With Yardworks Festival been and gone for 2023, we take a look back at the weekend as a whole.
With plenty of scran, dugs, happy wains and amazing artists, this years Yardworks Festival was everything we could have hoped for – and more.
Taking place from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 May 2023, the Galvanizers Yard was transformed from a concrete playground into a vibrant canvas of colour and creativity, where some of the biggest urban artists from across the world, including Rachel E. Miller, Jay Kaes, .EPOD, Insane51, Aches, Voyder, Shona Hardie, and KMG, gathered to hang out and create some incredible artwork.
This year was a real landmark moment for the festival, as it marked the official launch of Yardworks Studio – an innovative purpose-built space that will provide a home for hundreds of artists, youth and community organisations to create work in. On the opening night of the festival, a select group of artists and guests joined Gaz Mac and the rest of the Yardworks team in the studio to officially launch the space. Then, on Saturday and Sunday, Erin Bradley-Scott hosted two packed out sign-writing masterclasses in the studio, where attendees were given the opportunity to decorate the window with a large, colourful piece of artwork that is visible to all passers by.
This was just one of many activities and classes available to punters throughout the weekend as Trakke were offering a 'graffiti your bag' workshop, Vanessa Lawrence was showing everyone how to create sculptures from wire, Clan Skates were teaching kids to skate on a half pipe in the Galvanizers, and Mia McGregor's Cube installation returned for another year – and it was as popular as ever. Meanwhile, in the Warehouse, kids and adults were strutting their stuff at Mini Manoeuvres, and the Female Funk Fruition dance masterclass respectively.
Despite the poorer than usual weather, the turn out was incredible – with a record number of punters attending. This, coupled with a more diverse range of artists, with more female artists than ever before, made the whole weekend feel extra special and it was definitely one that will live long in the memory for all involved.
If you missed out on the chance to attend, the Galvanizers Yard will be open until Saturday 20 May (10am-5pm), so you can come along and view the incredible finished works of art – including the highlight piece of the festival: A 40ft shipping container that has been decorated on all sides by Aroe, Vues, and Mark Worst.
