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The question of ‘Legal
Walls’
A question that is often asked and on many
occasions tried, in an effort to reduce the
amount of graffiti vandalism in an area and
to provide an ‘outlet’ for the vandals to
undertake their vandalism.
Many communities have tried ‘legal’ or ‘free
walls,’ or areas that permit graffiti and
found them ineffective. There are a couple
of problems with ‘legal walls’ which we have
listed below. While well
intentioned, legal walls often cause more
harm than good, and tend to attract other
graffiti vandalism in the surrounding areas
of that ‘legal wall’. Legal walls also send
mixed messages on the issue of graffiti
vandalism. Communities and
governments that create or want to create a
‘legal’ wall should be ready to take
responsibility for any number of adverse
effects, and can also have liability and
negligence issues. The
following are just a few areas to consider
before allowing a ‘legal wall’ :
• Who will monitor the wall?
• Will it be repainted regularly to provide
a fresh ‘canvas’?
• What if someone writes obscenities or hate
graffiti on the wall? What action will be
taken? And by who?
• What if graffiti moves to walls nearby and
the surrounding area? Who will pay to remove
it? Who will ensure the safety of those
removing the graffiti? Can those who gave
permission for graffiti on a ‘legal wall’ be
held liable for attraction of other graffiti
in the surrounding area?
• Who is allowed to use the ‘legal wall’?
Will they be required to adhere to OH&S
standards? If not, who is liable for any
injuries or health issues that arise? How
will any rules by enforced?
• Are there laws in place that restrict
possession of graffiti implements by
persons? Who will enforce these? Who will be
responsible for person caught with
implements that convene State laws?
These are questions that we all, in the
community, need to be asking when discussing
the idea of a ‘legal wall’ project.
Many people say that ‘legal walls’ don’t get
tagged or graffitied once they are in place.
This statement is actually wrong. Recently
on the ABC TV Sunday Arts program (Sunday
Feb 10 2008) two graffiti vandals admitted
that they hated graffiti vandals that tagged
or painted over their work. This shows that
the so called Graffiti vandals code of
ethics, where one does not paint over
someone else’s vandalism, does not exist.
There is also evidence across the country
where ‘legal walls’ having been targeted by
other vandals. In some parts
of the world people have been killed for
painting over so called ‘legal walls’
There is little evidence to indicate that
‘legal walls’ deter graffiti vandalism as
few audits have been undertaken before and
after a ‘legal wall’ has been approved by
that authority. Other issues
surrounding ‘legal walls’ include;
• A ‘legal wall’ sends a mixed message to
the very audience a community should be
educating about respect for other peoples
property. Understanding that it is ok to
‘write’ on this wall, but not another, is a
difficult concept for children and confusing
to teens and young adults. They may believe
that other surfaces covered with graffiti
illegally are also ‘legal walls’.
• ‘Legal walls’ are often ‘learning walls’
for novice graffiti vandals who want to hone
their skills or watch more proficient
vandals at work. Once they have prefaced
their tag, novice vandals want to try it in
more visible areas of the community.
• Graffiti vandalism is not restricted to
the legal wall and as such the rest of the
community is affected.
• An increase in litter in and around the
‘legal wall’ begins to take place.
• Judgements on the type of the type of
graffiti that will be permissible, and which
are not, have to be made. What may seem like
relatively harmless hip-hop and generic
graffiti may be accompanied by offensive, or
obscene hate graffiti, racial graffiti and
gang graffiti.
• ‘Legal walls’ can be used as ‘recruiting
areas’ for graffiti crews and even gangs.
Graffiti Hurts – Australia believes that any
organisation thinking about or developing a
‘legal wall’ program or government agencies
and local government providing funding for a
project should adopt the Graffiti Hurts –
Australia guidelines for Community Arts
Murals. These guidelines have
been developed to ensure a wholelistic
approach across the agency to ensure maximum
participation, increase in community pride
and a reduction in the spend by government
agencies, local government and businesses on
graffiti removal. Graffiti
Hurts-Australia is also in a position to
manage the grant applications, program and
local project for government agencies across
Australia. Graffiti Hurts-Australia takes
into account not only our guidelines, but
all safety aspects and ensuring that the
project becomes a true community asset.
Contact the Graffiti Hurts-Australia office
to find out how Graffiti Hurts – Australia
can be your community partner for community
murals. |
