Street Art Tours: an artistic and unconventional tourism

The rise of neo-muralism in urban landscapes around the world has led to the emergence of a new form of tourism. Public local authorities have been quick to catch on, and are since incorporating into their tourist offers tours and routes that combine Street Art and heritage. It then provides an opportunity to highlight and (re)discover sometimes neglected districts or villages. Street Art plays now a key role in the development of tourism worldwide, making towns and cities more attractive to many more tourists.

Global cities such as New York, London, Berlin and Paris all host tourist circuits dedicated to Street Art, and some have become major Street Art destinations for both amateurs and enthusiasts of the movement. Other renowned cities such as Miami, Barcelona, Bristol and Detroit have also embraced the genre. In France, Paris, Lille, Marseille, Rennes and Nantes are organizing their own Street Art Tours. And more locally, Saint-Brieuc and Vannes in Brittany, Le Havre, Grenoble, Sète and Montpellier have all relied on Urban Art to assert their identity or build an image that is different from the usual beaten track. An image of a city anchored in its time, for which Urban Art stands out like an open-air museum, playing with local heritage and architecture to offer visitors a new way of looking at things. Whether on the initiative of the artists themselves, associations or local authorities, the urban environment is being transformed into an art gallery, as a response to the greyness of our cities. This art, available to all, is shared with residents and visitors alike. Some working-class or neglected neighborhoods are benefiting from a new aesthetic, improving what already exists to make a better way of life for everyone. Local authorities are joining in by authorizing walls and dedicating spaces, while also using public commissions as a way to control artistic production for political, tourist and cultural purposes.

An immersive and authentic experience

In the city centers, murals in a sometimes XXL format offer an immersive and authentic experience for tourists or locals. Given the growing appeal of this new form of tourism, but also of social and artistic interaction, cities and public institutions have no choice but to support local initiatives. By demonstrating their closeness to and appreciation of this once subversive art form, which is now under control, politicians are demonstrating their ability to forge links with all generations and all social classes. A winning way of ensuring the satisfaction of their constituents and their re-election... As a result, local authorities are increasingly convinced of the cultural, artistic and social benefits offered by urban art projects. These projects are often coupled with mediation and interventions with the public and students, making it possible to combine art with civic life. Local authorities provide financial and material support for Street Art festivals, art tours and events linked to Graffiti in their areas. As for the publishers of tourist guides, they are embracing this trend by offering their own itineraries and guided tours for Street Art lovers. The publication of guides city by city, region by region, demonstrates the interest in this type of tourist experience. Street art is thus becoming a powerful territorial marketing tool for cities.

The best street art tour in the world

Over the last few years, some cities have become references for Street Art tours. There are plenty of visits, tours and walks to discover and unravel the mysteries, secrets and techniques of the artists. In Paris, public and themed guided tours are organized by the artists themselves as part of Street Art Tour Paris, thanks to the initiative of Kasia Klon. A great way to satisfy the appetite of Street Art hunters! The collective also offers private tours for schools, companies and individuals. Boulevard Paris 13, a must-see open-air museum along the main artery, boulevard Vincent Auriol, boasts 55 murals thanks to the support of the art gallery Itinerrance in partnership with the 13th arrondissement town hall. In Belgium, the Parcours Street Art Brussels offers a guided walking tour of over 150 murals done by Belgian and international artists. In the UK too, London’s Shoreditch Street Art Tours offers guided street art tours led by specialists and enthusiasts of the art movement. In Bristol, capital of street art with its Upfest festival and hometown of the artist Banksy, the Bristol Street Art Tour entirely dedicated to the artist is also available for Banksy's fans. The Portuguese capital is not to be forgotten, as it also offers an exploration of Urban Art works with Lisbon Street Art Tours. In Berlin, an alternative tour of places dedicated to Street Art and Graffiti is offered through Alternative Berlin Tours. And don’t forget Barcelona, where Barcelona Street Style Tour will take you around El Raval or El Born and Gothic districts. Across the Atlantic, Miami is no exception with its Wynwood Art Walk Tours, in the district dedicated to muralism. In New York, the Brooklyn Street Art Tour in the district of Bushwick symbolizes the hometown of Graffiti Art. In Montreal, the amazing Montréal Mural Art Tour is inviting tourists to discover some twenty monumental works in the heart of the city. Finally, at the other side of the planet in Australia, Melbourne is also offering a novel and unique tour of colorful streets covered with Graffiti and Street Art led by local artists with its renowned Melbourne Street Tours.

An experience that can also be appreciated completely on your own

Guided tours, accompanied tours, by foot, by car, by bike or on your own... These Street Art tours can be organized in a variety of ways. Most often, the explanations are given by enthusiasts, informed lovers of Graffiti and Street Art, sometimes even by the artists themselves, who have mastered all the techniques specific to the movement. This gives visitors the opportunity to benefit from a rare expertise that adds to the pleasure of discovery. Other tours can also be organized freely using one of the many street art applications available. The artist Invader has clearly understood the value of such technological tools: his application under the name FlashInvaders was launched in 2014, is used as a treasure hunt to discover his mosaics hidden in the four corners of the planet. A true video game transposed into reality : those who spot the most earn points! This Space Invaders hunt has more than 340’000 users! More general, Street Art Cities is the largest street art recognition community in the world. The artworks are presented, dated and geolocated for easier use. All you have to do is identify where you are to find the best murals and street art nearby. The Canvs interactive platform also offers a way of rediscovering the streets using technology, gradually building up a remarkable database to showcase walls that are part of urban embellishment programs set up by curators or as part of festivals. In France, the participatory St'Art application invites enthusiasts to spot artworks in the street and share their snapshots in order to raise awareness of new talents in urban art. These intuitive, practical technological tools encourage you to develop your knowledge of urban art and your own personal experience of street art completely on your own. You can then go into the heart of museums and galleries dedicated to street art, or find the work of muralists on online platforms such as Urbaneez, and support their talent by purchasing an artwork.

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