Street art plays a striking role in encouraging urban regeneration
15th October 2019
What is the role of street art in the urban regeneration of a place or community?
Whether it takes the form of tagging, installations, or murals, urban art has always been controversial, but these days the art form is on its way to being recognised as a tool for urban regeneration and renewal. Works of street art commonly crop up in areas of a city that are vacant or abandoned, and the art form is starting to be used to rejuvenate and enhance every hidden corner of a city.
Street art promotes place-making through the creation of meaningful spaces and can assist the urban regeneration process by reinventing, rejuvenating, and occupying a city, building or urban space. Successful street art creates real, tangible benefits, often becoming an integral or even beloved part of a community. It enriches people’s lives by enhancing their environment, it connects communities, prompts engagement, discussions, and learning. It fosters civic pride, and promotes cultural participation.
Draw Out is an urban regeneration initiative that uses street art to reinvent urban spaces in Limerick. With many derelict and vacant sites in Limerick’s urban centre, it is easy to become desensitised to our surroundings. Draw Out aims to visually reinvigorate these sites. We want to get to a point where urban art speaks and appeals to everyone and impacts on our urban landscape.
We work in partnership with Limerick City Council to select derelict sites within prime locations across the city. The initiative aims to build on the naturally innovative spirit of the artist by reimagining the urban environment, and creating pathways for art, artist and audience to fully actualize their potential within the urban landscape, creating a synergy between community, artist and environment.
