Town council asked to consider graffiti wall for youth (From Swindon Advertiser)

Town council asked to consider graffiti wall for youth

5:28pm Wednesday 12th October 2011 in News By Matthew Edwards

Young people have painted a graffiti art mural on a wall of The Meadows Children’s Centre in Penhill. From left, Amy McGlone, Mark Stennett, China Hutchings, Kerry Sutcliffe and Sophia Hutchings

YOUNG people in Highworth could soon have a way of expressing themselves without vandalising property with a new graffiti wall.

Plans are only in the early stages but town councillor Richard Williams has put forward the idea to Highworth Town Council of providing graffiti walls for young people to decorate.

The idea is to have a dedicated wall, which could be a mobile one which moves around the town, where younger people will be allowed to express themselves rather than vandalising property in the town.

Coun Williams said: “Graffiti is not a problem in Highworth but graffiti seems to be a way for young people to express themselves these days.

“This is just an idea – there is no guarantee it will happen but we are talking about it.

“The idea is to provide a dedicated wall where young people will be able to express themselves in a controlled manner.

“I know there are some in Swindon already and I have been told it has made some difference to bringing down graffiti in those areas.”

Graffiti walls have been used across the town at places like Toothill and Mannington and a special project has been running in Penhill with young people having the chance to create a community mural with graffiti.

Staff from the Positive Futures programme have been working with young people to develop their skills in a way they can relate to through the use of graffiti.

The project, which ran in partnership with the Clivey Project and local artist Kerry Sutcliffe, taught the young people the history of the art form and showed them that it could mean a lot more than just tagging and vandalism.

Positive Futures co-ordinator Mark Stennett said: “I believe that graffiti is a misunderstood art form and if it is used in the correct way it is a good way for younger people to express themselves.

“Having these graffiti walls is a great way of introducing children to the art form and getting them away from tagging and vandalism as long as they are monitored.

“As well as children expressing themselves, we do try and get the children thinking creatively about what they are drawing and link it to the community, bringing a new art form which really has been around for years.”