Discovering street art is like finding a gold coin on the pavement: joyous to behold but rare in occurrence.

So it may bring a delighted smile to your lips to read about an upcoming festival dedicated to street art in its many guises.

Your smile might grow wider when you read that it is on Cockatoo Island, and you’ll be looking like a Cheshire cat when your hear it’s also free. Outpost will feature some of the biggest names in spray-can professionals like Roa (Germany, Anthony Lister (USA/Australia), Kid Zoom (USA/Australia) and the Everfresh Collective (Australia) as well as many others. Popping over from next door (New Zealand) is the Oi! You Collection, which includes works by Os Gemeos, Swoon and the notorious street artist Bansky.

Not only will there be works by spray but the island’s abandoned factories will be invaded by live art creations, paste-ups, sticker art, sculpture and billboards. To round it out, there are exhibitions and forums so you can better understand the technicolour culture of street art.

It’s best to make a day of it – along with the plethora of art there are pop-up bars, DJ’s spinning their shit, artist battles and art-making projects. This is definitely a day for the diary, keep fingers and toes crossed we’ll be graced with the weather this festival deserves.

Outpost

Where: Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour

When: 4 – 11 November

Georgia Booth

georgiajbooth@gmail.com