Alice Springs roller shutter art festival divides locals

An idea to transform roller shutters into works of art has divided Alice Springs, with some welcoming the move and others labelling it ‘an insult’. Tell us what you think.

The 2024 Mparntwe Street Art Festival is inviting artists to submit their works to cover six blank roller shutters in Todd Mall. Picture: Annabel Bowles

A move to plaster artwork on shopfront roller shutters has been slammed by some Alice Springs residents while others say it’s a “win-win” idea.

Six blank facades on shops in Todd Mall are set to become a canvas for local art as part of next year’s Mparntwe Street Art Festival, with businesses and artists invited to take part in “beautifying” the town centre.

However the initiative has caused a stir among the Red Centre community with many taking aim at the “irony” of drawing attention to the impacts of crime.

There has been 851 break-ins to Alice Springs businesses in the past year, an increase of almost 12 per cent over 12 months.

Boarded up shops and businesses in Todd Mall, Alice Springs, in February 2023. Picture: Annabel Bowles

Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson has previously described the town’s main strip as being without a “pulse”, with many shops shut and barricaded behind roller shutters or boarded up windows on any given day.

“In an ideal world we wouldn’t have roller shutters, but we are trying to make the best out of a bad situation,” he said on Monday.

“We’ve had a positive uptake of businesses approaching council to get involved, so we’ll fund as many as we can.”

Others have described the initiative as an “insult” to business owners.

“Is this an attempt to normalise the fact that businesses have had to resort to this level of security in order to stop vandalism?” one person said on social media.

“Next … nominate your broken window arts festival.

“Looks like all the murals on the Darwin city walls and laneways, all looks so beautiful but still not stopping the crime,” another person wrote.

“In the end, if the root causes of the crime are not addressed, it is just as effective as lipstick on a pig.”

Many others have thrown their support behind the initiative.

“What a great idea. There is bound to be some keen artist among the youth, get them involved,” one person wrote.

“If roller shutters are (there) already why not make them look more attractive for visitors and locals.

The murals will be applied as a vinyl wrap by April 2024. Picture: Mparntwe Street Art Festival

“The council are applying vinyl transfers to the shutters (which) costs very little and makes them look good. It also stops the kids tagging them. So win – win!”

“This is worth doing. Come on Alice businesses – have a go!”

Mr Paterson said it was about creating a “sense of ownership and pride” in the embattled town.

The project is supported by the NT government’s Activate Alice program, the Alice Springs Town Council and Red Hot Arts.

Artist applications, which close on October 26, can be made by emailing [e-mail].

An expression of interest period for businesses to nominate their roller shutters closed on Friday.

Originally published as Alice Springs roller shutter art festival divides locals