The Baladk Street Art Project is an annual event that takes place in Amman, Jordan. Conceptualized by Al-Balad Theatre in collaboration with various artists and organizations, it was first launched in 2013. The project aims to infuse Amman with artistic energy to promote residents’ and visitors’ connection to Jordan’s public spaces and empower local communities through street art, with a particular focus on murals. 

The Baladk Project is based on one of Al-Balad’s core beliefs of “Art For All.” Whereas art is a universal human right accessible to everyone regardless of social status, gender, race, and/or other differences. In Jordan, where social structures have become more complex and diverse following the turmoil in neighboring Arab countries, street art has become a powerful tool for communicating and resisting various forms of oppression.

Each year, Baladk Festival chooses a theme and invites graffiti artists from Jordan, the Levant, and beyond to submit proposals. A committee selects from the submissions and the chosen artists are provided with materials and space to execute their art. The artists are also given the opportunity to network with one another and engage with the local community through public speaking engagements, meet and greets, and local volunteer opportunities.

We work to ensure that the murals are visible and accessible to all with locations selected in diverse neighborhoods across Jordan. Since its inception in 2013, The Baladk Festival has expanded to cities beyond Amman, to Fuheis, Madaba, and Irbid. The project has also explored various themes such as Women’s Rights, Resistance, City Life, and Inclusiveness, and in 2020, the theme was “Art is Environment.” Sometimes, Baladk has multiple themes for one year such as in 2021 where the focus was on “Children’s Right to Play”, Heritage, Water Scarcity, and the Right to Public, Urban Spaces.