Painting positivity for young dreams in Canning

The City of Canning, supported by the Department of Justice, will mark the end of its Urban Art, Hoops and Well-being program with the Walls Alive: A Mural Celebration event at the Bentley Community Centre on Monday 8 January.

This event will celebrate the success of the yearlong program, which was generously funded through a Department of Justice grant.

Canning’s Urban Art, Hoops and Well-being program was tailored to address the needs of disadvantaged young people facing hardship and complex barriers, promoting mental and physical well-being through a series of diverse activities and workshops.

The program consisted of four rounds which kickstarted with Muay Thai, followed by a Mural Mentorship Workshop series, a collaborative basketball series with Reffing Hoops featuring professional basketball teams and finishing up with another round of mural workshops.

Walls Alive, a free family event, kicks off at 11.30am and will showcase the vibrant murals created during the program and recognise the achievements of the participants throughout the year.

There will also be entertainment and lots of fun for all, including a free sausage sizzle, bouncy castle, face painting, music and more.

Mayor Patrick Hall said this program has created a powerful impact on the lives of young people in Canning by creating a healthy, collaborative environment to express themselves and build friendships.

"The program has delivered a series of diverse activities and workshops to support young people to foster positive decision-making, skills development and connection to their local community.

“Young people in need of support have benefited from having opportunities to connect with the City and local service providers.

“We are extremely proud of the beautiful murals that our young people have created,” Mayor Hall said.

Department of Justice Executive Director Advisory Services Mark Hainsworth said the outcome of the project was heartening.

“It is very encouraging to see funding from the Criminal Property Confiscation Grants yield such tangible results and it demonstrates the role of local governments in identifying programs to benefit their communities.”

Walls Alive is a drug, smoke and alcohol-free event for families, young people and the community. There will be free onsite parking however as parking is limited and, people are encouraged to carpool or take public transport.