Seattle Culture
Grappling With Graffiti
Seattle seeks to create murals to combat vandalism
By Rob Smith October 6, 2023
Tired of graffiti across our beautiful city? Help is here.
The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture this week awarded $1.13 million to more than 75 artists and organizations to beautify neighborhoods and nurture the artistic aspirations of youth.
One initiative, through the Downtown Seattle Mural Project, will create about 40 murals from Belltown south to the SODO neighborhood. Another, via Hope Corps — an artist employment and pandemic recovery initiative — will fund nearly 60 murals, both temporary and permanent, across the city beginning later this year.
“More public art means a more vibrant, welcoming city for all,” says Mayor Bruce Harrell, who noted last year that incidents of graffiti have grown more than 50% since 2019. “These local artists further enhance our city’s beauty.”
Other initiatives include the Seattle Parks and Recreation Mural Project to commission 18 artists to create temporary murals at public restrooms throughout the city; Artists at the Center, a program in its third year that features up-and-coming artists at Seattle Center; and Youth Arts, a two-year program to fund access to arts for kids.
“Seattle’s arts community is the heart of our economy and cultural identify,” says Gülgün Kayim, Seattle Office of Arts and Culture interim director. “Diverse voices make Seattle truly unique.”
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