Community groups and agencies wanting to organize a graffiti Wipe Out can apply to receive paint and painting supplies based on the number of volunteers and buildings (area of graffiti) to be painted. Funding support is also available for groups to purchase snacks and food. 

Non-profit groups may also use the Wipe Outs as fund-raising events. The GMP will provide the non-profit organization $1 for every square foot of graffiti painted (not including the applying group’s own property) to a maximum of $1,500 per application. Applicants may also make special requests for other supplies to do preventative community murals. 

“It’s an interesting double approach to community service,” notes Irfan Kherani, last year’s project manager for the pilot, which had youth from the Edmonton Shia Imami Ismaili community take part. Their group, Challenging Ismaili Volunteers in Communities (CIVIC), raised close to $1,500 through the Graffiti Wipe Outs for another charity—Habitat for Humanity.

It was, says Kherani, “an amazing opportunity for Ismaili youth to gather while offering service, both integral parts of Ismaili culture.” “While it was a rather early start to the day at 8 a.m.,” says the university student, “the whole experience of meeting up as a community, having breakfast, putting on painting gear, actually painting over, thus removing, graffiti from our community, was great fun.” “And. a whole bunch of us learned how to paint for the first time!”