Agenda item

To consider the outcome of the policy implementation phase of the Graffiti and Street Art Management Policy 2022 to establish Street Art in South Holland to provide safe and welcoming public spaces for our local communities (report of the Deputy Chief Executive – Communities enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Deputy Chief Executive - Communities which asked the Panel to consider the outcome of the implementation phase of the Graffiti and Street Art Management Policy 2022 to establish Street Art in South Holland to provide safe and welcoming public spaces for our local communities

The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture presented the report to the Panel which included the following areas:

• Background to the report and formation of the policy;
• Corporate Plan priorities supported by the policy;
• An outline of the content and structure of the Graffiti and Street Art Management Policy 2022.
• Piloting phase of the policy;
• Policy implementation and next steps;
• Appendix A detailed the full policy; and
• Street Art ‘Bloc’ Concept Designs and Project Artwork images were presented at Appendix B.

Members considered the update and made the following comments:

• Members thanked the Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture for the update.

• Members stated that concerns had been expressed in terms of the restriction of artwork which would be permitted under the policy and queried the level of demand following implementation.
  • The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture responded:
    • That the policy had achieved its aims and had worked well;
    • Positive project outcomes had arisen when the agreed concept and final artwork themes were aligned;
    • The perception of street art was subjective however ongoing work had evidenced that there was a place for the artform; and
    • Future street art opportunities would be explored as part of the National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) project which focussed on ‘heritage’ and ‘place’ and would enable creative expression.

• Members asked whether communities across the district had engaged with street art opportunities; and queried the time period that current artwork would remain in place.
  • The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture responded that:
    • The current street art would remain in place however a space for changing public street art could be considered; and
    • Whilst the current demand for street art was unknown, the partnership organisation, Transported Art, would be engaging with schools across the district to assess demand.

• Members stated that the policy had been thoroughly and successfully tested during the skatepark art project where three concepts had been accepted by SHDC. The Strategic and Operational Property Manager and the Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture were praised for their involvement and assistance with the project.

• Members asked whether any additional art or vandalism had occurred at the skatepark street art site.
  • A member responded that graffiti had been minimal, and that young people had been respectful of the site and of the street artists who were held in high regard. Social media feedback regarding the site had been positive;
  • The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture responded that:
    • Whilst graffiti was a risk, engagement and education through schools was taking place;
    • Public art around the district, such as mosaics, had been valued and respected; and
    • The policy supported remedial action should issues arise.

• Members referred to 5.3 of the report and asked whether the £1,955,799 NPO funding, for the period 2023 to 2026, would be allocated equally across the three projects

o   The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture stated that whilst the funding would be rolled-out across the three partnership-wide projects, a breakdown of the funding was yet to be established.

• Members referred to the success of the skatepark project and expressed a strong desire for the enablement of further/similar projects to take place across the district. Members asked whether any of the NPO funding could remain within SHDC to support artists to work directly with young people, rather than wholly devolved to partnership organisations where results were unclear. 
  • The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture responded that:
    • Appointment of a Project Manager across the three authorities would take the NPO scheme forward;
    • SHDC had plans to propose a number of projects; and
    • The partnership organisation Transported Art delivered positive outcomes in communities and schools where activity had taken place. It was proposed that a representative(s) from Transported Art be invited to attend Spalding Town Forum to inform members of their activities and achievements.
• Members agreed that a presentation by a Transported Art representative(s) would be beneficial however this should be open to all members and take place at either a Full Council meeting or a Member Briefing.
  • The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture noted this request.

• Members suggested that engagement take place with youth forums and that ideas be integrated with the work of Spalding Town Forum.

• Members raised awareness of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in respect of digitised artwork. It was suggested that SHDC street art could potentially be tokenised to offer a revenue benefit and give further opportunities for street artists and investors, such as involvement with the NPO heritage project.
  • The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture responded that the aim of the NPO project was engagement of heritage and place through artforms.

• Members concluded that:
  • The policy had been tested and deemed fit for purpose;
  • Positive policy outcomes had been achieved through the collaboration with artists and evidenced by feedback from the public; and
  • It was hoped that the policy would lead to the further growth of art around the towns and villages of the South Holland district.

AGREED:

Following consideration by the Policy Development Panel:

• That the outcome of the implemental phase, which followed the adoption of a new Graffiti and Street Art Management Policy, be noted;

• That officers continue to pursue ongoing work with the arts and education sectors to develop a project to provide a more permanent opportunity for street art in the future; and

• That, as requested by members, a presentation by Transported Art be made to all members at either a Full Council meeting or a Member Briefing.