Recently we asked a group of people to weigh in on a single question: “IF YOU WERE GIVEN A $20 MILLION FUND TO SPEND ON PUBLIC ARTS PROGRAMS IN YOUR CITY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE MONEY?”

This concept is something I have mulled for several years. Having been a graf artist at one point in my life, one that was ultimately busted and had to pay hefty fines as a teen, I’m always trying to figure out ways to keep other teens from going through what I went through. I’m especially concerned because I teach at a urban high school and have students contemplating traveling the road I once took. I often share the “good” and “bad” aspects of being a street/graffiti artist.

Step one create a Graffiti Coalition in your city to be in charge of the project.

Then we need to address that .....  bottom line is kids want “FAME” they want to be seen and recognized. We have to start with that aspect by giving them the safe and “LEGAL” places to create that aren’t hidden.I would start by creating basic concrete block walls about 100 feet long and 8 feet high at every public parkin the city that would be legal for anyone to paint. This could expand to other smaller satellite locations (for smaller throw-ups and tags) dispersed throughout the city on public property. Kids could go on missions trying to get up on all locations in their city in one night, could be fun, and competitive.

Then we address the trash issue and proper disposal of spray cans. I don’t know about your city but every place to paint in my city is trashed, literally, much of which is empty spray cans. So I would have my special receptacles (Spraycan Trash Can) installed at the legal graffiti walls and have them emptied at intervals.

... Rene Gagnon

Living in DC for a long time I have seen the schools degrade so rapidly. I was ashamed to think we were putting children in these sick dank buildings with little or no stimulation. How much does it take to turn on the light bulb in a young person mind….often so little. Seeing an Albrecht Durer print show at the National Gallery when I was twelve lit the fuse to some amazing fireworks, much less a light bulb. I am still trying to put out the fire…..with gasoline. I have spent the rest of my life working on art and working with some of the most beautiful stuff in the world. It takes so little to get young minds directed toward constructive creativity, instead of plugging into the vapid wasteland of commercial consumerism. Some of my best stuff is borrowed from children’s drawings…..before they loose themselves to video games, TV, computers.….. With the 20 mil I would buy multi storied buildings in marginal neighborhoods and turn them into beautiful and livable studios for visual artist, dancers, musicians, writers, and poets….whoever. These would be rented at low cost or next to nothing. But each artist would have to make a proposal on what they would do for the local schools, with 30-40% of their time dedicated to assisting a school program of their choice, the rest of their time to their art. Their lease would run for 3-4 years giving them enough time to complete their work and establish a relationship in the schools and with their art. They could renew their lease by applying again. There would be a small, always changing, board of community members, mom’s, aunts, granddad’s, neighbors…. who would make the selection of artist tailoring the needs to the schools in their community. Each building /studio would have a sustainable endowment that would allow for some choices, some fun experimentation and ability to survive. I swear if I ever win the lottery that is my dream and goal……to put something back and give young minds a chance to have a choice in how they use of their minds

...  Michael B. Pierce, Senior Conservator, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

How would you spend a $20 million public arts fund?  Let us know at woostercollective@gmail.com.  We’ll post a bunch of the responses we receive on the final day of the roundtable discussion tomorrow.