Youth mural brightens lacklustre street

Whoever said graffiti was bad has never seen the transformation of Broome’s Matsumoto Street.

The run-down area was given a recent facelift by community groups and school children, guided by Broome Youth Street Art Projects Working Group and artists George Domahidy, Martha Lee and Vanessa Margetts.

The project, completed last week, targeted children aged 12 to 17 and was funded by the Community Arts Network. Red Cross youth health and wellbeing programs team leader Leah Rakabundel said it was a space that needed to be brightened up.

“This site was chosen by youth as it’s a busy thoroughfare for young people walking to and from high school,” she said.

“It was originally a big grey wall covered with graffiti — lots of names from people writing there over the years.”

The vibrant artwork stretches about 30m and covers a drain with the seasons of Broome and animals and plants depicted.

“We have had a good, successful run this year doing a few of these during the school holidays,” Ms Rakabundel said.

“We are hoping to secure some more funding next year and do more in the July or September holidays as a school holiday program.”

Other community groups involved in the event included Australian Red Cross Broome, Broome Youth and Families Hub, Population Health, Broome Nyamba Buru Yawuru, the police and a number of volunteers.