WHERE YOU stand on Portraitgate will likely have a bearing on whether you’ll be interested in Australia’s first ever Street Art Tour. Melbourne is renowned for its lanes and back alleys, most of which are filled with colourful graffiti. These include one of Banksy’s very first works of art (or acts of vandalism, again depending on your perspective).
The Melbourne Street Art Tour has been designed by and is hosted by street artists, to give an insight into the city’s thriving underground art scene. Participants get to peruse not just some of the most interesting examples of graffiti on offer but art galleries specialising in it, too.
The tour finishes at the famous Blender Studios, where they can see artists and street artists at work together in a massive city art studio. It is managed by Adrian Doyle, a street art historian – and former practitioner – who is now employed by the city’s local authorities. Far from descrying street art, Melbourne has actively developed policies to allow it be legally incorporated into the cityscape and businesses are increasingly commissioning artists to decorate their buildings.
The artworks are proving popular with tourists too, with visitors to the city regularly spotted taking photos in street art hubs such as Hosier Lane and Centre Place. The Melbourne Street Art Tour operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 1.30pm to 5.30pm. It costs AU$69 (€37) per person.
www.melbournestreettours.com
