A $20 045 Victorian Government grant will help fight graffiti vandalism to increase community confidence and safety in the Mitchell Shire, Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes has announced. Ms Symes said the funding under the latest round of the governments Graffiti Prevention Grants Program would help deliver projects through radio in Wallan and Seymour. Ms Symes said Mitchell Shire Councils Youth Services team and Mitchell Community Radio (OKR FM) would work in partnership to deliver a graffiti prevention and education showcase. The showcase will include a series of eight radio episodes about graffiti, tagging and street art, she said. A community art project will also be held in Seymour and Wallan skateparks to remove unwanted graffiti, improve the visual amenity and provide diversionary art workshops for young people. Ms Symes said Mitchell Shire Council was one of 24 local councils to receive funding from the almost $500 000 allocated through the Graffiti Prevention Grants Program. The Out and About in Mitchell project will help to improve the visual appeal and perceptions of safety in the local community, Ms Symes said. The government is impressed with the innovative ideas from across the state to stop ugly and illegal graffiti vandalism. Graffiti vandalism not only affects the appearance of neighbourhoods, it influences perceptions of public safety and is expensive to remove. Funded projects include anti-graffiti education and diversionary initiatives, public artwork such as murals at graffiti hotspots, and graffiti removal and prevention resources for community use. The grants program is part of the Victorian Governments $5.8 million investment in community crime prevention, aimed at tackling crime and its root causes.