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A celebration of public art awaits at this internationally acclaimed street festival

Grab your walking shoes, the 7th International Public Art Festival is back this March

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By Alyxandra Carolus | January 21, 2023 | Art

ipa fest, cape town, public art
Get out and explore the Mother City’s finest public street art, Image: Yann Macherez/Supplied

Street art in all its forms is one of the things that remain distinctive feature of a major city. You can spot beautiful murals, spray painted pieces or elaborate work all around Cape Town. If you love walking around and exploring the street art that adorns the city centre, then the 7th International Public Art Festival is just for you.

Running from 1 to 5 March 2023, there are a host of cool events on offer but the best part? Most of the festival is free to enter and enjoy.

This free-to-public festival will happen in and around The Company’s Garden, in Cape Town City Centre - one of the oldest gardens in South Africa. This year, and for the first time, the public will experience art beyond street art and murals. This festival will include installations, sculptures, art activations, outdoor pop-up exhibitions, performances, local and international expert panel talks, and much more.

According to the official website, artists will creatively install thought-provoking public artworks curated according to the festival theme of “What If?”. Visitors are encourage to walk around, engage with and immerse themselves in this art experience. The exploration of the theme will be showcased through the selected public artworks & activations, that explore and navigate the open-ended question in innovative and large ways.

The organiser states, ‘Through their artworks, artists look back to alternative histories, peering forward towards speculative fiction, all while questioning the current status quo and accepted norms. This year’s theme seeks to push the boundaries of the 'known' to expand minds, spaces and societies.’

More information around the artists and the festival will be released in February 2023, so keep an eye out for updates on the official site and social media platforms.