The Lloyd Ex Fair will be colourfully highlighted this year with a fresh coat of paint thanks to Mural Fest.
Read more: Lloyd Ex Fair: through the lens
This year’s aim for the Fair is to transform it into something more community-focused.
“We really want to transform the Lloyd Ex Fair into the community fair, this is about celebrating Lloydminster,” said Jackie Tomayer, general manager at the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association.
“It’s about celebrating community and community initiatives.”
With 25,000 to 30,000 fairgoers coming through the site, Tomayer says this is an opportunity to give artists a chance to show off their skills.
“We’re hoping to give the artists a really good platform to showcase their skills and give Lloydminster something to celebrate in the form of art,” she said.
Brandi Hofer, local artist and founder of Mural Fest, says art works to attract people to the city.
“They launched a Mural Fest in Calgary over a decade ago and within the first five years of their festival, they increased foot traffic by 30 per cent,” she said.
Hofer says they are looking to sponsors and volunteers, which can be applied for on their website, lloydmuralfest.ca.
They are working to get artists out as there will be mentors on hand to help teach.
The idea is to take existing concrete barriers and transform them.
“We are taking jersey barriers, they’re called, so those concrete parking barriers, and we’re bringing them all on-site during the fair. We’re painting them,” said Hofer.
Once complete, the newly-painted barriers will find their final home.
“So, what if we make these annually, repurpose them as part, and place them around the city,” said Hofer.
Once complete, the barriers will get moved from the fairgrounds to local businesses that want them.
“We’re working with the youth centre, working with the schools, getting the tiny little artists to come paint, we have mentors as part of the festival,” said Hofer.
The specifics of what the barriers will look like will depend on what a business wants.
“It depends on what the business needs, we’ll replace the barriers or paint their existing barriers,” said Hofer. “We are matching up artists with businesses. The artists will work with the business on their vision for their barriers.”
Artists will be painting the barriers in whatever vision the business sees.
“Say you want buffalo and a sunset on your barrier in front of your business. We’ll work to find the right artist and right fit for the space,” she said.
Companies have already offered their resources to move the barriers once they are completed.
Hofer says this is a good opportunity to be part of the traffic at the Fair.
“Lloyd Ex lent their space to us, which is so incredible, and we can be a big part of the Fair and the traffic,” she said.
Lloyd Mural Fest runs from July 9-12, the same time as the Lloyd Ex fair.
Read more: Lloyd Ex Fair parade: Photo Gallery
