It's a well-documented fact that large public murals reduce the incidence of graffiti and tagging. Now a Tallahassee area arts organization will commission several local mural projects in the coming year.
Graffiti and tagging are especially a problem in Tallahassee's downtown area, as well as Frenchtown and the Southside. Sam Joslin, Public and Exhibition Art Director for the Council of Culture and the Arts - better known as "COCA" - said she approached the Community Redevelopment Agency after some seed money came through.
"So I got a grant from the Knight Foundation through the Community Foundation of North Florida for $50,000. But it required a two-to-one match. And so I asked the CRA if they could provide the $25,000 matching funds for it and they approved it."
Joslin said she'll invite local artists to apply for the chance to be contracted for the mural work right after the first of the year. The actual work should take place this coming summer.
