Thousands of people flooded the sun-soaked streets of Aberdeen to discover the new works created for Nuart.
The award-winning street art festival has been embraced by the city and includes murals of all sizes, with Lego even used this year to liven up the grey granite.
Last night, organisers Aberdeen Inspired hailed the festival as the “best yet” with record crowds enjoying not only the art, but the street food festival running at The Green.
Chief executive Adrian Watson said the weather had “obviously helped” the turn-out.
“We have had record crowds this year – all the feedback we have been getting has been fantastic,” he said.
“People love that it has been scaled up and some feel it has matured. We have been taken aback by the public reaction this year – and the brilliant weather has been the icing on the cake.
“It’s early days, but we must have had 10,000 in the Green on Saturday alone – it really feels like we have a vibe back in the city – I can’t remember the last time I saw it so busy.”
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Funding for Nuart has been secured until 2020, but negotiations to continue the festival beyond that will need to be considered given the council’s financial difficulties.
Council co-leader Jenny Laing praised the festival, but admitted its long-term future will have to be considered against the economic benefits.
Mrs Laing said: “We’ve shown as a local authority that we put money where we get greatest return.
“I think Nuart has shown a great return for the city over the last two years and I have no doubt that will be the case going forward.
“I definitely think we need to make sure that we invest to stimulate our economy, as well as protecting frontline services.
“If we are to meet the needs of local people – and I think festivals like Nuart do that – we need to make sure we are spreading investment.
“What came across loud and clear from the city centre masterplan consultation was that local people wanted to see more events in our city centre, they wanted a more a pedestrian-friendly city centre.
“When we have events like Nuart where we have walking tours, people are rediscovering the city centre.
“That can only be good for local people and businesses – which is the other thing I hear a lot: that people want to protect the heart of the city centre and make sure businesses there are able to flourish.”
Mr Watson echoed Mrs Laing, and said he hoped the momentum from this year’s event would help secure its return beyond 2020.
He said: “The public will have a view on that, whether they see worth beyond 2020 but certainly there is a momentum being built here.
“There is huge buy-in from partners, from business, from the public – so why wouldn’t we?”
