Last week, Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Coalition (SEUL) and the City of Portland’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) announced that grants were available for graffiti abatement. The funds encourage neighborhood associations, businesses and community-based organizations to keep graffiti at bay as well as create and maintain community-oriented murals.
Southeast Uplift is the first of the seven neighborhood coalitions to make the grants available.
The grant funds come out of the budget of ONI’s Graffiti Abatement Program, which manages citywide graffiti prevention and removal.
Marcia Dennis, ONI Graffiti Abatement Coordinator, says that $42,000 has been made available and that grant funds were distributed among neighborhood coalitions based on their need. Southeast Uplift received $8,486, the largest sum allocated, because of the area’s chronic graffiti problem.
Black Pride mural along NE Alberta St. Photo by Amaren Colosi
Although the intent is to remove and prevent graffiti on private and public property, the goal is to encourage mural projects throughout the city as a way to increase awareness.
Murals have proven to be an effective means of deterring graffiti from appearing on public and private structures. In some cities, mural programs are used as a legal alternative for graffiti artists to promote positive artistic expression. The murals also provide a facade that tends to be left untouched by vandals.
“That is the real goal,” says Dennis. “We want to see mural projects that partner neighborhoods with schools. I’d like the program to increase [public] awareness and buy-in so that we can get a handle on the [graffiti] problem.”
The mural at Albina Green in Northeast Portland
Southeast Uplift Grant Project Opportunities
Grants available through Southeast Uplift range from $500 to $2500, depending on the project size and complexity. Projects must address specific issues to be considered: improvement of a location as a way to prevent graffiti, improvement of a location that is consistently tagged, or community building around the issue of graffiti prevention.
Funds can go toward repair of a mural, application of a protective coating, cleaning or mural painting supplies, education, outreach and event refreshments.
Monarchs mural. Photo by Amaren Colosi
Dennis suggests safety vests for graffiti clean up volunteers. She says the group of 60 volunteers that turned out last month for a graffiti clean up in the Pearl District wore vests with “Graffiti Buster, Pearl District” on the back. “It made an impact. The vests identify groups and it’s a great message to the community,” says Dennis.
Kristin Hagstrom, Deputy Director at Southeast Uplift says that since announcing the grant opportunity last week, she has received a lot of interest but so far, no submissions. She predicts it will be a lot of competition for the funds therefore interested parties are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible. Applications are being accepted through Monday, August 2, 4 p.m. Southeast Uplift will announce the grant recipients on September 1.
For questions about the grant application through Southeast Uplift contact Kristen Hagstrom at kristen@southeastuplift.org or 503.232.0010 x 319.
For information about the City of Portland's Graffit Abatement Program, visit www.portlandonline.com/oni/index.cfm?c=32420.
For information about the City of Portland's Original Art Mural Permit process, visit
www.portlandonline.com/bds/index.cfm?c=50737.
