last month bristol city council gave the ok to the city’s second legal graffiti site, the first in 20 years!

this has been brought about largely by the efforts of ruth essex from neighbourhood renewal and felix, a local writer. the fact that it has taken 20 years to get a second legal site in one of the most dynamic graffiti hot spots in england is somewhat mystifying, but it’s here now and represents a positive move by bristol city council, who have to be seen to be hot on vandalism. this demonstrates a willing by the council to provide public spaces to artists where they can practise their art legally, and where anyone interested in street art can go and meet artists and learn about the culture. bristol has been crying out for more space, other than dame emily park in bedminster, and this is a welcome step in the right direction.

bristol’s finest, the tcf crew, have already set the standard and covered the long wall with some excellent pieces. xenz has had a bash too more recently, but it is open to all-comers, so long as you respect the work of the artists who came before…

riverside park is just off the roundabout at j3 of the m32 and the legal wall is where you come through the tunnel to get to it. take the exit marked frome…