Broadstone wants its own Banksy (From Bournemouth Echo)

Broadstone wants its own Banksy

7:00pm Sunday 13th September 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(4)

A HUNT for Broadstone’s very own Banksy is to be launched.

Residents hope some undiscovered talent could produce urban masterpieces to rank with those of the infamous guerrilla artist.

The idea has been formulated as a positive response to a rash of graffiti attacks in Broadstone.

It is hoped by encouraging real young artists to produce murals, other teenagers will respect them.

Roy Godfrey, chairman of the Broadstone residents’ association, said: “We want to interact with the youngsters.

“It might just be that in Broadstone we could just have a young artist who could paint something original and exciting.”

Though the exact details of the graffiti competition are yet to be finalised, it is envisaged the winning artist or artists would produce feature murals in prominent spots, such as the underpass.

The underpass and the scout hut are just two of the locations in Broadstone daubed with graffiti in recent weeks.

Graffiti guerrilla Banksy has popularised the art form to such an extent, the council in his home town of Bristol are now asking the public if they want to retain certain works in the town.

The competition idea was the brainchild of Catriona Moore, a teenager on the Broadstone residents’ committee.

Such a scheme has already paid dividends in Poole with a giant mural under the Fleetsbridge roundabout that involved 100 young people.

The residents’ association will discuss the idea at their meeting on October 1.