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Graffiato: NZ’s Street Art Festival is back – Taupo Labour Weekend Painting the town! Graffiato is back and set to put Taupo on the international street art stage. This Labour Weekend in Taupo. (22-23 October) renowned street artists from around New Zealand and abroad will gather to exhibit, showcase and share their skill, talents and creativity. Building on last year's successful event, street artists will first work collaboratively on a community project at Taupo's skate park before developing their original ideas on a range of pre-selected sites. New for 2012 is a pop-up exhibition with work for sale, as well as providing a rare opportunity for the public to watch vibrant artworks and murals being created around the Taupo township. Event curator, Ross Liew, is encouraged by the variety of artists applying to come to Taupo. 'We're keen to get a good representative spread from across the country and of female artists, and it looks like this will be achieved." Taupo is set to be the iconic home of NZ's best collection of street art with more than 100 murals district wide by 2015. The Erupt Event team says they want the collection to become a national treasure - free, accessible and immediate. Guest artists arrive in town on Thursday 18th October and all artworks will be completed by Monday evening (22 October). This is the second year Graffiato's been held and, considering Taupo's relative conservatism, it was a great success. In 2011 guest artists came from North and South America, South Africa, England, Australia and Russia and alongside Maori, Cook Island and Pakeha kiwis led to an amazing multicultural experience with different styles and techniques. "Graffiato dispels the myth around those who paint public walls,” says Kylie Hawker, Erupt Events General Manager. “We see the artists for what they are; passionate and dedicated members of our communities who contribute freely their time and talent to beautify our public spaces.” Ends. More information: Kylie Hawker kylie@erupt.co.nz www.erupt.co.nz