A NEW art initiative to help reduce tag and graffiti crime in Newquay has made its mark.

Your Art Connect CIC is staging a six-week pilot project titled Graffiti to Gallery to create the town’s first legal spray wall at Trenance Park through a series of workshops and restorative justice programs.

The first workshop saw young people, who are struggling with engagement, create a mural with graffiti artists Spray Saint, Sumo Graff from Oberi Art and Siobhan Taylor-Levene from the Lazy Artists Club.

The wall art initiative aims to give artists a place to create legal artwork, promote creative freedom, support young artists, reduce illegal graffiti and build a street art culture in Newquay.

The forward-thinking project has been funded through the National Lottery, proceeds from the police crime fund and Boardmasters following concerns a spate of tagging in Newquay is making the town look unsightly.

Your Art Connect is collaborating on the scheme with Newquay BID, Cornwall Council and Newquay Town Council.

The wall art rules include respecting other artists’ work, no hate, offensive or explicit content, keeping the space clean and painting legally and not elsewhere.

Marie Hutchinson-Ralph from Your Art Connect said: “Graffiti to Gallery is a project helping to build better communities through art.

“After seeing the success of similar projects across the UK, such as Southend, Brighton and Southbank, we were kindly given funding to run this six-week pilot scheme, which aims to reduce tag and graffiti crime.

“We are working with a team of skilled graffiti artists and mentors to help people use their graffiti skills in more effective ways.

“Through a series of workshops and restorative justice working practice, we are looking at the holistic picture of each attendee, their barriers and frustrations in life and their reasons for what is seen as anti-social behaviour.

“Your Art Connect aims to bring new outlets for their artistic outpourings while helping them to meet and work with the people that tag and illegal graffiti impacts upon, bringing together communities that, until recently, have been at loggerheads.

“As part of this scheme, Newquay Town Council and Cornwall Council, have kindly assisted us to become the custodians of Newquay’s first legal spray wall, through the donation of an area at Trenance Park.

“We have already worked with the amazing graffiti and street artists who have taken time to work with young people who are struggling with engagement and needing help to get on the right path in life in a non-judgmental group.

“Although the programme has just started, due to a few last-minute cancellations we still have some spaces left.

“The next session will be on April 2 so there is still time to jump on board. We take referrals from agencies such as youth justice, schools and social workers but people can also self-refer if they feel the project would benefit them.

“Sessions are free, but donations are welcome to help us maintain the wall and provide materials for young people.

“This is just the beginning as Your Art Connect wants to turn walls into opportunities.”