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City’s Adopt-a-Stop a Success
Over the past nine months, the City of Melville’s ‘Adopt-a-Stop’ Project has involved 54 participants from a variety of groups giving 11 bus shelters across the City a makeover. Since the initiative started in November 2008, painting has occurred across the City, including in Palmyra, Willagee, Myaree, Bicton, Bull Creek, Mount Pleasant and Winthrop.
Community Development Officer – Arts, Hannah Katarski said the City received a $15,000 grant from the Office of Crime Prevention to fund projects targeting graffiti reduction. “The grant assisted with the delivery of a series of Adopt-a-Stop workshops designed to help develop up-and-coming artists. The project has also been beneficial in terms of the partnerships developed with the Disability Services Commission (DSC), resident group Willagee Alive, graffiti removal contractors Kleen-it, urban and community artists and more than 50 community participants,” she said.
“Kleen-it supported the project by not only preparing the shelters for the murals but also coating them with an anti-graffiti coat upon completion. Local urban artists facilitated workshops for the general public and for school-aged students, and coordinated painting. Willagee Alive participated in the project by adopting a stop in Willagee, and – under the guidance of a community artist – four bus shelters were adopted by City residents with a disability who live in DSC-supported housing,” she said.
“The initiative achieved: a reduction in the frequency of graffiti incidents reported on bus shelters; further education of community members in a variety of areas including art design, respect for property, communication skills and presentation; and promotion of a positive self-image and sense of worth in participants. Results from the participant survey indicated that participants recognised the difference between graffiti and urban art. Feedback also showed that most respondents found the workshops useful and interesting,” she said.
Mayor Russell Aubrey said the project had been part of the City’s initiatives to help beautify the municipality. “The Adopt-a-Stop initiative aimed to create a ‘sense of place’ and cultural identity within the community. It also enlivens and enhances public buildings and spaces and creates a sense of community pride, which leads to a reduction in the level of graffiti,” he said.
“Although the project has been completed, the murals painted on the bus shelters have a life span of about five years and will continue to prevent graffiti and vandalism from occurring on them. Given the considerable interest expressed by community groups and the DSC, the City will continue to support community groups who wish to adopt bus stops in the future,” he said.