Graphic artists, muralists and creatives across Staffordshire united in Stoke-on-Trent city centre for a dedicated art festival.
ArtJam saw more than 40 muralists transform ‘Levelling Up’ scheme fencing in Hanley, adorning it with quirky and impactful artwork.
The event, a collaboration between Staffordshire-based Artist Rob Fenton and Stoke-on-Trent City Centre Business Improvement District (BID), was the first of its kind in the city for more than a decade.
As well as the chance to spectate the art coming to life, members of the public were also treated to a live DJ, children’s crafting and a pop-up skateboard park provided by Unit 1 Park Works.
Rob Fenton, Project Lead for ArtJam, said: “We originally got talking to the team at Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID in 2023 about this event and how we can activate the city centre space together; it’s been great to see it all finally come to life.”
From local tattoo artists to those responsible for the recent Nemesis Reborn makeover at Alton Towers, the art has already made a large impact in the city centre space. Muralists utilised over 200 cans of spray paint between them.
Some artists took a traditional realism approach, while others embraced the heritage of Stoke-on-Trent with potbanks and the iconic Hanley Blue Clock.
Richard Buxton, CEO of Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID said: “I think it’s wonderful what has been achieved, we deliver events and place-making activities all year round but nothing quite like this before.
“It has been amazing to see local and national artists come together to create this diverse artwork and we’d encourage those who live, work and visit our city centre to take a moment to explore them.
“We extend our gratitude to Stoke-on-Trent City Council for granting us special permission for this project, and the team of volunteers from Vodafone Stoke Contact Centre who assisted us in the preparation of fencing earlier this month.”
Alongside this event, a city centre trail entitled ArtBox has been introduced in the city centre, featuring 19 bins and electric boxes that have received vibrant makeovers in collaboration with organisations such as YMCA, Peak Education and Cultural Zebra.
All designs now feature on a city centre-wide art trail map, available digitally at stokeontrentcitycentre.co.uk