Whangarei art murals to highlight concerns over rising family violence

Two large new art murals to be completed in Whangarei by the end of June will highlight concerns of growing family violence in the district.

One mural will be painted on the Water St rail over-bridge near the city centre and the other will be created at the Whangarei Airport entrance.

Both murals will highlight the growing concern of family violence in the district. Latest police figures released last week showed incidences of Northland family violence had climbed six percent in the 2009 calendar year.

Sara Boon, manager of the Arts Promotion Trust, said they would name on April 23 the two successful artists to paint the feature murals. Both murals, to be completed by June 30, will stress the message that family violence in the district is not acceptable, she said.

``This is a great opportunity not only for the artists to lift their profiles and show what talent we have in the district but also to draw people’s attention to the terribly high number of reported incidences of violence in the home in our district,’’ Boon said today.

The two new murals follow revamps of the Rust Ave over-bridge and Form North car park walkway works of art last year.

Trent Morgan’s Rust Ave mural went on to take second prize in the national mural masterpieces competition last year.