Permitted and Self-Managed Spaces is a response action where graffiti writers self-manage walls. If the walls are not kept clean then the responsible authority intervenes. It is a proven method to cut costs of cleaning. This merged model is applied successfully by Brighton & Hove City Council in the UK (Leach & Baker 2010). Following some years of degradation and unmanaged spaces, Brighton Council identified an opportunity to involve graffiti writers in a process, which aimed at merging cultural, economic and crime prevention agendas. The council found a way to work with graffiti artists to revitalise some spaces that seemed degenerated. Artists were given some prominent wall surfaces on the understanding that they would help maintain them. This approach benefited the local council (by reducing maintenance costs), local artists (by giving them legal spaces) as well as local residents and businesses (due to the regeneration aspect of the projects).
This response action has the potential a) to reduce maintenance and cleaning costs for local authorities, b) to provide physical spaces that can be selfmanaged and/or community managed, and c) to drive collaboration and engagement between various stakeholders.