The week-long art festival returns this September!

One of Denver’s largest street art events will be back for 2020! CRUSH Walls is an amazing community art event that brings artists together in the River North Arts District (RiNo) and adds color and life to the streets and alleyways through murals.

“CRUSH celebrates art, urban beautification, creativity, and culture by enriching our community through an arts festival like no other. We believe that public art leads to an improved community as a catalyst for safety, cleanliness, creativity, and conversation. Centered around empowering artists, CRUSH is committed to reflecting and diversifying the urban landscape and the unique voice of a community, bringing art out of the galleries and into the streets.”

CRUSH Walls started in 2010 and has been turning the streets to canvas ever since, showcasing the magnificent talents of Denver’s street artists. Taking the gallery outside and making it more than a painting on a wall, the festival is a highly-anticipated celebration of the artistic community. Scheduled for September 14-20, 2020, the event already has a list of at least 100 artists ready to paint 40 murals.

But due to COVID-19, CRUSH Walls will look slightly different than years' past. Organizers began taking artists' applications earlier this year and have trimmed some of the festivities—many of the usual panels, community mural tours, and youth activities will go virtual, and the festival plans to follow all city and state guidelines for social distancing.

More specific details will be released closer to the event and will depend on the guidelines in place at that time.

A roster and biographies of this year's selected artists, as well as examples of their work, can be seen on the festival's website. Artists are paid a stipend for their work, however, that amount may be lower this year, but organizers still hope to raise additional funds to include more artists.

“Artists just want to create during these difficult times. Several artists have been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis and it’s important that we try our best to keep one of their creative outlets and income streams going,” said  Robin Munro, founder of CRUSH Walls.

Normally, this event is packed all day and night as festival-goers watch the art come alive before their eyes, while artists collaborate on projects to create and craft interactive and vibrant murals the community will enjoy for years to come.

What's your favorite place to view street art and murals in Denver? Who are your favorite local artists? Share with us in the comments.