the street is our gallery

February 12, 2020 to February 16, 2020

If you thought Cape Town’s art scene was getting a little crowded, think again, there is still a lot of space for growth … thousands of metres of outdoor space to be painted, in fact.

The 4th International Public Art Festival (IPAF) will take place in and around Salt River, Cape Town, from February 12-16, under the theme: “DIGITALISATION”, and will act as the opening of Art Month in Cape Town.

An initiative by NGO BAZ-ART, this unique event showcases the best local and international mural artists. Adding to the 100 murals already painted, artists will create giant artworks on walls in Salt River for the benefit of the community and visitors to enjoy and learn about. The festival will be the launchpad for a number of programmes, including community gardens, art classes for children, support for spin-off businesses and other interventions aimed at community upliftment.

IPAF provides a platform for the public to come and see art while it also connects international and local artists with communities in a meaningful and interactive way.

Attendance is free.

The 2020 theme represents a focus on an age where new technology and the advent of digitalisation have completely transformed life as we know it. Thus the question begs; can you live without your phone, tablet or laptop? And if you don’t have one, do you feel excluded from society?

We aim to spark dialogue and create awareness about the potential opportunities and obstacles digitalisation may hold for us in the near future. Our approach will be to incorporate classic and contemporary mediums, styles and methods of art with the digital applications. We feature some digital art, such as 3D virtual reality (VR) or computer graphic techniques alongside traditional muralism.

In today’s fast paced world, the power of visual media is increasingly playing an important role in grabbing public attention. Organiser of the International Public art Festival (IPAF), Alexandre Tilmans, believes strongly that” educating present and future generations, promoting dialogue and collaboration and empowering individuals and communities through public art can help promote positive change and attitudes”. Recognising this, the artists participating in IPAF 2020 will use walls and public spaces to visually reinforce messages around the theme for their bold, large, colourful and insightful artworks.

There will be guided tours, workshops and members of the public will be able to see local and international artists in action as they produce their works.

Website: www.ipafest.co.za
Website: http://baz-art.co.za/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BazArtCape/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bazart_npo/
Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHDOR7cOpBeJqwGsoETQrgQ

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About Baz-Art

Baz-Art is a non-profit organisation, established in November 2016, which focuses on producing art in public spaces and creating employment opportunities for street artists.

Striving for inclusivity, involvement and community respect, the organisation produces works of art for urban and rural public spaces, property developments and refurbishments on behalf of governments, embassies, city councils, humanitarian organisations, charitable foundations as well as private, corporate and publicly owned entities.

The role of Baz-Art is to organize and coordinate the execution of varying public art activations for artists, seeking new opportunities and matching the Artists profiles with client briefs. By providing the business and administrative structure BAZ-ART is able to allow artists to focus on their artistry, while extending opportunities that they might have missed otherwise.

BAZ-ART strives for inclusivity, involvement and community respect.
Baz-Art’s art actions follow the rule of the three pillars: Art & Education; Art & Community; Art & Artist.

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About the International Public Art Festival:
INTERNATIONAL // Since 2016, the International Public Art Festival has produced over 100 murals and has placed Cape Town – 2018’s World Leading Travel Destination [World Travel Awards] – at the forefront of street art and culture on the African continent. The festival brings together the best mural artists from all over the world and South Africa, where they have a opportunity to meet, exchange and share their talents.

PUBLIC // Art in public places has incredible effects on society. Good art either comforts or challenges a viewer. In either case, when applied to architectural structures within public spaces, it can render homage to the beauty and wealth of little known or even ignored suburbs and buildings, improve the living environment of residents and encourage visitors to go there and discover it. When directed and implemented in the correct way, public art becomes an incredible education tool for the betterment of society.

ART // Despite the incredible talent on the Africa continent, there are significantly less opportunities and platforms available to showcase and express artistic creativity, skills and diversity in a manner that allows for art to be enjoyed by all. The International Pubic Art Festival opens it doors to all artists regardless of their art category. A graffiti artist can be painting next to a fine art or an illustrator.

FESTIVAL // The flagship event has attracted artists from across the world to create murals that educate, provoke thought and conversations while re-inspiring our curiosity and excitement through creative storytelling, redefining and elevating the spaces we inhabit, in a festive way.