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Wittenborg's Spaceboxes to get Facelift with Giant Murals by International Artists

On 27 September, 2015, the city of Apeldoorn, home of Wittenborg University, will once again host its annual Street Art Festival. The event boasts “battles” between urban dance groups, skate boarders and graffiti artists.

Giant murals will also be painted all over the city’s walls, including Wittenborg’s Spacebox student accommodation, by famous international artists giving it a huge facelift. Though the festival is only on 27 September, the artists will already start working on the walls about a week ahead given the size of their canvasses!

Arjen Nicolaï, from New Arts Apeldoorn and manager of the festival, said in total there will be 7 artists from Poland, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands who will paint 5 main walls in the Havenpark area as well as various others around the city.

The Polish artist, Anna Taut, will be tasked with adorning the Spaceboxes. Other well-known artists to display their skill include El Bocho from Germany, Czarnobyl from Poland and Gijs van Hee from the Netherlands, as well as Justyna Posiecz also from Poland.

According to Nicolaï the idea behind the festival is to make the inner city of Apeldoorn more attractive. “This is the second year that it has been held and we are hoping to have at least 1,000 visitors.” On the day of the festival there will also be ‘battles’ between urban dance groups, skate boarders and graffiti artists. Het Museum voor Kunst in de Openbare Ruimte will lead tours along the battlefields and various art exhibitions, including the murals. “Sometimes you walk around in the city and don’t see the art or you don’t understand it. The tours will point out the different works and also give some background on them,” Nicolaï said. “The people of Apeldoorn are a tough crowd. You usually have to hold a festival a few times before it becomes a success. I am hoping many students from Wittenborg will also join us at the event."

The festival is being funded by the Province of Gelderland, in which Apeldoorn is located. 

WUP 20/9/2015

by Anesca Smith

©WUAS Press