The City of Marion in southern Adelaide is fostering the talent of young artists, while keeping graffiti off the streets. Through its ‘Art of Respect’ crime prevention and cultural development program, the City aims to enhance respect between young artists and the wider community by recognising legal aerosol as a valid artistic medium.
The program was established in 2004 and has since run annually or biennially. During each round, 20 young people are engaged through aerosol workshops on canvas, which are facilitated by professional aerosol artists.
The workshops culminate in a public exhibition, fostering positive interactions between participants and their families, friends and the community.
Marion’s Cultural Development Officer Vassi Coutsoumbes said the Art of Respect program uses art as a platform to begin a dialogue between the community and younger people who are sometimes struggling to find their place in society. She said these young people can find themselves on the outer fringes of the community due to their passion for aerosol art and its culture.
“Young people often have much to express, but few opportunities to get their message heard,” she said. “They come from a diversity of cultures, backgrounds and skill levels.”
Vassi said some programs and mural projects have had an intergenerational component, where participants across many age groups have worked alongside each other.
Council’s Graffiti Program Coordinator Vickie Johnson the program provides a platform for young people to build relationships with peers and people who they would not normally engage with. “This allows them to gain an appreciation of each others opinions, values, lifestyles and work,” she said.
The program also provides an opportunity to introduce and create dialogue between ‘at risk’ youth and essential youth services, such as Drugarm, Drug and Alcohol Services, police, Centrelink, Council staff and local youth centres.
Vicki Johnson said one of the initial objectives of the program was to train some of the more talented participants to facilitate future workshops. This showcases the importance of the program in evolving the confidence and skills of young people in pursuing their art passion as a positive community contribution. Several participants have gone on to create great respect in artistic circles and secure employment within the arts and design field.”
The Art of Respect program has built a network among Council, artists, business and community and created relationships with over 160 young people to use for future public art and graffiti reduction projects. Various themes have been the subject of the artworks, including reconciliation, mental health and environmental issues. In addition, murals have identified and interpreted key heritage and cultural sites within the City.
For further information contact Vickie Johnson on (08) 8375 6710 or Vassi Coutsoumbes on (08) 8375 6891.
