BYRON YAC Manager, Teeya Blatt, has disputed anti graffiti campaigner Paul Waters’ claim that graffiti increases when YAC street art functions are operating in town.
“I would like to see any information Paul has that conclusively links an increase in graffiti at times YAC conducts street art events,” says Teeya.
“We are looking forward to sitting down with Paul to work towards a solution.”
“We’re always looking for funding… if Paul has access to funding, we could really use it.”
Byron YAC, which is administered by Byron Youth Service Committee of Management, has also suffered from tagging, resulting in the whole YAC complex being enclosed by a fence.
“The crucial difference between graffiti and street art is permission,” says Teeya. “Street artists ask for permission and vandals don’t,” she says.
“In the past month or so we’ve had six artists seek permission to create street art.”
Teeya feels it is unfair for all young people who use spray cans to be lumped together.
“We have some very professional street art at our YAC venue done by professional street artists – their art itself has never been tagged. Non-permissive tagging has never touched the professional works,” she says.
“Just because someone creates art using a spray can doesn’t mean they sneak out at night and vandalise other people’s property.
“Byron YAC feels very strongly about the issue of non-permissive ‘tagging’ and we are very motivated to come up with a solution.”