Bristol's “smallest street art festival” is open to the public next weekend

Posted on: 15 Jul 2024

A tiny alleyway in Brislington is set to be home to “Bristol’s smallest street art festival” next weekend, Saturday 27 July.

 

‘Muriel Alleyway’ is a small side street that connects Bloomfield Road and Sandholme Road in Brislington. Running just alongside the back of the City Council offices and depot, it’s so small that it doesn’t have an official designation – no street signs here. However, through the efforts of a collective of artists, the alley has managed to earn its aforementioned moniker – Muriel Alleyway. This is, seemingly, a transmutation of a much more on-the-nose name: Mural Alleyway.

 

Mural/Muriel Alleyway is home to a very Bristol-appropriate hidden gem – a DIY one-day street art event referred to as “Bristol’s Smallest Street Art Festival.” - taking place next Saturday, 27 July, from 11am.

 

 

The brainchild of artist Rosa ter Kuile (aka RtiiiKA), BSSAF stands in stark contrast to other street art festivals like UpFest, with no funding, no official support, and a single day to take place on. Ter Krule works with women-led artist group Bristol Mural Collective to gather like-minded artists each year and decorate the once-forgotten alley with vibrant street art.

 

Bristol Mural Collective are a collective of street artists and mural painters who focus on upskilling and empowering creatives – as well as advocating for better spaces for artists, and things like more legal walls for painting. You can check them out on Instagram.

 

 

The alley currently features art from a number of both popular and up-and-coming local artists, including Billy Colours, Penfold & Katie Holloway The upcoming edition of the festival including life drawer & mural artist Beth Kirby, mysterious painter MIND49, and the colourful BLOEM.

 

Bristol’s Smallest Street Art Festival is free to attend, but is entirely self-funded, so donations are highly appreciated by the crew behind the festival. You can donate here. For more information on the festival, check out the Headfirst page.

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