The art of aerosol on the Soundbox wall

A series of workshops is taking place in the craft of legal aerosol art as part of an ongoing community partnership programme at a Towcester café involving local social housing provider South Northants Homes (SNH).

It’s the latest in a series of events involving young people who are turning their hands to spray-painting a special wall at the Vision Café in the town culminating in a big community launch of the art wall in June.

Youngsters aged between 11 and 15 and pensioners have already been involved in the project to decorate the wall for which SNH funded the construction.

Tio Gallant, community development officer for South Northants Homes, who constructed the wall, said:  “It is fantastic to see how an idea from local young people has developed into what is now a promising legal aerosol art project. There have been a lot of meetings, consultations, events, evaluations and general hard work and dedication from partners and young people to get to this point.”

“Those involved with this project believe it will have a positive impact upon Towcester Town and we hope the community embraces and supports it as much as partners and the young people do. It was amazing to watch how young and older people could spray paint together and have fun.

“Young people can go and express themselves pro-socially using the medium aerosol art. It’s also about giving young people a voice and a positive activity, which they can engage in and express themselves through their artwork. “

The idea of the Project which was kick-started with a £4,000 grant from Barclaycard last year as part of their Community Gifts Awards, to give young people a safe environment where they can express themselves through aerosol artwork. It was designed to make a positive impact upon Towcester by reducing illegal ‘tags’.

All the regular workshops are facilitated by Hedz which provides youth workshops in the creative arts.

Other local groups involve include Towcester Police, Towcester Town Council and Soundbox Partnership.

For the older residents of South Northants Homes’ retirement schemes who took part it was chance to try their hand at what is seen as a young person’s hobby.

Local pensioner Elizabeth Darbin said: “It proves that even older people can put on a hoodie and have fun in the same way as the young – and if we can do it together so much the better.”

Tyler, 11, said: “I would use the wall because it’s nice and big and I would use it as a way to express my feelings.”

His friend Sammy, 13, added: “It’s good because people can graffiti on somewhere where it’s allowed and not in places where it’s not allowed and not wanted.”

Shaun, 15, added:  “The wall is good to show your feelings and a good way to have fun and it can help people and others in the community, it will be an inspiration.”

There are a number of workshops at the Vision Youth Café this spring culminating a major community launch of the wall on June 20.

The workshops take place between 10am and 4pm on May 14, June 4 and June 18.

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