Following a fallow year, the team behind Upfest is launching its annual crowdfunding campaign, rallying support from art lovers, the Bristol community and festival fans alike. The event will need to raise £250,000 to stage the 16th edition in 2024.
Since its debut in 2008, Upfest has remained free and brings over 50,000 visitors to each edition. Attracting visitors from Bristol and beyond, the festival hosts local, national and international street artists of all levels who each apply for a space to paint at the two day festival weekend.
Steve Hayles, Festival Co-Founder explains;
“We have moved Upfest to a bi-annual model and continue to still be volunteer-led with hundreds of people donating time in the lead up and during the event. We are facing increasing costs, just like all large-scale events, and we’ve never needed support from the community more to keep Upfest going. The crowdfunder goes to pay for infrastructure, safety, security and entertainment as well as artist materials, scissor lifts and loads of other elements which it takes to stage a festival of this size. Each year we’re blown away by the love and support we get from the community, and we appreciate every single contribution.”
Anyone who donates to the festival crowdfunder will be able to give to specific areas of the festival operation, such as providing artists with spray paint or contributing to the cost of keeping the festival site clean both during and after the event.
In addition to the crowdfunding, Upfest has joined Patreon; an online platform which allows supporters to regularly give to the festival. This will feature exclusive content and Patreon member benefits at the festival as well as through the year for the festival’s superfans.
Upfest has hosted Bristol street art legends, Inkie, Jody, Lucas Antics, Andy Council, HazardOne and more throughout its 15 years, as well as international artists such as Insane51, Kashnik and L7M. The festival also provides a huge platform for up and coming artists to showcase their talents and will also once again raise money for The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA) which offers aid and assistance for children growing up in families affected by alcoholism.
To donate towards bringing Upfest 2024 to life please visit: https://www.fundsurfer.com/crowdfund/make-upfest24-happen. To join their Patreon group visit: https://www.patreon.com/Upfest. To keep up to date with all things Upfest, visit the festivals website and follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
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