Video by Nicholas Burns

San Francisco spends approximately $22 million annually on graffiti cleanup. As a response to this costly problem, the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) in conjunction with the Department of Public Works (DPW) has created the StreetSmARTS program to connect established urban artists with private property owners to create vibrant art and make the property less likely to be vandalized.

Bobby White’s Wall Street Journal article “A New Blueprint for Tackling Graffiti” investigates the positive impact this program has made, since its inception in January 2010. Although the program isn’t a permanent solution, White notes that established urban artists and property owners alike believe that it’s a forceful step towards eliminating illegal street art. StreetSmARTS has already successfully commissioned ten murals in some of San Francisco’s most popular graffiti hot spots, and hopes to create at least fifteen more with the recent increase in program funding.

The next round of StreetSmARTS is launching soon, so keep a look out for new murals popping up around the city!