NT street artists paint Los Angeles red, yellow and black

Territory art is about to be splashed across LA as part of a new tourism project in our biggest market. Read what it is.

The Northern Territory’s thriving street art culture is set to make a splash Stateside, with the unveiling on Tuesday of a homegrown mural on a busy Los Angeles boulevard.

New Tourism minister Marie-Clare Boothby announced the project alongside Darwin Street Art Festival’s Kate Dinning with a mural by Top End artist Jason Lee as a backdrop.

Along with Darwin-based co-collaborator Trent Lee and Street Art Festival co-ordinator David Collins, Jason has teamed with LA-based artist Ryan Yanoe to create the mural, which will be unveiled on Abbot Kinney Boulevard at famous Venice Beach on October 1.

Ms Boothby said the mural would feature prominent Larrakia and Central Australian designs and showcase the NT’s artistic style and diversity.

The LA steet corner where the NT mural is being painted.

The mural is being painted on the exterior wall of an LA cafe and is a joint collaboration between Tourism NT, TripAdvisor and the artists involved, and part of a bigger tourism marketing program.

Ms Dinning said the work-in-progress, which will be on public display for about four weeks, was already attracting the interest of passers-by.

Minister Marie-Clare Boothby (right) with Kate Dinning.

“The artists have already had questions from people walking past asking about their art, where they’re from and what the mural represents which is so exciting for Darwin, the tourism industry and for street art in Darwin.

“Our festival is one of the biggest and longest running street arts festival in Australia and the most awarded street art festival in Australia and we’re thankful Tourism NT and the government supports the festival with this initiative in LA.”

Ms Boothby said the project would cost about $12,000, and was part of the broader street art program.

“A healthy tourism industry is essential to rebuilding a strong economy,” she said.

“This new and innovative campaign focusing on our unique strengths will attract a demographic of US travellers who may not have considered a trip to the Northern Territory before.

“This is a really great opportunity because the US market for tourism in the Territory was the number one source of people coming to the Territory, and that is what we want to maintain and grow.”