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Anger over city graffiti contest
A COMPETITION in which graffiti artists from across the country descended on Sheffield has been slammed by council leader Jan Wilson - who has ordered that no similar events take place in the city again.
The contest, organised by The Forum cafe bar, aimed to produce pieces of graffiti artwork to be displayed around the ongoing Devonshire Green redevelopment.
First prize was given to a picture of an orange and grey machine. Second was a representation of City Hall, and third prize was given to an 'urban jungle' design.
Forum bosses hoped the event would deter less artistic taggers and encourage creativity.
But Coun Wilson was outraged when she found out about the competition - which was permitted despite the council's zero tolerance policy on graffiti.
She said: "I asked that it did not proceed but, unfortunately, it had already taken place. What I find absolutely unbelievable is that someone thought this was a good idea and commissioned this project!
"There is no such thing as official graffiti as far as I am concerned. The hoardings will be cleared before the New Year and I will take whatever action is necessary to ensure this doesn't happen again."
She said a photo of the event which appeared in The Star, showing an artist completing a spray-painted picture of a Supertram, was a "very bad signal indeed to other people in the city who may now be tempted to think it is alright to use their artistic talents on walls and street furniture".
Her views have been passed on to council officers who allowed the event to be held.
John Mothersole, the council's executive director of development, environment and leisure, said: "The council's position is very clear, as stated by the council leader.
"For some people, there is a debate about where graffiti ends and art begins, but there is no debate in my mind.
"This initiative will have been carried out with the best of intentions but not, in my view, with the best judgement. All involved now know very clearly what the position is."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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