Directors Note
Ten years ago, we started BSAF with little more than passion, grit, and a desire to carve space for creativity in Brisbane’s public realm. A decade on, that same spirit continues to drive us, even as we face our most challenging year yet.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Brisbane Street Art Festival. A milestone I’m incredibly proud to celebrate with the artists, communities, and supporters who have shaped its journey. Since 2016, we’ve painted walls, supported careers, transformed forgotten corners of the city, and connected communities through creativity. But while the results speak for themselves, funding for the arts remains vulnerable. In 2025, we’ve experienced firsthand how fragile this support can be.
The Lord Mayor, Brisbane City Council, a longstanding partner, withdrew its support for the festival this year. Abruptly and without adequate explanation. It’s a disappointing move, especially considering the legacy BSAF has built for this city and the cultural tourism, local engagement, and artistic momentum it continues to deliver. This withdrawal reflects a broader economic shift impacting funding bodies across the board, where arts programs are often the first to be cut despite their relatively low costs and disproportionately high social returns.
Still, we press on.
This year’s program is a testament to the tenacity of our team and the strength of the creative community we serve. We’re proud to launch Meeting of Styles Australia, a local chapter of the iconic international graffiti initiative. Over the weekend of May 10 &11, more than 40 graffiti artists will take part in what we hope becomes a permanent fixture in Brisbane’s cultural calendar. It’s a show of respect to the roots of the movement, and a major step forward in affirming graffiti as a vital part of BSAF’s story. We’re also excited to feature War of the Words at Superordinary this year, a high-stakes, two-hour graffiti battle where two writers are challenged to paint a randomly selected word.
Our mural program again features some of Brisbane’s most exciting local artists, transforming new sites across the city with permanent works that will stay long after the festival wraps. We also welcome the debut of a new community-led paste-up program led by Maia Cavendish, planting the seeds for future street-level expression.
As we reflect on the past ten years, we hold firm to our values: independence, community, and the celebration of public art in all its forms. BSAF has never been easy. But it’s always been worth it.
Thank you for standing with us, whether this is your first year or your tenth.
Warm regards,
Lincoln Savage
Festival Director
Brisbane Street Art Festival 2025
