Whanganui Chronicle

City’s Walls festival return

- Mike Tweed

The second Whanganui Walls street art and music festival has been rated a huge success.

Organiser Shanti Sibbing said the feedback from artists and the public to this month’s festival had been overwhelmi­ngly positive.

“The artists seem to love the general vibe of the festival, and they found it really relaxing.,” Sibbing said.

“They had great interactio­ns with the community, who had really nice things to say about their artwork.”

Fellow organiser Si Ormerod said seeing the numbers of people on the streets that weekend was “phenomenal”.

“It’s interestin­g to ‘peoplewatc­h and see the smiles on their faces,” Ormerod said.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to from the public domain has just been blown away, and they were waiting for it to happen, especially with the Covid-19 cancellati­on we had in 2020.

“Interactio­ns with our social media have just gone absolutely mental as well.”

Sibbing said the festival’s operations crew had “worked their butts off”.

“They were getting up with the sun and going to bed very late, but they all had smiles on their faces at the end of each day.

“It was a team effort, and everybody involved had a great time. Then the community came and added even more greatness to it.”

Ormerod and Sibbing said they weren’t sure when the next festival would take place, but it would return at some point.

“There are enough walls

Sibbing said.

Ormerod said he hoped to bring internatio­nal artists back to Whanganui for the next instalment.

“We have to gauge all the situations with travel and Covid-19 of course.”

definitely out there,”

 ?? Photos / Bevan Conley ?? Above: SwiftManti­s - 88 St Hill Street.
Photos / Bevan Conley Above: SwiftManti­s - 88 St Hill Street.
 ??  ?? Youth Art Wall - 25 Drews Avenue.
Youth Art Wall - 25 Drews Avenue.
 ??  ?? Mica Still - 30 Maria Place.
Mica Still - 30 Maria Place.

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