The writing's on the wall for Runcorn youths

Published by Jon Land for Riverside Group in Housing and also in Communities, Education, Environment

Young people in Runcorn had something to spray as they took up graffiti lessons on the Palace Fields estate.

Budding Banksys interested in honing their street art skills enjoyed the two-week graffiti art workshop backed by Riverside Housing, Arena Housing, Four Estates, Halton Borough Councils Neighbourhood Management Project and Area Forum.

Liverpool based Zap Graffiti taught the skills of street art to around 13 youngsters ranging from ages seven to 13 during the summer holidays. They also learned about the history of graffiti and the positive and negative aspects of street art.

Children from the four estates of Palace Fields, Murdishaw, Hallwood Park and Halton Brook initiated the project when they put forward suggestions about how to tackle illegal graffiti in the area in the form of a DVD film shown to bosses from Runcorns neighbourhood services.

Instead of the suggested graffiti boards, the course was set up to give children the chance to make their mark in an allocated area, under supervision from local street artists.

Mark Browne, community initiatives officer for Riverside Housing said: There has been a very positive response from the local community to the completed artwork. It really does brighten up the area. And because local kids have produced the art themselves were hoping that other youngsters will take pride in it to make sure that its not defaced.

As a reward for taking part, children received free cinema tickets and t-shirts complete with the designs of their own graffiti artwork.

Kieran Gorman from Zap Graffiti added: We work with schools, youth groups and the wider community to promote graffiti as a positive art form both in the UK and abroad. People get involved in legal graffiti arts projects and learn about the global culture of graffiti as an arts movement. We also discuss the implications of vandalism and how this impacts on individuals as well as the environment.

Young Melissa Rowlands, aged 10 from Palace Fields gave her stamp of approval on the workshops: I enjoyed putting art on the walls so everyone can see it. It was grotty before, but now its bright and colourful. Its beautiful.