Graffiti and street art as regenerative media for riverbanks

Analysing art and creative practice as alternatives for planning and imagining riverbanks

Creating equitable visual spaces around riverbanks

Regenerative Media is a research project part of a broader initiative led by Dr Helton Levy and Dr Eleonora Diamanti, with the aim of surveying, cataloguing, and proposing best practices for the adoption of arts and media in regenerating cities.

In this part of the project, we focused on the Tiber riverbanks in Rome. Here, we are in the process of creating a visual record and analysing the arrangements of graffiti and street art, bringing about policy drivers that can produce a fair, enjoyable, and truly representative visual riverscape.

As the first step, we examined the differences and similarities between the Tiber in Rome, the Thames in London, and the Tagus in Lisbon. We believe these three riverbanks are somehow complementary to inform challenges and continuities in integrating art, media, and public participation.

Below, there are some of the takeaways of this ongoing project. We propose four main pillars for equitable visual interventions to riverbanks

Tackling misconceptions about graffiti and street art close to riversides and walkways

The idea is to approximate the public from what they see while visiting a riverside, without the prejudice associated with graffiti practice

Democratizing artistic residences that participate in regenerative efforts

Opening programs for street artists, graffiti writers or communities with limited experience or practice

Re/defining the purpose and the role of commissions in the organisation of riverbank visual space

Ensuring enough accountability of non-institutional partners in this decision making

Tailoring of graffiti and street art to the riverbank’s particular geography and utilities

Considering the local human environment and natural ecosystems before proposing artworks or authorised intervention in the riverbank landscape

Find out more about our exploration of the riverbanks below

Tiber

Thames

Tagus