DURHAM LEGAL WALLS PROJECT
What are ‘legal walls’?
Often spaces that have initially attracted graffiti, these walls are offered to the artists as areas they can paint, safely and freely. With 266 legal walls recorded in the UK, these areas offer opportunities for artists to practise, display their work and collaborate.
By bringing these walls into community use, the quality of the artwork improves, as well as people’s perceptions of the area. Legal walls manage themselves, the work is constantly changing and any damage or unsightly work is quickly covered by an artist looking for a safe space to paint. We also find that once the areas are clearly defined, we see less unsightly graffiti in the immediate area, as artists stick within the parameters to ensure the projects success.
The pictures here show a before and after of our project at Hetton Lyons.
What stage is the project at?
Please see our list of sites below, working with Durham County Council, Spennymoor Town Council and Friends of Hetton Lyons County Park. We are currently rolling out the project to skate parks across Durham.
If you’re an artist or local who’s interested in taking part, get in touch for more details. We will be hosting events at skateparks and walls across the county before transitioning these spaces into legal walls.
We’re not just painting the parks, we’re helping make connections between the artists, facility users and wider community to help them understand how a legal art space can provide a lasting solution.
These are the places we have built for our children to play. Before and after photos of Meadowfield Skate Park.
Before and after:
St Helen Skate Park
FAQ
What Do you do?
In this project, CYAN_CIC supports the transition of spaces, from illegal to legal walls. We collaborate with artists to do some initial repair and mural work, and facilitate curation going forward.
We want to work with local artists, passing the stewardship of these spaces over to them, by giving them the support and skills they need.
Why this project?
The idea of activity in these spaces being ‘illegal’ attracts anti-social behaviour, and work not done to high standards. Walls like this make areas feel run down, but facilitating positive artistic engagement, and channelling artistic intentions creates a hugely positive impact.
Our legal wall pilot in Hetton Lyons Country Park saw a huge improvement to the area. We saw increased footfall in a once rarely used area. Local artists made connections with the people who walk in the area, and the artwork received excellent feedback.
Why should CYAN_CIC organise this?
This project embraces the informal, community-owned art space of graffiti walls, and creates opportunities and connections for artists who are penalised for what they do by the nature of where they work.
Legitimising these spaces shows these artists that their work is artistic rather than criminal, fundamentally shifting the way they work and the way the community responds.
By continuing this project, we reach artists in Durham who would never call themselves artists, and give them the tools to contribute to their area as artists. We continue our engagement by offering workshops, mentorship, professional development, and exhibition opportunities by bringing them into the wider CYAN_CIC community.
hetton lyons country park wall
THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS ARE NOW LEGAL WALLS AND READY TO PAINT. pLEASE PAINT SAFELY, BEING MINDFUL OF OTHER ARTISTS AND THE COMMUNITY USING THE SPACES
LEGAL WALL LOCATIONS
HETTON LYONS LEGAL WALL - Stephenson Trail Bridleway, Hetton Lyons Country Park
MEADOWFIELD SKATE PARK - DH7 8RG
ST HELEN AUCKLAND SKATE PARK - DL14 9BW
COXHOE PLAY AREA SKATE PARK - DH6 4SZ
ABBEY ROAD SKATE PARK - DH1 5DQ
we’d love to see your work at the legal walls - tag us @cyan_cic
upcoming locations
We will soon be hosting an event at these locations before transitioning the space into legal walls.
If you’re an artist or local who is interested in taking part, get in touch for more details.
BEARPARK SKATE PARK
BISHOP AUCKLAND SKATE PARK
BOWBURN RECREATION GROUND
CHESTER LE STREET RIVERSIDE SKATE PARK
COUNDON GRANGE RANDOLPH STREET PLAY AREA
LOW WESTWOOD SKATE RAMPS
HOW YOU CAN HELP
If you’re interested in participating, have a wall that you’d like to add to the project, or want to ask us anything: get in touch at artist@cyancic.uk
If you feel able to donate below, your support will help establish a hugely important community asset for Durham’s art scene.