Artists go to the wall

A NEGLECTED alleyway in Hobart’s CBD is being transformed by Hobart’s Vibrance Festival, which started yesterday and will include two spectacular parties planned for Friday and Saturday.

Bidencope’s Lane — off Murray St opposite the Myer construction site — will be a hive of creative activity, as 25 artists start painting the walls.

Director Jonny Scholes said the festival was a chance for the public to appraise the talents of previously under appreciated street artists, and was seen as a way to channel those artists’ energies in positive directions.

Each day, and night, the public have been invited to examine the artist’s work while enjoying a sausage and drink from the festival bar.

Hobart’s CUCKoO market will descend on Bidencope’s Lane on Thursday from 11am until midnight.

A party will follow on Friday, with live music from 4pm until 2am, (ticketed after 6pm) and again on Saturday with music from noon until 2am (ticketed after 5pm).

“It will be much larger than last year, with three times the wall spaces, and three times the artists,” Mr Scholes said.

He said the activities would boost the lane’s profile.

“It has a lot of potential, to become a core social space,” he said.

The second Vibrance Festival is backed by Hobart City Council. More info: vibrancefestival.com