Founded in Montreal in 1996 by graffiti writers Seaz and Flow, Under Pressure is the oldest festival of urban cultures still active in the world. Its principal mission is to encourage the implication of the community through urban culture, and thus contributing to the development and radiance of urban arts to a local and international scale. Entirely managed by a team of volunteers devoted to the Hip Hop culture, the Festival has since its beginnings in the image of New York City block parties from the 70s. The organizers, street artists, graffiti writers, djs, mcs and urban dancers have been getting together each year for the past 23 years and participating voluntarily to the event for the pure love of Hip Hop culture.