Tags and graffiti prevention and support program

Ever since the tags and graffiti prevention and support program was introduced, complaints about illegal tags and graffiti have dropped by more than 60%!

• Call for expressions of interest – Graffiti artists
• List of approved walls and tunnels
• Graffiti art
• Mobile walls
• Dispose of aerosol paint cans in a manner that is not harmful to the environment

---

Call for expressions of interest – Graffiti artists

Ville de Gatineau, through its Tags and Graffiti Prevention and Support Program, and the Société de transport de l'Outaouais would like to produce a 3,000 m2 permanent outdoor mural in celebration of graffiti as urban art.

To produce this work, which will cover part of the wall along the access ramp from boulevard des Allumettières and rue Montcalm, Gatineau will hire five or six young graffiti artists, mostly from Gatineau, who would work under the direction of the city's youth programs coordinator.

Selection criteria

• The ability to work as part of a team
• An understanding of French
• Respect for public and private spaces

Documents requested

• A curriculum vitæ, including date of birth and home address
• A letter of intent addressing the applicant's skills and willingness to work as part of a team
• Photos of two works (graffiti) done by the applicant alone
• Photos of two works done by the applicant along with other graffiti artists

First stage of selection

• A jury will select 12 (twelve) semi-finalists, each of whom will get $50

Second stage of selection

• A jury will select the group of young graffiti artists who will do the work in exchange for a stipend
• The jury's decisions are final

Graffiti artists who are interested in this contest should send their application (curriculum vitae, letter of introduction and photos of works completed) before 4 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2013.

By mail:
Ville de Gatineau
Service des loisirs, des sports et du développement des communautés
Division qualité de vie et développement communautaire
Att'n Marie-Noële St-Pierre
PO BOX 1970, STN Hull
Gatineau QC  J8X 3Y9

By e-mail: graffiti@gatineau.ca

The work should begin in May 2013, and be completed within a few months, by July. Information: 819-243-2345, extension 2445.

---

List of approved walls and tunnels

The introduction of the tags and graffiti prevention and support program in 2001 to combat graffiti vandalism led to the construction of approved graffiti walls. This measure meant that 50 surfaces (walls and tunnels) spread out across 29 sites became available to anyone wishing to indulge in graffiti.

Aylmer sector

Buckingham sector

Gatineau sector

Hull sector

---

Graffiti art

Five frescoes have been painted since 2009 under the tags and graffiti prevention and support program. Aside from promoting the beauty of this urban art form, the fresco serves a number of other objectives, such as embellishing the neighbourhood and increasing the sense of belonging of residents.

Au marché, created in April 2012

Au marché is a permanent urban art piece that was created in April 2012 on a fence at the Marché Notre-Dame (Gatineau sector). It is 2.44 m high and 25 m wide, and depicts the theme of fruits and vegetables. This frescoe was prepared by graffiti artists Lukasz Bober, Gabriel Côté, Marin Mitrasinovic, Patrick Moss, Marc-André Perron and Jean-Claude Savard.

Ici, au rythme des saisons, unveiled in May 2012

The permanent urban art piece entitled Ici, au rythme des saisons was created in April 2012 on an outside wall of the aréna Frank-Robinson (Aylmer sector). It is 2.44 m high and 14.63 m wide. Given that it was made on a structure, and not directly on the arena wall, additional panels may be added later. Its title evokes life, guided by the rhythm of nature, in a place where people feel at home. Lukasz Bober, Gabriel Côté and Marc-André Perron had the pleasure of creating it.

Demain, unveiled in September 2011

This permanent urban art installation was made in September 2011 by Jonathan Barbier (Montréal), Lukasz Bober (Gatineau), Maxime Haineault (Gatineau), Xavier Lapointe (Québec), Patrick Moss (Gatineau), Marc-André Perron (Gatineau) and Julien Querry (Gatineau). Its theme is water sports, and it measures 8.6 m in height and 9.8 m in width. It is called Demain, in reference to the wish of graffiti artists to leave a message of hope about the future for young people visiting the sports centre.

Étincelle de vie, unveiled in June 2009

A permanent urban art work painted by four young graffiti artists, under the guidance of a well-known mural artist and with the support and collaboration of a committee made up of representatives of the Commission jeunesse, L'Avenue des jeunes, L'Alternative Outaouais, a restorative justice organization, different municipal departments, a Gatineau resident and an elected official. The fresco was painted on rue St-Rédempteur (Hull sector) on a retaining wall measuring 70 m in length and 6.1 m in height.

Aside from the challenges presented by the height of the wall and the fact that it was at the top of a slope, the other factor that had to be addressed was getting the local community on board. This was essential in order to ensure a design and an artistic concept that everyone could endorse.

Nouveau regard, unveiled in December 2010

A temporary artwork painted by four young graffiti artists. The group benefited from the guidance provided by Gatineau's Commission jeunesse, its Direction générale and a construction company. This work of art was painted on the security wall surrounding a 1,372 square metres construction site at the intersection of rue Kent and rue Victoria (Hull sector).

The purpose of this fresco was to embellish an urban landscape that had been completely disfigured by a construction site, and to eliminate the recurring problem of tags and graffiti vandalism. Producing this immense work of art within a relatively short period of time before the winter cold set in was no small challenge.

---

Mobile walls

Mobiles surfaces are provided to organizations that wish to use them for graffiti workshops. These sessions are taught by young graffiti artists who not only get to display their talent but also get to introduce young people to this form of artistic expression in an entirely legal manner. The mobile surfaces are also used for block parties, festivals and other public events organized by Gatineau.

Procedure for the use of mobile walls

Application	The application has to be made at least one month before the event by filling out the online form.
Quantity	Five structures are available
Format	Surfaces for painting: 8 x 4 feet, back to front Large structure: 6 feet high x 8 feet wide x 3 feet thick
Materials	Surface on which to paint: plywood painted white Structure: grey concrete blocks
Transportation	Transported by truck (provided by the Service des travaux publics)
Loan	Organizations, block parties and short-term activities
Cost	Gatineau covers the cost of transportation and of the graffiti artists (four hours per event, up to ten events per year)
Recommendations	The applicant must provide a site plan showing the locations for the structures, or spray paint the selected spot(s) on the grass, maybe even have someone at the site to welcome the municipal employees from Travaux publics. The site must be accessible to a truck. The structures must be set up a fair distance from any buildings or cars to ensure that these do not get marked by the sprayed paint carried by the wind. Take into consideration the fact that the structures can be painted on both sides, hence avoid placing them right up against a building. Given that the structures must be delivered during the working hours of Service des travaux publics employees, they must not be installed in an area that should not be blocked (e.g., a street). Recoat the surface with a light colour once you are done with it.

---

Dispose of aerosol paint cans in a manner that is not harmful to the environment

The graffiti artists should dispose of their aerosol paint cans at the Gatineau ecocentre.