Tagging no; wall art yes. Melbourne Australia is world famous for its street art. Banksy, Keith Haring, Matt Adnate and Meek are but a few who have left their mark and in the process, have created a popular tourist attraction that draws thousands of visitors a year. In 2007, the city even hosted a mentoring program in which younger artists worked with professional artists to hone their craft. Sure go ahead and paint your heart out, it said, and scores of local and visiting artists responded to the call. Witness Hosier Lane just off the main drag where hundreds of people crowd the narrow alleyway to see the changing parade of paintings, stencil art and calligraphy. Alley art is made possible, even condoned, by Melbourne`s graffiti management plan which allows spray painting in certain lanes and alleyways set aside for the purpose. The plan has now expired and is currently under review.
Alley art is self regulating. There’s a constant turnover of art works as the artists themselves determine what’s worth keeping and what they’ll paint over. They profess to respect each other’s work and sure enough whenever I return to Melbourne (which is three times now) I see familiar pieces that haven`t been touched.
Alley art really took off in 2001 as a result of an initiative to turn the city’s unused, narrow laneways into productive people places. Fifteen specific laneways or alleys have been set aside for painting, more if you consider the suburbs. Today, Melbourne`s downtown alleys are filled with cafes, shops and painted walls. The city`s graffiti management plan also allows artists to paint on private property if they get the owner’s permission first. The idea is to discourage graffiti by providing an outlet for creative expression and for the most part, it works. Although there are stiff fines in place for what it considers “throw-ups” or crude pieces, Melbourne has a liberal interpretation of what it considers art as opposed to vandalism. And of course, in the 15 designated alleyways, anything goes.
Melbourne loves its creative sector. It also runs a robust public art program which complements its spray painted walls. Public consultations to determine what happens with its graffiti management plan are ongoing and although there are no guarantees at this point, alley art is likely to continue.