Brimbank Youth ServicesB-Creative Urban Art Aerosol Project

Department of Justice 2012-13 Graffiti Prevention and Removal Grants

• 6 murals in highly tagged areas• 17 young people involved

1. Program beginnings:

• Tagging in Brimbank• Staff history of working on

similar projects• Local young people interested

in street art• Referrals – diversion program

for first time offenders• Community interest in program

wanting to be involved

• Identifying sites• 6 sites being: Albion Train

Station, Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre, City Place, Relationships Australia (all Sunshine), Theodore Street shops (St Albans) and Deer Park Arcade.

ALBION Train Station

2. Aims:

• Involve young people (YP) who more than likely are tagging

• Makes moves for YP from illegal to legal art forms

• Link YP to Youth Arts Mentors to assist the process of change

• YP to feel connected to local communities through art

• Provision of legal art spaces• Supporting pathways to

other art opportunities and education

• Engagement with the general community through aspects of the project

• Reduction of tagging in areas included in the project

3. Project delivery:

• Feb to May 2013• Varied weather impact• Value of mentors• Varied skills of YP• Presenting issues of some

YP restricted participation- graffiti only a part of offending behaviors

• Focus of program: Sunshine, St Albans and Deer Park

• These areas are heavily tagged in parts

• Value of Project Manager – Youth Arts Officer with experience in working with the target group

• Designated arts space to work on designs and skills

• Professional artists used for YP to develop skills

Artist AJ Tan mentoring young artists

City Place mural, Sunshine (alleyway)

4. Why this model?:

• Proven model dating back to experience over 20 years

• Staff and mentors with experience

• YP looking for a street art project

• Areas heavily tagged and having history of being tagged

• Space where YP could develop skills and friendship

• Number of potential sites for murals

• Capacity to continue project post DOJ funding and build on DOJ funding

Famous stencil artist HAHA working with young people on wall

Relationships Australia mural, Sunshine

Sebastian and Rob. Mural at Theodore Street shops, St Albans

5. Overview:

• Project timeline was tight – with some YP not being able to keep up and receive mentoring required

• Some YP struggled to move to work on themed designs

• Older YP mentoring YP• Quick turnaround of murals

allowed project to gain community appreciation rapidly

• This has resulted in services offering spaces for murals post project

• Some YP have moved to gain private commission murals

• Two YP were successful in being accepted into arts courses through support of program and Youth Arts Officer

Deer Park Arcade, Deer Park