Harwich: Graffiti artists given a free draw (From Gazette)

Harwich: Graffiti artists given a free draw

12:30pm Friday 5th September 2008 in News By Frances Leate

PEOPLE in Harwich and Dovercourt have come up with a novel idea of stopping graffiti artists drawing all over their town.

Members of the Harwich Conservation Panel have decided to give graffiti artists their own blank canvas to paint their designs on, in the hope it will deter them from writing on walls and surfaces in other parts of the town.

The idea is to have one board up in a permanent area where graffiti artists can showcase their work.

Panel chairman Andy Rutter said: “We have seen them in other countries and they aresuccessful, and because graffiti is a problem in the town we thought it would be a good idea to have one here.

“But in order for it to be successful it has to be in a prominent position.”

He added: “We are looking into where we can get the material or the money to do it.”

The 8ft by 4ft white board with two legs would be stood up at the back of a pavement.

People would be able to write, draw and paint on it.

When the board is covered, the work can be painted over to enable people to start again.