Bringing Generations Together: The Living Colour Graffiti Jam
August 5, 2025Location: Scottsville, Kraaifontein, Cape Town
There’s this passageway in Scottsville, Kraaifontein, near Jackaranda Street that had become a problem spot. Gang activity, youth getting into trouble – basically a place residents would avoid walking through. But the community wasn’t having it anymore. They wanted their space back.
Joining Forces
We got connected with People’s Unity to Save Communities NPO and some other local groups – the Scottsville Community Improvement Forum and the Kraaifontein Prayer Network. Together, they’d started something called the Prayer and Paint Campaign. The idea was brilliant: combine community intention with creative action to transform these neglected areas.
This wasn’t just about slapping paint on walls. The community was already organized and motivated – they just needed artists who could help make their vision happen.
What We Brought
While the community organizations handled all the organizing and outreach, we came in with our mural expertise. We helped figure out materials, connected them with artists, and made sure the project had the artistic foundation it needed to create real impact.
The best part was that we weren’t trying to impose some outside vision. The community knew what they wanted – we just helped them get there.
Making It Happen
April 12th, 2025 was transformation day. That passageway that people used to avoid? It became something the community could actually be proud of. Seeing residents who’d been working on different community projects suddenly come together around this shared vision – that’s when you know something real is happening.
The murals look great, but honestly, the bigger change is how people feel about that space now. And more importantly, how they feel about what they can accomplish when they work together.
Why This Matters
Projects like this remind us why we do what we do. Art can make spaces look better, sure, but when it’s rooted in real community intention, it can actually help people reclaim their neighborhoods. The Prayer and Paint Campaign showed us what happens when artists support communities instead of just working for them.
*Got a community project that could use some artistic support? We’d love to hear what you’re working on.*