This November, the team at The Hendrick, Ireland’s first and only street art hotel will join forces with artist collective Alternative Dublin. Together they will host a month-long celebration of street art in this vibrant area of Smithfield, Dublin.
Home to over 270 specially curated works of Irish and international street art, The Hendrick will host a series of weekly events which will be open to hotel guests and locals in the area while also helping to fundraise for men’s health charity Movember.
Every November, people choose one of the many ways to support the Movember foundation. Traditionally, men would choose to ‘Grow a Mo, to save a bro’. In recent years, fundraising has changed with others choosing to ‘Mo-ve for Mental Health’, or ‘Host a Mo-ment’. This year, the Hendrick have decided to Mo our own way through this striking art form!
Street art in public spaces
Highlights from the month long celebration include a 90-minute Bespoke Street Art Walking Tour showcasing the artistic and cultural richness of Dublin 7, which will take place on Wednesday 8th November at 6:00PM.
Guests will journey through Smithfield and Stoneybatter, learning the history of Irish Graffiti and visiting some of the area’s most beautiful street art created by urban artists in public spaces.
Specially designed for the month by Alternative Dublin, the walking tour will go to key locations to take in pieces such as Aches ‘Horseboy’ on Smithfield Square, a large mural residing on the side of a house just off Church St that has caused much controversy with Dublin City Council who want it removed but the property owner has objected.
The tour also takes in a piece from SUBSET, a collective made up of some of Ireland’s most well-known street artists who created The Grey Area Project. One of Ireland’s most well loved artists, Garreth Joyce, has a piece at the Grey Area Project. His colourful murals are well known throughout the country and in other European Cities.
Afterwards, the tour will view two pieces from Dublin Canvas, a community art project intended to bring flashes of colour and creativity to everyday objects. This series of murals now spans over 850 pieces from some famous street artists.
The first piece on the tour is ‘Luas Love‘ by Irish street artist and graphic designer Amy Caulfield. The second is ‘Billy In The Bowl’ The Stoneybatter Strangler – a piece documenting one of Dublin’s scariest killers.
Stay at the Hendrick & tour the city centre’s street art scene
Book Your Stay on Wednesday 8th November plus the Bespoke Walking Tour!
Can’t stay? No problem, book just the Walking Tour in aid of Movember
An amazing form of artwork depicting Ulysses by James Joyce on the Blooms Hotel on Anglesea Street in Temple Bar from well-known street artist James Earley
Become an artist
On Wednesday 15th November at 6:00PM, it’s time to get creative in The Hendrick with Paint Your Own Tote Bag.
As Ireland’s first LEED Gold Certified hotel, The Hendrick takes sustainability very seriously and this guided workshop will guide participants through all the artistic steps to create their own piece of sustainable fashion to carry as they explore the city.
Sustainability, political issues and social issues are nothing new in the street art scene. Infact, these empower the scene through artistic expression. In 2021 Emma Blake was behind a huge mural of Greta Thunberg on Chancery St, just 10 minutes from The Hendrick.
Stay at the Hendrick & get creatively charged
If creating your own personal artwork in Dublin’s mural district takes your fancy, then book Your Stay on Wednesday 15th November plus Paint Your Own Tote Bag here!
Can’t stay? No problem, book just the Paint Your Own Tote Bag in aid of Movember
Embrace the street art cultures
Another brilliant even takes places on Wednesday 22nd November at 6:00PM. The Hendrick host a Drink and Draw session where guests will create a Banksy inspired work of art.
All under the watchful eye of their tutor, sip on beers and choose from a variety of cocktails shaken by the talented bartenders at The Hendrick, all to a lively soundtrack of tunes to release those creative vibes.
Book Your Stay on Wednesday 22nd November plus Drink and Draw!
Can’t stay? No problem, book just the Drink and Draw Session in aid of Movember!
The wrap up
The popularity of street art is ever rising, with some of our city buildings donning the most amazing murals both in the mural district and outside of it. While not a key location such as the Waterford Walls International Street Art Festival, or the urban spaces of Limerick City, Dublin’s underbelly is rising up to the public locations and legal walls of the city centre.
Dublin City Council invites local Irish Artists to tell stories on the walls through this art form and artistic expression. We only have to look at a wide range of amazing murals with huge public visibility on our Street Art Tour to see this.
Maybe getting involved is more your style, so come along to learn from well-known street artists on November 15th and practice sustainable street art by creating your own piece of fashionable wear.
Learn more about this form of artwork on legal walls on Wednesday 22nd with guidance from some of the best Irish artists and build friendship and skills through the art community.
Savour the mo-ment at the Hendrick
Stay at The Hendrick during street art month from €149 per room, based on two people sharing bed and breakfast. Serving fresh from the oven croissants, buttery Danish pastries and a selection of fresh fruit, breads and preserves alongside your favourite morning brew.
All the while surrounded by one of the country’s largest collections of contemporary street art in an urban space. Our neighbourhood is filled with ubiquitous murals on city buildings.
All street art month events, excluding the coffee morning, are priced at €15 per person with all money going directly to support men’s health charity Movember. Help us to celebrate this brilliant form of artwork and boost the art community spirit by supporting this great cause.