But is this urban art?

The Design Against Crime Research Centre have planned a series of 6 talks called “A Dialogue with Graffiti”:

‘Why do designers love graffiti and why is it a hot topic with art and design students/staff?  What activities (or none) should be criminalised?’

‘The first talk “In Defence of Illegal Graffiti” will take place at the Cochrane Theatre, Holborn on Thursday 3rd December 2009 at 6pm, by Patrick Turner (Centre for Urban and Community Research, Goldsmiths University). He suggests:

‘Progressive’ discussion of the merits or otherwise of illegal street art and graffiti frequently revolves around whether such expression justifies tolerance on aesthetic grounds – ‘is it art and by what measure’ or whether it perhaps offers the potential for channelling delinquent energies in a constructive, ‘pro-social’ direction.  In this talk I will mount a defence of illegal graffiti and street art as practices that potentially foster informal association and self-organisation, do not ask for permission, and represent struggles over the nature of public space, its policing and ownership.’