Ottawa – Funding to create murals to combat graffiti vandalism is now available through a partnership between the City and Crime Prevention Ottawa (CPO).

CPO will receive $50,000 from City Council this year to administer the Paint it Up! program that will fund projects that engage at-risk youth in creating legal, outdoor murals in graffiti-prone areas. The new mural program is one component of the City’s Graffiti Management Strategy. The strategic placement of murals in graffiti-prone areas has been shown to prevent future graffiti vandalism from occurring. Applications for “Paint it Up!” funding are available at www.CrimePreventionOttawa.ca or by calling 613-580-2424 ext. 22454. The deadline to apply is April 9, 2010.

Property owners or artists who wish to commission murals are encouraged to call the City at 3-1-1 or visit ottawa.ca/mural for guidance or resources such as the new Mural Guide.