Made it Together’s Post

God... where to start! It feels odd not having posted about the Withington Walls Paint Jam considering how huge it’s been, but maybe its bigness is why I haven't gotten around to it. Last year, Ed and I started talking about a festival. Withington Walls had delivered over 100 artworks, hit global news, and hosted two shows - a festival felt like the next step. Despite giving ourselves nine months to plan, by May we had no money and little idea of what we were doing. Thankfully, Civic and Social came on board and connected us with some wonderful sponsors, making our vague ideas a reality. In the days leading up to the Jam, the scissor lift company told us the delivery would be ✨after✨ the Jam finished. When the lifts finally arrived on time after much haggling, a skip was obstructing the entrance to the space 😂 One of many speed bumps leading up to the weekend… The Jam day arrived, and a trickle of people turned into a flow. By 2pm, the space was packed - music, food, beer, the smell of spray paint, and kids trying their hand at painting. I could finally relax and enjoy the experience. It was a fantastic weekend. A big reason for the Jam was to grow a culture of street art and graffiti festivals in Manchester. GRIT Studios have been doing their thing, and Urban Artistry has been hosting street art film viewings - it feels like we’re building momentum. Ed and I are already whatsapping about next year, much to my partner's frustration, I'm sure 😂 Beautiful photos by Fiona Finchett 🙏