City of Hamilton Launches Legal Wall for Street Art

HAMILTON, ON - The public is invited to join Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann, members of the City’s Keep Hamilton Clean and Green Committee and artists from the Concrete Canvas Festival, to launch the City of Hamilton’s first legal wall for street art on Saturday, September 21 at 1:00 pm at Woodlands Park, 501 Barton Street East (access from Wentworth St. N. just north of Barton St.). It is anticipated that artists will be painting on site from 9:00 am to dusk.

“This pilot is a priority action within the key focus area of Engagement: working collaboratively with the community and stakeholders, finding ways to prevent graffiti vandalism by maximizing available resources and relationships.”

City of Hamilton Graffiti Management Strategy

This pilot project involves the installation of a 100’ x 8’ wood wall that will be available for any emerging street artists to paint providing an approved location to display their work and develop their skills. The wall is anticipated to continually evolve over the next year as artists add new work and paint over each other’s work. It will be monitored by Parks’ staff for any inappropriate content. Staff will consult with artists and local community members to evaluate the success of the project next summer.

Quick Facts

• The project was identified in the city’s Graffiti Management Strategy as one of several actions the City can take to help minimize illegal graffiti and tagging.
• Staff worked with local street artists and Concrete Canvas Festival founders Scott MacDonald and Leon Robinson, Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann and the Keep Hamilton Clean and Green Committee to develop, fund and implement the project.
• Definition of graffiti: any mark or scratch applied on the surface of a building, structure, or street without consent.
• Graffiti management requires a balanced and integrated approach that emphasizes the eradication of graffiti vandalism or “unsanctioned art”, while providing opportunities for sanctioned art.

Additional Resources

• [email protected], 905-546-2424 ext. 6281
• For more information about Concrete Canvas, visit www.concretecanvasfest.com