N.E.S.T. (New Emerging Street Talent) 2025

Spraoi’s application call for Irish street artists with new work in development is now open! N.E.S.T. in association with the Four Nations partnership offers successful applicants a range of supports including finance, residencies, technical supports, mentoring, travel, and accommodation.

Through Spraoi’s Four Nations partnership with festivals in Scotland, England, and Wales the selected artists will have opportunities to perform at four festivals during July and August 2025.

For all the information, schedules and  application process see HERE.

Spraoi Festival 2025

Spraoi International Street Arts Festival is Ireland’s premiere summer street party. Spraoi offers a fantastic feast of imagination and all performances are  absolutely FREE!

Put Spraoi Festival 2025 dates in your phones and diaries now – August 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd. The festival attracts audiences of all ages with an exciting programme of street performers, contemporary circus, music, dance, fireworks, and the absolutely unforgettable Spraoi Festival Parade. Performers come from all over Ireland and the world, when Waterford City is a vibrant mix of colour and imaginative experiences, August 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd.

Märkischer Kreis

Performances by the KiBoDaiko drumming band from Märkischer Kreis, in Germany, was a highlight of Spraoi Festival 2024.

Waterford is now twinned with the German region and Waterford City and County Council has facilitated an active programme of exchanges between both locations. Spraoi is working with Council to explore options for further cultural exchanges in 2025. We look forward to vibrant performances at the festival, and the possibility of Irish artists performing in Märkischer Kreis.

Four Nations 2025

Spraoi International Street Arts Festival is partnered with three similar festivals in Scotland (SURGE), England (BD Bradford), and Wales (Green Man). Titled Four Nations this international link enables mentoring, exchanges, employment, and performances by artists from participating nations and festivals. It includes group mentoring sessions which encourage artists to share ideas before commencing creation of individual works.

The 2025 group gathering will be hosted by Bradford Production Hub. Four Nations has recently been agreed again for 2025. All four festivals will take place next summer over July and August. Dates and artists’ access pathways to the programme will be announced early in December.

For further information and schedules see HERE.

Spraoi Festival 2024

This year’s Spraoi Festival was a truly international gathering of artists and arts managers from Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, France, Germany, Egypt, Finland, Portugal, Latvia, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and U.S.A.

Along with vibrant street performances including Irish premieres we presented the Spraoi Parade world premiere, toe-tapping music, plus seminars and showcases that enabled Irish professionals to exchange ideas and plans with overseas colleagues.

Thanks to all the artists, musicians, parade cast, audiences, tech-crews, volunteers, funders, and sponsors who unleashed joyous mayhem on Waterford’s streets for three days.

Here are scenes from Spraoi International Street Arts Festival 2024.

Between Land and Sea

Spraoi artists are planning an exciting biodiversity themed project inspired by the tidal areas of Dungarvan Bay.

The artists are researching the bay’s rich heritage, it’s biodiversity, and it’s oyster growing tradition.

In the early months of 2025 Spraoi will commence this exciting new project, provisionally titled Between Land and Sea. It will involve community participation, and will be presented during Waterford Festival of Food 2025.

This project is partnered by Creative Ireland, Creative Waterford, and led by CALMAST at SETU.