The sixth edition of Colombian urban art Festival Killart recently opened its sign-up process within the framework set out for cultural events in the city and adapting to new biosecurity measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, as in years past the urban art event is set to take over the city of Barranquilla, this year from September 23rd to the 30th in various parts of the city. Enrollment for participation is open until August 30th and the publication of participants will be on September 2.
Despite setbacks, they expect this year’s even to go ahead as in the past; continuing to revitalize the city with huge murals and transforming multiple city spaces such as a segments of Road 40 and an area near City Hall.
Over the years, the event has been a boon for dozens of local muralists who have had the opportunity to experiment and learn new techniques with the help of veteran artists. It has given them a chance to head up their own projects while hosting artists from other parts of Colombia and from abroad.
In its sixth edition, convened by the Alliance Française of Barranquilla, and with the full support of the District Secretary of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, Killart is set to go ahead as usual with a few necessary adjustments made in light of the pandemic. In this way, it will only have artists residing in Barranquilla and the municipalities of the metropolitan area.
The call for participation in the festival has three categories:
– Killart Street: A total of 5 artists will be chosen to paint murals on 5 walls in the public space with an open theme, where the artistic style of the participant can be appreciated.
– Heroes of the pandemic: An artist will design and paint a public mural to pay tribute to healthcare workers for their strong performance in response to the pandemic.
– Killart at the Cortissoz: Several artists will be chosen to paint murals that pay tribute to the evolution of the city. Winning murals in this category will depict its migratory history which affected culture, gastronomy, and the overall development of Barranquilla. An area of the Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport has been designated for these new artworks.
Through events like Killart, the city of Barranquilla continues to evolve its relationship with public muralists. Only in recent times has the public perception shifted to one that is more favorable and accommodating to this art form. We look forward to seeing the results of this year’s event.