Dope Wiltshire Council keepin’ it realz n ting, piloting a new legal art wall in Melksham to give artists the opportunity to showcase their talent without vandalising property; have we entered a new era for the county council, or a parallel universe?! Did they sustain a head injury breakdancing at County Hall?! Like, whatever, it’s both surprising and welcome news….
Perhaps they’ve looked at Swindon Paint Fest and seen how our nearest neighbour are decorating their town so wonderfully. The new art wall will be situated at the underpass on the A350 Bath Road in the town, and while it will continue to be managed and monitored by Wiltshire Council, a local community arts group will take on the day-to-day running of the wall, including the maintenance and cleaning of the artwork.
It will be the responsibility of all the users to ensure they keep to the specified area and adhere to the code of conduct, which includes no offensive tags and respecting all users of the underpass. All materials, such as paint and other art supplies, will be provided by the wall users, and the council will step in to remove any inappropriate artwork if required.
While this sounds subjective and restrictive towards freedom to express discontent in art, as street art often does, it’s a promising start we hope will expand into other towns. I guess we simply have to accept that the Council will be judge and jury on what constitutes “offensive.”” Not excluding, of course, the notion if they are to push too strictly on this, graffiti artists will simply go elsewhere, illegally, and the whole scheme is at risk of failure.
Cllr Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene, said, “Graffiti is a longstanding antisocial issue across the country, and so we’re pleased to be able to trial this legal art wall in Melksham, with the hope it can be a success to roll out into other areas of the county.
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“We’ve spoken to other authorities, mostly in urban areas, that have trialled similar projects, and they have seen a fall in illegal graffiti, along with increased engagement with the community, and we hope we can do the same here in Wiltshire.
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I believe, and hope, they will be pleasantly surprised by the results, artistically, but the divide between what constitutes art and what constitutes vandalism is subjective and open to debate. Yet Mr Holder says, “We hope to see some fantastic artwork showcased on the wall once it launches later this year – along with a decrease in illegal graffiti in Melksham during the coming months.
“ And I have to tip my hat to that, for while it’s too late for me and my spray paint days are over, it is the art movement of today, and like it or loathe it, it’s here to stay.
To get involved in the project, people should contact Richard Rogers, Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager, on richard.rogers@wiltshire.gov.uk(opens new window).
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