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Graffiti District

Status
ongoing
50%
City

Bogotá

Main actors

City Government

Project area

Whole City/Administrative Region

Duration

Ongoing since 2016

A strategy for responsible urban art

The Graffiti District strategy promotes the responsible practice of urban art and graffiti in Bogotá.  It guarantees the availability of authorized surfaces for the practice throughout the city, implements promotion and pedagogy programs around urban art and makes citizens aware of the current regulations for this practice.

It has become one of the most important strategies for the recovery of public space in Bogotá and for the social transformation of the territory. It generates actions that foster an active and responsible citizenship who are encouraged to participate in the beautification of the city. Simultaneously it fosters the development of free expression and contributes to change the common misconception that urban art is vandalism.

For further information about the case study, click here.

Sustainable Development Goals

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for allMake cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
City
Bogotá, Colombia
Size and population development
The city of Bogotá has a total population of 8,080,734, while its metropolitan area has a population of over 10,700,000. (world population review 2018)
Population composition
The 2005 census put the population density for the city at approximately 4,310 people per square kilometer. The rural area of the capital district only has about 15,810 inhabitants. The majority of the population is European or of European-mixed descent. The people of mixed descent are those of Mestizo origin. There is a small minority of Afro-Colombian and Indigenous people as well. The city has recorded significant growth for a number of years and is still growing at a rate of 2.65%, this is largely due to internal migration. Historically, Bogota’s main religion was Roman Catholic and the city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese. In the most recent census, a large portion of the population declared they are non-practicing. (world population review 2018)
Main functions
Bogotá lies in central Colombia and is 2,640 metres about sea level in the Northern Andes Mountains. It is the capital and largest city of Colombia and the educational, cultural, commercial, administrative, financial, and political center. Bogotá is a territorial entity and has the same administrative status as the Departments of Colombia.
Main industries / business
Bogotá is the headquarters for all major commercial banks, and the Banco de la República, Colombia's central bank as well as Colombia's main stock market. As the capital city, it houses a number of government agencies including the national military headquarters and is the center of Colombia's telecommunications network. Additionally, most companies (domestic and international) in Colombia have their headquarters in Bogotá. Bogotá is a major center for the import and export of goods for Colombia and the Andean Community in Latin America and is the home of Colombia's tire, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. Bogotá is the hub of air travel in the nation and the home of South America's first commercial airline Avianca (Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia). Railroads connect Bogotá with the Caribbean coast to the north and via (Puerto Beriro) with the Pacific coast to the west. Bogotá is on the Colombian section of the Pan-American and Simón Bolívar highways and has road connections with all major Colombian cities.
Sources for city budget
The City of Bogotá draws its budget for public expenditure largely from taxes, fees, fines, operating revenues.
Political structure
Bogotá, as the capital of the Republic of Colombia, houses the executive branch (Office of the President), the legislative branch (Congress of Colombia) and the judicial branch (Supreme Court of Justice, Constitutional Court, Council of State and the Superior Council of Judicature) of the Colombian government.
Administrative structure
The Mayor of Bogotá and the City Council, both elected by popular vote, are responsible for city administration. The City is divided into 20 localities and each of these is governed by an administrative board elected by popular vote, made up of no fewer than seven members. The Mayor designates local mayors from candidates nominated by the respective administrative board.
Website
http://www.bogota.gov.co/

The Graffiti District strategy was launched in 2016. It is based on the Policy for Public Space as part of the District Public Policy for Cultural and Creative Economy.  It was developed by the Committee for Responsible Practice of Graffiti. The strategy ensures authorized space for artists to create awareness and strengthen, along with the City, their public space interventions.  This contributes to the artistic and cultural development of the city.

OBJECTIVES

  • Activate and revitalize spaces for community creation
  • Promote actions that foster an active, responsible and engaged citizenship
  • Promote respect for public spaces and cultural differences
  • Change the perception of graffiti
  • Contribute to the city's economy from a cultural tourism perspective

The strategy is implemented through four lines of action:

  • The development and implementation of spaces to inform and strengthen the practice of responsible urban art, including the creation of the website www.bogotadistrictgrafiti.com, and the geo referencing of existing murals and available walls that have been previously granted authorization for an intervention.
  • Development of activities and pedagogical strategies that allow the recognition of urban art as a means for the development of the city and citizenship. The workshops and tours carried out with the artists and the Bogotá Metropolitan Police are to improve coexistence between both parties, generating mutual recognition and understanding of the practice of graffiti in public spaces.
  • Promotion of the responsible practice of urban art and graffiti through grants and specific incentives in the District Stimulus Portfolio, including the Bogotá City Grant, Graffiti District Grant, Urban Art Grant in Transmilenio, Responsible Urban Art Circuit Grant - Habitarte and Urban Art in Contingency Grant.
  • Support for the participation of graffiti artists in their communities. The growing economic support, in addition to those of the culture sector, from other district entities is significant.  

Additionally, the Committee for the Responsible Practice of Graffiti organizes the annual Urban Art Day, where artists from all the local groups carry out a joint intervention in notable spaces in Bogotá.

The Committee for the Responsible Practice of Graffiti is made up of delegates from:

  • the District Secretariat for Culture, Recreation and Sports,
  • the District Secretariat for Environment
  • the District Secretariat for Government,
  • the District Secretariat for Social Integration,
  • the District Institute for the Arts - IDARTES,
  • the Administrative Department of the Public Space Ombudsman - DADEP,
  • the Bogotá Metropolitan Police

For the realization of the 499 murals from 2016 to 2019, the culture sector invested $692,661 USD.

During 2020 the Secretary of Culture, Recreation and Sports has invested: $129,403 USD.

The strategy strengthens the responsible practice of graffiti with pedagogical, promotion, and awareness actions with all the actors involved. It has resulted in the development of responsible urban art interventions in different locations of the city.

  • 2 district administrations have implemented the strategy
  • 449 interventions have been carried out between 2016 and 2019
  • In 2020, 90 new interventions are being evaluated for the “Arte Urbano en Contingencia” Award
  • The Graffiti District strategy is active in the 20 localities that make up the city.
  • 101 national and international artists have painted 103 murals in the Puente Aranda Graffiti District
  • 269 artists and 103 groups have participated from 2016 to June 2020
  • 428 incentives and scholarships have been awarded since 2016

***Figures as of June 30, 2020

In order to continue with this strategy, inter-institutional collaboration and significant financial contributions are essential, not only from the culture sector, but also from entities that have experience and influence in the public space.

The City government of Bogotá recognizes graffiti as a conduit to providing access to art and culture in public spaces. The new regulations make it possible to designate spaces for artists to create their work. The projects carried out within the framework of this strategy generate inclusion, strengthen the commitment of artists to the community, improving public spaces and demonstrates that urban art encourages tourism and therefore contributes to the cultural economy.

City of Bogotá’s Best practice document

Categories

External links / documents

Bogotá Best Practices Program | Best Practices Overview

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