New digital trail brings New Plymouth’s street art stories to life

NPDC has teamed up with the organisers of this year’s Get Up Festival to create an online trail that will help locals and visitors discover more about the artists and works that adorn some of buildings across New Plymouth's city centre.

For eight days in March 2026, New Plymouth was transformed into a canvas of colour and creativity as local, national and international artists brought commercial building walls to life. The festival created a vibrant open-air gallery for the community to enjoy.

NPDC Community Development Adviser Chanelle Carrick says the new trail is designed to help people reconnect with the artworks while supporting efforts to activate the city centre.

“Get Up Fest created a real buzz throughout the city, with building owners who providing walls to paint and businesses and passers-by following the artists' progress as the works took shape," says Chanelle.

“We wanted to build on that enthusiasm and give people a way to revisit the artworks and learn more about the artists behind them.”

The trail has been created using StoryMaps, a web-based platform that combines interactive maps, photography and storytelling. Being web-based people don’t need to download an app to use it.

“People can use the trail while exploring the city on foot or enjoy the experience from home,” says Chanelle.

“The site features photos of the artworks, highlights from the festival, artist profiles and an interactive map showing where each piece can be found.”

The project aligns with actions identified in the Ngāmotu City Centre Strategy, which aims to enhance the city centre experience and encourage more people to spend time in the heart of the city. It’s also been released to coincide with the Taranaki Arts Trail, which runs through to 8 November.

“We want to encourage people to get out and about in our CBD, slow down and appreciate the incredible creativity in our public spaces and the gift these artists have left for us to enjoy. We’re often so busy and focused on getting somewhere that we don’t stop to see what’s around us,” says Chanelle.

“These artworks are a gift to our community. Whether you've seen them before or are discovering them for the first time, the trail offers a new way to experience and connect with them.”

Get Up Festival organiser Cameron “Odjobs’ Shennan is pleased the trail will enable more people to discover the work and the artists who created them.

“Street art takes people in to towns and there is nothing like standing next to a three-storey building and being in awe. Watching an artist paint live has appeal whether you are 6 or 96.”

This trail is a first for NPDC, but there are plans for more in the future.

Start exploring the trail here or via NPDC’s public artworks and art trails section of its website.

At a glance

• Get Up Fest is a street art festival that brought  local, national and international artists together to create large-scale public artworks across New Plymouth.
• The trail includes three works created in 2025 as part of Get Up Fest’s collaboration with strategic council partner, Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (TAFT).

Caption: A new digital art trail captures the work and artists behind works created during the 2026 Get Up Festival, including this piece by Theo Arraj.