Students embrace graffiti program

Five Horsham schools have undertaken an interactive graffiti education program, learning about graffiti vandalism, its consequences and the impact it can have on the community.

Delivered by Warner Youth Education, the workshops had a strong focus on understanding the difference between street art and illegal graffiti using the core themes of respect, responsible action and positive decision-making.

The workshops highlighted to students the negatives of graffiti vandalism, and encouraged students to avoid being influenced by peer pressure, as well as demonstrating how to role model and make positive choices.

Horsham Rural City Council community services director Kevin O’brien said the council had used a Graffiti Prevention Grant from the Department of Justice to implement the project, designed to help reduce graffiti-related crime in the municipality.

“The workshops are part of the council’s response aimed at curbing graffiti vandalism and educating young people on the difference between street art where permission has been obtained, as opposed to creating illegal graffiti,” he said. “It is an expensive process to remove graffiti and in recent times the council has spent almost $60,000 doing just that.”

The program will culminate in a street-art project led by the Art is… festival committee.

Art is… will work with students and a reputable street artist to produce street art in the lead-up to the 2017 Art is... festival in June.

The project is a joint project of the council, Nexus, Victoria Police, Art Is… and a public art committee.