The City of Melville in southern Perth has come up with an innovative project that is not only beautifying its streetscapes but is also reducing Council’s financial expense in the removal of graffiti damage on bus shelters.
Council’s Adopt-a-Stop project encourages all residents, community groups, students and artists to make friends, develop their art skills and make a colourful statement in their community by participating in a workshop and painting a bus stop.
Melville’s Community Development Officer Hannah Katarski said the project integrates contemporary art into daily life, while promoting interaction between young people and other groups in the community. She said under the project, 11 bus shelters have been painted in the last 12 months by groups such as primary schools, neighbours and community organisations.
“We are creating a ‘sense of place’ and cultural identity in a way that enlivens and enhances public buildings and spaces,” Hannah Katarski said.
“Buses play an integral part in the daily lives of many people in the community who do not have cars or who choose to use public transport. Accordingly, bus shelters are a blank canvas waiting to be used as a form of communication and expression that can link people into their community.”
Hannah Katarski said the Adopt-a-Stop project gives young people a chance to spray their art legally and learn valuable problem solving skills as they work in a group situation.
“Many younger children are able to learn about art and how it can be used by the community to work through local issues and communicate messages relevant to them, such as road safety messages,” she said. “Community groups can also use the project to increase the profile of their organisation in the community, while residents can express what their neighbourhood means to them, while getting to know other residents.”
Western Australia’s Disability Services Commission (DSC) is one community organisation involved in the program. In April, it transformed its fourth adopted bus stop.
Each shelter draws its design from the interests of the residents, most of whom are participating in the Lost Generation Project run by DADAA (Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts).
The Lost Generation refers to a group of people who have had little or no contact with the community in which they live.
The project aims to reconnect these participants with their local community.
The Adopt-a-Stop program received a $15,000 grant from the Office of Crime Prevention to assist with the delivery of a series of Adopt-a-Stop workshops throughout Melville.
For further information contact Hannah Katarski on (08) 9364 0650
