PICTURE THIS
Shayna Stock, executive director of the Heritage Community Association, sees murals as not only a way to beautify the neighbourhood, but also to reduce graffiti.
The crux of a new Heritage community initiative: encourage graffiti to discourage graffiti.
Andrew Stevens, Ward 3 city councillor, is teaming up with the Heritage Community Association (HCA) to spearhead the effort, which will take a two-pronged approach.
First, it will seek to assist residents in removing graffiti from their property — an obvious issue in Ward 3, according to Stevens.
The idea was sparked by the concerns of area residents, one of whom Stevens cited.
“It appeared (to her) as if the city wasn’t really investing any attention into addressing graffiti. She was really disturbed with how much there was, and she wanted something to be done.”
Currently, the city’s graffiti bylaw is tough on property owners, Stevens said. “You’re victimized by graffiti. You’re on the hook to remove it or face a fine.”
As such, the initiative hopes to partner with residents and landlords, to pool funds for people in the area who can’t afford supplies to remove graffiti.
Further, organizers hope to put together a “neighbourhood labour crew” to assist residents who might be physically unable to remove the graffiti on their own.
“We have seen a rise over the past few months in unwanted graffiti,” said Shayna Stock, the HCA executive director.
While gang tags may reappear after being removed, a methodical approach to removal may discourage repeat offences, she said, noting residents looking for assistance can contact the association.
Under the city’s bylaw, graffiti is listed as “pretty much anything that’s unwanted,” Stevens said, cueing the initiative’s second prong.
That is, commissioned graffiti. “There are individuals who consider themselves graffiti artists,” he said, adding that he feels some of the best art in Regina is on the sides of public buildings and businesses.
Stevens feels if more murals are commissioned in the neighbourhood, they will help deter people from scrawling the less attractive, unwanted graffiti (gang tags, etc.) on those spaces.
“From a lot of the graffiti artists we’ve spoken to, that is the case,” he said.
He hopes local businesses will get on board with the initiative and kick in funds to pay mural artists, because commissioned art carries a cost.
Sometimes “several thousand dollars.”
“And they shouldn’t be free, because the people who are doing them are artists, and this is their work,” he added.
The effort is slated to launch in February and carry on into the summer.