The reasoning given is, that graffiti is an expensive burden for a community,[1] as it lowers property values, generates repair costs and can incite additional criminal activity.
[2] Young offender graffiti abatement programs have been growing in popularity throughout Europe and Australia as an effective method to reduce local government costs while allowing young offenders to perform community service under supervision of welfare officers.
If graffiti is to be treated with empathy, then solutions must be aimed at redirection and culture shift.
By mentoring young artists in their creative growth process the change is more significant.
Professional artists work with small groups of youth on a project lasting about a week, teaching them how to stretch and gesso their own canvas, meet other working artists, visit galleries and museums to establish a vision of their own waiting place in the future of art.