Art Fest
Putting Art into
Everyday Spaces
We are a public art organisation that commissions artists to transform everyday spaces. We produce murals, festivals and outdoor exhibitions that bring art directly to people because we believe art has the power to inspire individuals, bring communities together and help everyone feel more at home where they live.
MuralsWe commission artists to create powerful public artworks that bring street surfaces to life.
Festivals We celebrate creativity through artist-led festivals that bring people together.
Outdoor ExhibitionsWe make exceptional visual art accessible in everyday places by bringing the gallery space outdoors.
50+ public murals ● 100+ artists commissioned ● 1000s of people engaged ● Projects delivered across Nottingham and beyond
We believe public art should be accessible to everyone.
By commissioning artists to work in everyday places, we create projects that celebrate local identity, support creative careers and encourage people to see their surroundings differently.
Street Art Tours
Saturday 12th September 2026 - 1pm
1.5-2 hours Walking Tour of Nottingham City Centre
Meeting Point - Nottingham Train Station, Gourmet Coffee Bar And Kitchen
Explore the relationship between street art, protest and public space with Nottingham artist Emily Catherine.
This walking tour will uncover some of the city’s politically engaged street art and murals, exploring how artists have used walls, posters, paint and public space to respond to social and political issues.
Along the way, Emily will share stories behind individual artworks and consider the long relationship between art, activism and protest — from work created with permission to the messages that appear overnight.
A tour about who gets to speak in public spaces, what they choose to say, and the role art can play in making those voices visible.
This tour is part of a series in the Art Fest 2026 Festival.
Our Programme is sponsored by It’s In Nottingham
While there may be some overlap, all of the tours are delivered and developed by individual creatives who will be sharing their own perspectives, experiences and insights - feel free to sign up to all of them if you like!
Additional Info:
Tours will go ahead come rain or shine and we suggest comfortable shoes and clothing for all weathers!
All children under 16 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
Attendees are responsible for their own safety during the tour which will include crossing roads and busy areas.
Unfortunately, certain parts of the tour may not be fully accessible to wheelchair users and there may be steps or uneven paths. Our tour assistants will do their best to accommodate needs where possible. Please contact us if you have any specific questions.
Contact Email: programme@artfestnottingham.co.uk
Collaboration between Art Fest, BIKES LOVE YOU & Zig Zag Tours
Hosted by artists KID 30 & BOASTER
Sunday 20th September 2026 - 1pm
Approximately 3 hours
Meeting Point: Nottingham City Centre- Central Library
Route: The group will leave the city centre via the river and talk at various spots before returning to Central Library.
See more of Nottingham’s street art by swapping two feet for two wheels.
Led by Nottingham artists Boaster and Small Kid, this bike tour will travel between murals, graffiti spots and hidden pieces across the city, taking in artwork beyond the usual city-centre trail.
As practising street artists, Boaster and Small Kid will offer their unique artist’s perspective on the work you encounter, introducing some of the people, places and stories that have helped shape Nottingham’s street art scene.
Bring your bike and discover a different side of Nottingham’s walls.
This tour is part of a series in the Art Fest 2026 Festival.
Our Programme is sponsored by It’s In Nottingham
While there may be some overlap, all of the tours are delivered and developed by individual creatives who will be sharing their own perspectives, experiences and insights - feel free to sign up to all of them if you like!
Additional Info:
Tours will go ahead come rain or shine and we suggest comfortable shoes and clothing for all weathers!
All children under 16 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
Attendees are responsible for their own safety during the tour which will include crossing roads and busy areas.
Please contact us if you have any specific questions.
Contact Email: programme@artfestnottingham.co.uk
Saturday 26th September 2026 - 1pm
1.5-2 hours walking tour of Nottingham City Centre
Meeting Point: 200 Degrees Coffee Shop by The Victoria Centre
Over the past few years, Art Fest has commissioned artists to paint walls across Nottingham, creating large-scale artworks in some of the city’s most familiar everyday spaces.
Join Art Fest founder Benjamin Kay for a walking tour of Nottingham City Centre exploring a selection of these murals and the stories behind them.
Hear how the artworks went from blank walls to finished murals, how artists were selected and commissioned, and what it actually takes to produce large-scale public art in a busy city.
Along the way, Benjamin will share some of the successes, challenges, hidden insights and unexpected stories behind Art Fest — and its ambition to help make Nottingham a city of artists.
This tour is part of a series in the Art Fest 2026 Festival.
Our Programme is sponsored by It’s In Nottingham
While there may be some overlap, all of the tours are delivered and developed by individual creatives who will be sharing their own perspectives, experiences and insights - feel free to sign up to all of them if you like!
Additional Info:
Tours will go ahead come rain or shine and we suggest comfortable shoes and clothing for all weathers!
All children under 16 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
Attendees are responsible for their own safety during the tour which will include crossing roads and busy areas.
Unfortunately, certain parts of the tour may not be fully accessible to wheelchair users and there may be steps or uneven paths. Our tour assistants will do their best to accommodate needs where possible.
Please contact us if you have any specific questions.
Contact Email: programme@artfestnottingham.co.uk
Saturday 3rd October 2026 - 1pm
1.5 - 2 hours walking tour of Nottingham City Centre
Meeting point: MONTANA NOTTINGHAM SHOP, Sneinton Market
Long before Nottingham’s recent wave of large-scale murals, writers were leaving their mark on the city.
Join legendary Nottingham graffiti artist DILK for a journey through the history of the city’s graffiti scene, told by someone who has been part of it for decades.
The tour will explore the people, places, styles and stories that shaped Nottingham graffiti, from early tags and pieces through to the development of street art and today’s large-scale murals.
Expect personal stories, local history and an insight into a creative culture that has often existed outside galleries and institutions.
A history of Nottingham told through paint, walls and the people who wrote their names on them.
This tour is part of a series in the Art Fest 2026 Festival.
Our Programme is sponsored by It’s In Nottingham
While there may be some overlap, all of the tours are delivered and developed by individual creatives who will be sharing their own perspectives, experiences and insights - feel free to sign up to all of them if you like!
Additional Info:
Tours will go ahead come rain or shine and we suggest comfortable shoes and clothing for all weathers!
All children under 16 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
Attendees are responsible for their own safety during the tour which will include crossing roads and busy areas.
Unfortunately, certain parts of the tour may not be fully accessible to wheelchair users and there may be steps or uneven paths. Our tour assistants will do their best to accommodate needs where possible. Please contact us if you have any specific questions.
Contact Email: programme@artfestnottingham.co.uk
Let's put art into more everyday spaces.
Whether you're commissioning a mural, looking for your next creative opportunity or want to support our work, we'd love to hear from you.
Contact Us
