Street Art Festival 2025: Past Perspectives

• Street Art Festival in Olomouc

• Deadline: June 1st, 2025

• Category: Street Art

• Prize: €1,200 + Exhibition

• Entry Fees: Free

• REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE

The city has always been more than a collection of buildings and roads—it is a breathing entity, alive with stories, dreams, and the spirit of its people. Olomouc, with its deep historical roots and vibrant cultural life, has long served as a beacon of this living spirit. Its streets and squares have not merely witnessed history—they have shaped it, through art that reflects and enhances the soul of the community.

Public art in Olomouc is a tradition born from a deep respect for beauty, meaning, and place. The baroque fountains still flowing through the city center are not only ornamental; they are part of the city’s identity, designed with such grace and ingenuity that they seem to grow naturally from the stones beneath them. They speak of an age when artistic vision was inseparable from civic pride and environmental sensitivity.

Later generations continued this legacy, transforming public space into a canvas for memory and reflection. The statue of T. G. Masaryk on Žižkov Square is more than bronze and stone—it is a symbol of hope, resilience, and the democratic ideals that helped shape the modern Czech Republic. It connects citizens not only to their history, but to a shared aspiration for the future.

These lasting contributions form the emotional and intellectual core of SAFE Olomouc 2025, a festival that brings the past into conversation with the present. This year’s theme invites us to rediscover the power of art in public spaces—not only to beautify, but to unify; not just to fill space, but to give it purpose. It is an invitation to see our surroundings through new eyes.

Yet, in recent years, we have witnessed a troubling shift. Too often, art is placed in public spaces without regard for its surroundings, breaking the harmony rather than enhancing it. These interventions, though perhaps well-intentioned, risk turning shared spaces into disconnected displays, devoid of dialogue with their environment.

In response, the 18th edition of the Olomouc Street Art Festival will be a space for reflection, reconnection, and reimagining. Through a rich program of exhibitions, discussions, and participatory projects, we will explore what public art can be when it listens to its setting and speaks to its people. What stories do our streets want to tell? How can art help us hear them?

Join us as we celebrate the enduring spirit of Olomouc—a city where art, history, and public life continue to evolve together. Let us work to ensure that future creations carry forward the values of respect, creativity, and harmony.