An overview of the tags and graffiti prevention and support program

Transcription

1 An overview of the tags and graffiti prevention and support program Gatineau has introduced a program to address the problem of tags and graffiti vandalism. The tags and graffiti prevention and support program is the outcome of several years of work by a multidisciplinary team of representatives of the Service de police, the Service des travaux publics, the Service des loisirs, des sports et du développement des communautés, the Commission jeunesse and L Alternative Outaouais, a local organization that works with youth. Ever since the program was implemented, complaints about illegal tags and graffiti have dropped by more than 60%! The program s success is undeniably due to the choice of a preventive approach integrating youth, graffiti artists and residents in its development and implementation. Gatineau s tags and graffiti prevention and support program earned the 2009 Mérite Ovation municipale award from the Union des municipalités du Québec in the community development and social housing category. This program has three components: prevention, cleanup and by-laws. Each component has specific objectives that are achieved through actions and strategies aimed at supporting residents in the application of the municipal by-law on the control of tags and graffiti. 1. Prevention The prevention component aims to improve understanding of the phenomenon of tags and graffiti among residents and to promote graffiti that is respectful of public and private property. Its objective is to inform, increase awareness and encourage graffiti as an urban art form. Objective no. 1: Inform Informing the public and young people about the tags and graffiti prevention and support program by continuously reviewing and assessing the phenomenon in Gatineau. The program targets young people who wish to express themselves through graffiti art, and residents who have been victims of illegal tags and graffiti. In an effort to properly inform its residents and work upstream from the phenomenon of tags and graffiti, Gatineau is also being proactive in its search for information on the issue. It believes that a solid understanding of the phenomenon will help it to better focus its measures. 1

2 One of the key elements in achieving this objective is getting the information out there. This is why every communication channel, from social networks to the Web and hard copy publications, is being used for the program. Objective no. 2: Awareness Making residents and young people aware of the program s benefits by validating legal graffiti. By increasing awareness, Gatineau hopes to build a bridge between young graffiti artists and the public. It also wants to demystify the darker side of this form of expression, get young people to use the authorized surfaces, and help residents gain a better appreciation for graffiti as a form of urban art. In partnership with local organizations, Gatineau is organizing awareness workshops for youth. Thus, mobile surfaces that are intended for graffiti will be provided to interested organizations. The workshops will be run by young graffiti artists, who will not only get a chance to display their talent, but also to make young people aware of different ways to express their art legally. The mobile surfaces can also be used for block parties, festivals and other public events organized by Gatineau. Young people in Gatineau are fortunate in that they live in a city that is an acknowledged leader in the management and prevention of tags and graffiti. More than 40 walls located in parks and three tunnels are authorized for tags and graffiti. These surfaces give them the option of painting their graffiti in a safe environment, and encourage them to respect public and private property. Gatineau firmly believes in prevention and awareness. It is always willing to take part in mediations with young perpetrators. These meetings provide the opportunity to inform them about the tags and graffiti prevention and support program, to make them aware of the costs and consequences of cleanup, and to give them the opportunity to act positively by getting involved in running awareness workshops with youth. 2

3 Objective no. 3: Promotion Promoting graffiti as an urban art form. This is a daring gamble by Gatineau. By acknowledging the fundamental need of young people to express themselves, including through graffiti, by being willing to work with young people on improving their quality of life, and by showing its respect for youth and its trust in them, Gatineau has chosen to highlight the art of graffiti, as well as the talent and genius of its creators, the graffiti artists. Gatineau has been working towards this objective since 2005, among other things by organizing an annual graffiti contest where young artists are invited to paint their graffiti on a given surface within a set period of time. In its effort to remain innovative and on the same wavelength as its young graffiti artists, Gatineau arranges contests involving a variety of surfaces, ranging from the shovels of snow clearing trucks to the boards around outdoor skating rinks, to the great delight of contest participants and the public. The production of frescoes is also an opportunity to promote this form of public art. A first colossal piece measuring over 400 m 2 was completed in 2009 in the Hull sector. Aside from promoting the allure of this urban art form, frescoes achieve a number of other objectives, namely beautifying a neighbourhood, increasing the sense of belonging and safety of residents, a better understanding of the neighbourhood s history, and a drop in the number of illegal tags and graffiti through more respect for the site designated for the creation. A mural artist is brought in by Gatineau to guide the graffiti artists developing the frescoes, which helps these young artists acquire new artistic knowledge and techniques. 3

4 2. Cleanup The cleanup component is tangible in that it involves all of the parties municipal, public and private in the battle against tags and graffiti. Swift cleanup of illegal tags and graffiti is a critical and essential measure in preventing repeat offences. Given that both Gatineau and residents are victims when it comes to this type of vandalism, cleanup is a shared responsibility and requires a collective effort in order to limit the proliferation of illegal tags and graffiti and to discourage the perpetrators. Objective: Cleanup Cleaning up illegal tags and graffiti on infrastructures and municipal, public and private properties. Gatineau has assigned staff to clean up illegal tags and graffiti on its infrastructures. It must comply with its own municipal by-law on the control of tags and graffiti, and it targets those that are discriminatory, vulgar or offensive before the others. It is also Gatineau s responsibility to maintain the authorized surfaces and tunnels. Private and public organizations, Crown corporations and major companies within Gatineau are asked to collaborate in the cleanup component. Gatineau would like to develop strategies aimed at avoiding vandalism, and encourages its partners to quickly clean up illegal tags and graffiti. As well, Gatineau invites homeowners to get involved in this effort by immediately removing graffiti from their properties. Gatineau would also like to work with community organizations on developing different strategies to support residents in this responsibility. It is proposing, at one level, to provide them with tips and tricks to prevent, and thereby clean up any signs of vandalism, and at another level, to introduce a pilot project for cleaning and covering up illegal tags and graffiti in partnership with local organizations. In addition, it would like to develop a project aimed at removing illegal tags and graffiti in connection with Gatineau s big cleanup. 4

5 3. By-law The by-law component concerns the application of the municipal by-law on the control of illegal tags and graffiti adopted in December This component refers to the application of by-law no , with which residents are required to comply. The new by-law stipulates that residents are responsible for and required to eliminate any tag or graffiti on their property unless they have a valid permit authorizing its presence. Objective: Enforce the by-law by distributing the notices and permits. In pursuing this objective, Gatineau will provide the necessary resources and procedures for implementing its by-law, as well as the benchmarks for permits for applying graffiti. Gatineau cannot wage the battle against tags and graffiti vandalism alone, which is why it opted for the use of a by-law. For additional information about the tags and graffiti prevention and support program, call , extension 2445, consult the municipal Web site at or write us at graffiti@gatineau.ca. Writing: Josiane Cossette Marie-Noële St-Pierre Collaboration: Lyse Huot 5