Graffiti artists have backed a NSW government program to embrace street art and legitimate graffiti painters to boost the arts sector.
The $1.9 million Graffiti Grants program will provide a boost to graffiti artists, draw on local knowledge and bring new life to public spaces, NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman said.
"The Liberals and Nationals government is supporting councils to deliver tailor-made solutions for their streetscapes, drawing on grassroots knowledge and expertise to make public areas safer, more visually appealing and more enjoyable for their communities," Mr Speakman said on Wednesday.
"Street art in particular is an effective method of revitalising streetscapes, dramatically boosting community pride and deterring would-be offenders.
"It is fantastic to see councils workshopping ideas with their community for ways to engage local street artists in improving public spaces.
"I am looking forward to seeing the life and colour that these new projects will inject into streetscapes around our state."
The program has been supported by well-known graffiti painter Tim Phibs, whose work has been acquired by the National Gallery of Australia.
"I'm very passionate about street art and educating and informing people about this art form, what it means to the people who create it, and how it can add value to local communities."
Any government money allocated to supporting art was a positive move, graffiti artist Scott Marsh told AAP on Wednesday.
Graffiti eradication programs were a waste of taxpayer money and street art would always exist, he said.
"There's a big problem in Melbourne where there's been so many murals that it's kind of alienated the graffiti writers," he said.
"It's a kind of war-type culture in Melbourne graffiti where kids are destroying murals, just because they're murals.
"You don't really want to devolve into something like that."
