Coloured Earth Festival
A festival of pavement screevery.
Coloured Earth
The Piece Hall, HALIFAX, England.
10th -11th August 2019
International festival of pavement art, set in the historic Piece Hall, Halifax, West Yorkshire; free to take part and open to artists from the UK and around the world. Organised by UrbanCanvas in partnership with the Piece Hall Trust.
Historical: The worldwide movement that is today known as “street-painting” originated in Britain and has a long unbroken history, that can be traced back as far as Elizabethan England. It is also said to have developed independently in other parts of Europe including Italy, where pavement artists are referred to as Madonnari. At its height in Victorian England, over 1000 people were making a FULL TIME living from pavement art in London alone!!
These artistic entrepreneurs became so popular in London that by the early 1900’s they had become tourist attractions; featuring on everything from postcards, travel guides, cigarette cards and so on. Poems and books were written about them, and they even became the subjects of music hall songs and sketches; a much loved part of English popular culture. Pavement artists flourished around the ports, railway stations and docklands of towns and cities across Britain, attracted by the disposable incomes of sailors, tourists and business types. Halifax was no exception and Screevers were a common sight.
What is Coloured Earth?
COLOURED EARTH is an itinerant international pavement art festival that can appear in any town, village or city throughout the land; uniquely organised by professional street artists UrbanCanvas, in collaboration with talented cultural event organisers and marketeers. With the aim of promoting the live production of outdoor art, British Screeving, international collaboration and public participation in beautiful floor art.
LOCAL ARTISTS: If you are local to Halifax, then we would dearly love you to take part, especially if you are new to pavement art. It’s a great opportunity to meet and work alongside some of the worlds top street painters and have your work seen by hundreds, if not thousands of people. LOOK OUT for our outreach projects, happening in and around Halifax before the event!!!
FOR INTERNATIONAL AND UK ARTISTS: We can supply travel, accommodation and stipend costs for the event, but our budget is limited. Details will be available on application.
How do I apply?
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED!!
(closing date: MONDAY 8th July 2019) Closing date does not apply to artists local to Halifax and surrounding areas!
The Alice Colman Awards
The Alice Colman Screever Awards will take place at two different festivals this year – The International 9e Festival de Street Painting, Toulon, France – the Coloured Earth Festival, Halifax, England. With three categories – Original Art, Copy Art and the Peoples Prize Award, voted for by members of the public. These will be ‘cash awards’ which will be announced nearer to the events.
ALICE COLMAN was a pioneering British Artist and the world’s first professional female pavement artist. You can find out more about her life and work by visiting the LADY SCREEVER Facebook Page!
when, what and where?
Coloured Earth: 10am-6pm
The Piece Hall, Halifax, England.
Sat. 10th -Sun. 11th August 2019.
Our previous festival in Crewe, Cheshire, ENGLAND 2017.
UrbanCanvas are members of the Independent Street Arts Network, UK
Bookmark this page for updates and for more details join our Facebook Group.