http://www.theage.com.au/national/antig ... -2uzy.htmlCONSIDERED by many as vandalism, some of the graffiti in Melbourne's laneways could receive heritage protection in a move supported by the National Trust and Heritage Victoria.
The contentious plan will be discussed at an international conference on intangible heritage in Melbourne next week, despite the introduction of tough anti-graffiti legislation by the State Government last year.
The National Trust's cultural heritage manager Tracey Avery said graffiti deserved to be recognised as a legitimate art form and called for an urgent audit of all culturally significant works in the inner city.
"Graffiti is a unique part of Melbourne's urban fabric, particularly in our laneways, which attract a huge amount of visitors and contribute to the city's vibrancy."
But Ms Avery conceded the ephemeral nature of graffiti made it difficult to protect. "In a practical sense, we may need to photograph the work and interview the artists so we get a social history about graffiti," she said.
Heritage Victoria has welcomed nominations for graffiti to be placed on the state register, after listing a council-sanctioned mural in Collingwood by late New York artist Keith Haring.
In a recent online poll by travel company Lonely Planet, Melbourne's laneways and street art were voted the nation's most popular cultural attractions. And the renowned graffitist, British artist Banksy, said Melbourne's laneways were "arguably Australia's most significant contribution to the arts since they stole all the Aborigines' pencils".
The push to protect street art has also been endorsed by Municipal Association of Victoria president Dick Gross, who said Melbourne needed to acknowledge the cultural, tourism and economic value of graffiti.
Rather than protect specific works, Cr Gross favoured the preservation of popular graffiti sites, including Hosier Lane.
But the issue is expected to divide local government, with fierce opposition from many outer-suburban councils that spend millions of dollars removing graffiti each year.
Casey councillor and Residents Against Graffiti Everywhere spokesman Steve Beardon said graffiti was a scourge in any form. "This will send a clear message that graffiti is acceptable and opens the floodgates. Zero tolerance is the only way."
Casey council recently charged 25 people with 390 vandalism offences, which cost the community more than $165,000 in damages.
MAV chief executive Rob Spence is an unabashed admirer and lives next door to a former Collingwood church adorned with illegal graffiti. "It's the current form of political expression and some of the stencil art is just magnificent," Mr Spence said.
Melbourne City Council recently covered a Banksy stencil in Cocker Alley with perspex to prevent it being vandalised.
*thumbs up*
