Guide to commissioning street art in your area

If you are tired of seeing blank walls or unwanted graffiti in your neighbourhood, you could make a difference by commissioning street art to brighten up your community!

Research shows that graffiti artists are unlikely to tag where existing art is. Follow these simple steps to bring art to your streets.

Step 1: Identify potential locations

Begin by identifying areas in your neighbourhood that could benefit from street art. Look for graffiti hotspots or blank walls that could use some colour and creativity.

Step 2: Determine ownership of the property

Before proceeding, it is essential to determine the owner of the property where you want to see street art.

What you need to check for

Cabinets

Check for cable television (CATV) grates to identify Virgin Media cabinets. Call Virgin on 0800 052 0422 for permission.

For Openreach cabinets, consult their identification guide or contact them on brand.help@openreach.co.uk.

Yorkshire Water supports street art on their water meters. Contact them through their customer services.

Sheffield City Council property

Contact the appropriate Council service (for example parks, libraries, highways) or email councillandownership@sheffield.gov.uk to determine the building manager.

Private property

If owned by a business, approach them directly. Check the Land Registry if you are unsure who owns the property.

Conservation area

If the location is within a conservation area, seek planning permission. Check the Conservation areas webpage.

Step 3: Obtain permission from the owner

Once you have identified the property owner, seek their permission to proceed with the mural. Ensure agreements are made in writing, covering the mural's design and ownership responsibilities. Once you have agreed permission with the building owner make sure you let us know by contacting the Sheffield City Council planning department. This will be your record of agreement in case you need it in the future.

Step 4: Find an artist

Explore Street Art Sheffield or approach local artists to discuss your project. Provide photos of the location and your budget to the artist.

Step 5: Public liability insurance

You must have Public Liability Insurance to do art in a public space to cover you in case things go wrong. If you are part of a constituted group, you may already have insurance, otherwise you can find an artist that has their own insurance.

Step 6: Get a quote

Request a detailed quote from the artist, covering equipment costs, time frames, and any additional considerations.

Step 7: Consider a sponsor

The cost of installing and maintaining the public art can add up. You may want to consider finding a business or community group that will sponsor the project and cover the costs. Sheffield City Council will not be responsible for any maintenance of the art.

Step 8: Design considerations

Consider how the artwork can best represent Sheffield or reflect the local culture and heritage.

Step 9: Finalise agreements and costs

Once consultations are complete and a design is agreed upon, finalise agreements with the property owner. Ensure responsibilities for maintenance and future costs are clearly outlined.

Step 10: Consider potential risks

Be aware of potential maintenance costs and vandalism risks associated with the mural. These should be addressed in agreements with the property owner. Sheffield City Council will not be responsible for maintaining or sponsoring any art that is set up.