How can a community centre spend tens of thousands of dollars on painting a wall it doesn't own? Christoph Vogel tries to put us in the picture.
Grey Lynn Community Centre is busy the morning we visit and the car park beside it is packed with cars. The centre itself is a really nice, easily accessible building on Richmond Rd. But that is not why we've come to call.
Outside, in all its plainness, is a huge, unappealing, white, concrete block wall. It won't be a plain Jane for long because the people at Grey Lynn Community Centre want a mural painted on it.
Centre coordinator Tania Miller came up with the idea a few years ago, finding the wall "incredibly ugly''.
Recently, the idea grew legs. "I got an opportunity just before the changeover between Auckland City Council and Auckland Council to submit an application for some funding from the Western Bays Community Board. We were very lucky and [were] granted some
funding towards it. That's how we're initially developing it,'' she says.
The mural will cost a minimum of $60,000. That includes the estimated $10,000 for the painting and also on-wall preparations such as graffiti guarding. At this point, the community centre has around half of the costs covered. That means more money is
being sought.
"We may also contribute some funds personally as an organisation. Also, we would like to seek sponsorship from a paint company which would be a huge assistance,'' says Ms
Miller.
Spending thousands of dollars in these times to make over a wall doesn't sound like the most economical decision, but Ms Miller is convinced it's worth the money.
"It's a substantial amount of money but, when you look at the scope of it as well, I think it's actually really good value for money. You're looking at it being there for, hopefully, 15 years,'' she says.
The community centre doesn't own the wall, but the tenant of the building, the Department of Child, Youth and Family, is very keen.
"They wrote us a letter of supportand gave us the contact details of the owner, who was really happy to come on board with it,'' says Ms Miller.
Once her idea got more precise, she worked with a community service advisor from Auckland Council to push it forward. Grey Lynn artist John Pule will do the work. The theme for the mural is supposed to come straight from the community so local people
are welcome to offer their ideas.
"It's a Grey Lynn-specific project. That doesn't mean that you have to be living in Grey Lynn now. So people who have a history with Grey Lynn, whether it be current or past, are also welcome,'' says Ms Miller.
"It would just be great to hear people's stories, to hear what Grey Lynn means to them. "The theme will be developed from all of these ideas that we get. We want the community to feel connected.''
Ms Miller expects the mural to be completed by May 2012.
Canvassed
Grey Lynn Community Centre is still seeking submissions on the theme. Email your ideas to Tania Miller at: office@greylynn.org.nz
$60,000 question
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