Four international artists are set to create stunning new murals during the festival which will run between May 31 and June 8.
Joining the festival for the first time are Monkey Bird Crew, L7 Matrix, and Bublegum while Mister Copy is returning for a second year.
Monkey Bird Crew are a collective formed in 2012 by two young artists in Bordeaux, France specialising in creating murals by using large scale stencils. Brazilian artist L7 Matrix began using spray paints when he was just 13 years old and has developed a painterly style using using china ink, varnish, soft pastel, oil pastel, acrylic and spray paint. Bubblegum is a multidisciplinary artist based in Barcelona, Spain whose works can be found throughout Europe and the United States.
Mister Copy is a South African artist now based in Paris known for his photorealistic approach. Last year he painted the mural of the young Setanta and his hound at Church Street.
“As always, the source of inspiration for each piece will be Dundalk’s rich history and heritage,” Town Centre Commercial Manager, Martin McElligott said. “ We are very excited about the new themes chosen this year, as well as revisiting and reimagining some of the older ones.”
This year will see some of the murals painted during previous festivals being replaced with new works.
“Street art is characterised by its transient nature, which contrasts with the more permanent forms of traditional art,” he added. “It is also influenced by factors such as weather and pollution, and with passage of time these environmental factors contribute to degradation.”
Now in its 6th year, the SEEK Urban Arts Festival has become a highly anticipated event in the street art calendar. The festival’s humble origins as a creative regeneration project demonstrate how art can be a powerful tool for revitalising town centres, fostering community pride, celebrating local culture and attracting visitors.
Sarah Daly of Creative Spark, festival partner, said she is “looking forward to another year of excitement, colour and telling the story of Dundalk. We love producing the children’s workshops on the first Saturday of the festival with our Mobile FabLab, letting children express themselves through paint and get involved in imaging their own street art pieces.”
“The festival’s increasing popularity highlights the cultural significance of street art as an opportunity to connect people to the places they visit. The murals bring our stories to life, making them tangible and accessible in everyday spaces, and bridge the gap between past and present.” Dundalk Tourism Officer, Sinéad Roche
“The Creative Ireland Louth team are pleased to support the 2024 SEEK Festival,” Moya Hodgers, Louth County Arts Officer and Creative Ireland Coordinator said
“The public art murals have breathed new life into the Dundalk area and are a fantastic tourist attraction. The work the committee do throughout the year with the walking tours is testament to their commitment to continuously promoting Dundalk. It has highlighted the town as a hub that embraces creativity and gives locals and visitors something to engage with and enjoy throughout the year. I look forward to seeing the new works unveiled and wish the team the very best of luck with the festival.”
“It has been incredible to work with our project partners Creative Spark and Louth County Council, and alongside our longstanding sponsors Colourtrend Paints and Creative Ireland. This year’s festival is also sponsored by Fáilte Ireland, McAteers The Good Food House, and Mo Chara,” Martin said.
