Graffiti vandals spoil art project
SPRAY painting activities have been dropped from a children's summer scheme because of growing concern about the rapid increase of graffiti in Spalding.
South Holland District Council has confirmed the activity has been excluded from RATs (Rural Arts Touring Scheme), even though there is no proven link between the scheme and the graffiti vandals blighting the area.
James Mayle, of imageskool, who runs the workshops, is disappointed and says the children are being persecuted for something they have not done as there is no link between the Spalding graffiti and the professional artwork created in RATs.
A council spokesman said art activities will remain on the programme alongside DJ skills, skate ramps and dance workshops but instead of using spray paint youngsters will use marker pens on boards.
RATs is part of the youth arts network which receives funding from the Arts Council, Lincolnshire County Council and seven district councils.
South Holland's Crime and Disorder Partnership instigated the decision to omit spray painting and said its funding would be pulled if the activity continued.
As reported in the Spalding Guardian several areas including Sainsbury's, the railway station and council offices have been sprayed.
Coun Gary Taylor, crime reduction portfolio holder, said: "The crime and disorder partnership met recently and, in light of the public concern about the increase in the incidents of graffiti, it was felt unwise to support this aspect of the scheme.
"Despite the fact there is no proven link between the two, for the sake of public perception it was felt that the money could be spent on other diversionary activities."
Coun Nick Worth, leisure and tourism portfolio holder, is disappointed with the decision as there is no proven link between RATs' work and the graffiti in Spalding.
He added: "The urban art was just one part of what we did and was led by the children. I would say people ought to go and look at the art themselves. There's some on the Snowden Pavilion, Crowland.
"It's done on boards and the idea is to keep it for a few weeks and if they get bored they could turn it around or paint over it and do something different.
"It's very different from the graffiti which appears in Spalding, which is tags."
Mr Mayle is extremely disappointed spray painting has been axed but says work at Crowland will continue as the parish council asked for it.
He said: "I'm not very happy about having to explain to the young people who all came along to previous RATs that they can't use spray paint.
"Most of these children are 12, 13 or 14 and they're absolutely brilliant. They have shown they can be responsible and now they have been persecuted for it."
RATs is one of 40 projects county-wide and first visited five villages during Easter holidays when it was attended by around 130 children.
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Weather for Spalding
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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