Among the highlights of the weekend will be the opportunity to see original works by influential artists Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin as part of an exhibition at St Stephen’s Church.
Rev Matt Woodcock, of St Stephen’s Church, said: “There’s so much good going on.
“Normally people don’t get close to artists like these and so we just want to make it really accessible.”
The festival has been funded by the combined authority through a grant of £99,999 from the regional mayor’s Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund.
The event is also supported by Great Acomb Community Forum, City of York Council, York St John University and businesses in the area.
Clark said people often believed that when street art goes into a deprived area it is seen as “gentrifying” or a “commercial opportunity”.
“This is not that,” he said.
“We are changing a physical space that’s reacting to what the community wants.
“We are taking their voice, their opinions and have done the workshops with them.
“Now, that is being delivered by the very high-end artists who are executing some of the world’s best art on the walls in Acomb.”
