Fighting graffiti, city seeks applicants for 2024 Paint it Up! mural-making program

It’s the fourteenth anniversary of the City of Ottawa’s Paint it Up! initiative, and there are only a few days left for community groups battling graffiti and encouraging mural artistry to apply for funds. There’s an April 4 deadline for groups hoping to apply for funding to hire local youth to participate in the Paint it Up! initiative. Paint it Up! is a youth engagement program that aims to reduce vandalism in the community while promoting outdoor murals, supporting local arts and cultures, and beautifying Ottawa neighbourhoods. Once funding is granted, groups can hire young artists to help neighbourhoods targeted with tagging and other forms of graffiti and vandalism. Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Tim Tierney said the program has proven its effectiveness over the years. “I’m seeing a far less number of tags,” said Tierney. “People take actual appreciation in the Paint it Up! Murals — it’s almost like that’s off base for taggers.” He added: “I don’t know what the direct correlation is, but certainly I’ve seen a lot less tags in my neighbourhood.” A Paint it Up! mural located near the Jack Purcell Community Centre in Centretown. (Photo @ Riley Murphy) “I think it’s a really good project that...