAteers The Good Food House.”