Teenagers turn to art to combat antisocial behavior

Teenagers have helped transform two underpasses with murals depicting the Tyne Bridge and Newcastle United as part of efforts to reduce anti-social behavior.

Areas around West Denton Way in Newcastle have been identified by police and the city council as having problems with cleanliness and arson.

The subways were cleaned up by local authorities with graffiti artist Mark Shields – known professionally as Mark One87 – hired to work with the Denton Youth and Community Project and Inspire Youth Studio West school to design and paint murals.

Mr Shields said they had “created something good for the community”.

This follows research by Northumbria University which found more than seven in ten residents in Denton and Westerhope were apprehensive about using pedestrian underpasses.

The council, with support and additional funding provided by the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, has sought to help reduce these concerns.

“We worked with a lot of local young people to engage them, create design ideas and then turn them into works of art that we painted on the subway,” Mr Shields explained.

“It’s something nice and bright in areas that maybe people didn’t want to go in before and it’s created something nice for the community with a bit of community spirit around it.”

“I have never been so beautiful”

Councilor Irim Ali, cabinet member for a resilient city, described the project as a “fantastic example of how we can work with young people to give them a greater sense of belonging to their neighborhood”.

“The designs they have come up with are bright, colorful and welcoming, and local people are already telling us how much more confident they feel using the underpasses as they have never looked so good.

“We hope young people will take pride in their artwork and help us look after what they have created, reducing anti-social behavior for the benefit of the whole community.”

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