Great example of how to promote cultural content through various interdisciplinary activities, starting from the passion of one inhabitant and reaching thousand
Vitry-sur-Seine city is an historic place for street art. The municipality have had a tolerance policy with urban artists, which made possible the creation of many art works and graffiti on the walls of the city.
In the 2010's, a group of residents with a passion for street art decided to promote this particularity of the city and attract new international street-artists. At the same time, they wanted to involve locals and highlight the cultural interest of art in their streets.
Helped by the Val-de-Marne Tourism Board, this local group created an NGO called "Vitry’n Urbaine" to develop cultural activities :
- Guided tours: to enhance the value of the town of Vitry-sur-Seine by creating guided tours that allow people to discover the great diversity of street art works (for individuals and groups).
- Meetings with vitriot artists: during walks or events, vitriot artists participate by creating new street art works and/or talking with the public.
- Creation aid: to encourage artists' creations by finding legally available walls, putting them in contact with owners, providing material means (painting, logistics, etc.), and managing the intervention of these artists during events open to the public.
- Raise awareness and knowledge about street art in the Vitriot and French population, through workshops, actions to disseminate the works, make street-art known, highlight the artists...
Resources needed
The main resource needed was not financial but human resources.
Jean-Philippe Trigla, a volunteer inhabitant, has worked hard as project leader.
The Val-de-Marne Tourism Board offered its communication services and marketed the guided tours to help Vitry’n Urbaine to promote its activities.
Evidence of success
The NGO animate between 2 and 10 guided tour per month since its creation for individuals’ public or for groups (tourists, schools, associations). The activities developed helped to made the city known as one of the main street art spots in Europe.
The association applied to several calls for projects from local authorities and obtained various funding.
The activities of the NGO make it possible for a person to work as a self-employed person.
Potential for learning or transfer
Today Vitry'n Urbaine is a reference organisation in Val-de-Marne, working with a network of other stakeholders involved in the valorisation of street art in the Greater Paris : artists, tourist guides, NGO, local authorities, etc. Vitry'n Urbaine’s has extended its activities beyond the limits of the city.
This experience is considered as a good practice to enhance street art by involving both inhabitants and tourists. Also, it shows how a DMO (Destination Management Organisation) can support local initiative, helping volunteers to develop a new project that leads to a professionnal tourism offer and creates new jobs.
Tags: Art, Community, Culture, Local, Tourism
