RULES
New Rules For The Venice Art Walls
As of June 3, 2007 the Rules you see listed on this page will be in effect.
All people wishing to paint on any surface in the Venice Art Walls area must obtain a Permit and must display that permit at all times. Any persons found painting or marking any surface in the Venice Art Walls area without a permit will be cited for vandalism by the LAPD. A summary of the rules is listed below for your convenience. For a Complete List of the Rules see below.
List of Topics
Summary of the New Rules
- The walls are open for painting on weekends and City holidays only.
- The walls are closed to painting on weekdays. Enforced by LAPD.
- Minors can paint with brushes and rollers only. No spray paint.
- All artists need a permit to paint at any time.
- Permit must be worn at all times while painting in the area.
- Permits are free, and are issued on-site or over the Internet by ICU Art.
- Large walls are for pieces only with a minimum of three artists painting per wall.
- Artists must submit a sketch to paint on Large Walls.
- A permit is required to paint on the Small Walls, cones, tabletops, picnic tables and trash cans, but you do not need to submit a sketch or schedule a time to paint on these surfaces.
- No "Restricted Content" on any of the walls.
- Artists on the Large Walls will pick either a morning time slot or afternoon time slot to paint their piece. Walls will change up to two times a day.
- Last pieces up Sunday afternoon will run all week.
- Strict LAPD enforcement of anti-vandalism laws in the Venice area.
- Area is open for painting from 10 AM until one half hour prior to sundown on weekends and City holidays when an ICU Art staff member is present to open up the Walls. Area is closed at night.
Benefits of the New Rules and the New Program
- The Walls remain up and are not torn down due to complaints by area residents.
- The quality of that work should improve, as people are able to take more time to paint and plan out their pieces in advance.
- Artists will be able to reserve a time slot to paint in advance.
- Pieces run longer. Each day there will be at the most two pieces on the Large Walls, instead of a constant turnover of small pieces.
- The last pieces that go up on Sunday night will run until the following weekend.
- Artists can be easily contacted in the event that a film crew wants to shoot their work as part of a film project. Artists may get credit and may be able to negotiate a licensing fee for the use of their artwork.
- The area will have less trash and debris.
- Reduction in paint fumes in the area due to fewer people painting.
- Novices and tourists will not be able to tag on finished pieces on the Large Walls.
- Less vandalism in the surrounding area.
- If this program proves to be successful at reducing the amount of illegal vandalism in the area, there is the possibility of getting more yards opened up in other parts of the city.
- Increase in cultural tourism to the Venice area as people come from far away to see high quality artwork on the walls rather than basic throw-ups and tags.
- Additional resources from the City and ICU Art are being directed towards the maintenance of the area, including new picnic tables, new trash cans, and possibly lights for the area.
- Experienced graffiti artists will work as informal mentors in the area on weekends.
- Safer area with supervisors on the weekends, additional police patrols and possibly lights at night.
- Fewer incidents of offensive content for sensitive members of the public that pass through the area.
Complete List of Rules
Painting Permit must be worn outside of all clothes in the front and in the back while painting on any surface in the Venice Art Walls area.
Artists agree to not paint or mark any other surfaces in the Venice area without express permission of the property owner or lessee.
The following rules must be observed at all times in the Venice Art Walls area:
- No drinking of alcoholic beverages or possession of open alcoholic beverages
- No usage of controlled substances
- No camping
- No commercial messages, corporate logos or references are to be painted on the walls except as commentary on such logos.
- Must be 18 years of age or older to use spray paint in the Venice Art Walls area. Minors are encouraged to paint using paintbrushes, rollers or other materials.
- Permits must be returned to ICU Art Staff by one half hour prior to sundown each day.
Restricted Content
ICU Art and The City of Los Angeles reserve the right to restrict or remove any artwork it deems in appropriate. Artwork that contains the following content is not permitted:
- Hate speech
- Extreme or gratuitous violence
- Pornography
- Illicit drug references
- Gang references
- Profanity
- Or any other content, which would be prohibited from public display due to its graphic or obscene nature.
Notes on Content
The Venice Pubic Art Walls area is a public site on public land that is used by a wide variety or people for a wide variety of activities. Because diverse people often pass through this area on their way to other sites in the area, it is necessary to limit some specific content displayed in this limited public forum.
The above rules do not completely ban art or speech on the above topics from the area. People are not restricted from making signs, speaking publicly or distributing written messages which address issues related to the those topics which are restricted from being painted on the surfaces of the Venice Art Walls.
Permits & Artist Agreement
All Artists must do the following in order to participate in the permit process:
- Keep the area where you are painting free of all trash while you paint and upon completion of your work regardless of whether the trash is yours or not.
- Stop painting and complete clean-up one half-hour prior to sundown. Empty spray can must be deposited in specially marked trash cans.
- Sign an Artist Agreement and present valid state or federally issued identification to the On-Site supervisor for deposit until the Painting Permit is returned by the artist.
- Minors (under the age of 18) must obtain a signature from their parent or legal guardian on their Artist Agreement in order to participate in the program.
Click here for Artist Agreement 117K .pdf
Limited Permit
The following are the only surfaces that may be painted or marked on in the Art Walls area with a Limited Permit:
- 2 cone structures with 3 small walls each
- Any trashcans in the immediate Venice Art Walls area
- Any of the concrete ground level tabletops
- Any of the picnic tables
You may not paint on the trees or on any other surfaces in or surrounding the Venice Art Walls area.
General Permit
Artists may paint on any of the surfaces listed above in addition to a designated space on one of the 2 Large Walls during a designated time slot with a General Permit. In order to obtain a General Permit, artists must do the following:
- Have a crew of at least three artists including yourself;
- Each artist in a crew must obtain a General Painting Permit;
- Submit a sketch (black and white or color) of the proposed design with any potentially restricted content clearly indicated;
- Pick an available time slot to paint your mural;
- Complete your work of art in the time slot designated or allow your work to be painted over or left incomplete at the end of your allotted time.
Time Slots for Painting Large Walls
Summer Time Slots are as follows:
- Time Slot 1: 10 AM - 2:30 PM
- Time Slot 2: 2:30 - 6:30 PM
Time slots may be reserved in advance with a sketch and a three-person crew. If a complete three-person crew is not present one half hour after start of designated time slot, that time slot may be forfeited to another crew at the discretion of the On-site supervisor. See Program's Dates and Hours.
Minors (people under the age of 18)
Individuals under the age of eighteen may not use spray paint in the area. Minors can paint with brushes and rollers only. No spray paint.
Artist's Intellectual Property Rights (Copyright)
ARTISTS shall retain all relevant licensing, copyright, and/or other intellectual property rights regarding the art created by them on the walls and other approved surfaces within the Venice Public Art Walls (PERMIT AREA) except for those rights waived in the ARTIST AGREEMENT.
ARTISTS shall be aware that significant media coverage, including news and magazine - style shows, may occur in the vicinity of or on portions of Recreation and Parks Department (DEPARTMENT)- owned property at Venice Beach including the PERMIT AREA. Any negotiations between participating artists and media companies and/or other entities concerning reproduction of images and related fees shall be conducted at the option of the involved parties, without any DEPARTMENT involvement.
Each piece of artwork will be temporary in nature and may at any time be removed and/or painted over by either the DEPARTMENT and/or other artists involved in the program, as specified in the ARTIST AGREEMENT. ARTISTS shall agree that the DEPARTMENT will not be in violation of participating ARTISTS' intellectual property rights by allowing their works to be removed and/or painted over at any time.
DEPARTMENT shall not pay any licensing or other fees for the display of any art on DEPARTMENT property within the PERMIT AREA, nor will the DEPARTMENT act as an agent for the solicitation of any such fees, or guarantee that such fees will be paid by others.
Safety Regulations
The following safety regulations must be followed at all times while painting in the Venice Art Walls area:
General Safety Regulations for All Artists
It is advised that all artists using paint should read and follow the instructions on the back of the container of the particular brand of spray paint or bucket paint that they are using.
Artists are encouraged to use latex or vinyl gloves while painting to protect their hands from prolonged exposure to paint.
After painting, artists should clean their hands thoroughly with soap and water.
In case of eye contact with paint, flush thoroughly with large amounts of water for 15 minutes and get medical attention.
Safety Regulations for Spray Paint
All artists are encouraged to wear a NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) approved respirator with fresh cartridges while using spray paint. Respirators should not only limit paint mist but the chemical vapors by using a respirator that has replaceable chemical cartridge filters.
Chemical Cartridges - (Gas and/or Vapor-removing Cartridge-type Respirators) are filled with specially treated activated carbon, which will adsorb certain gases and/or vapors. You should change the cartridges when you taste or smell a substance, or your eyes, throat or respiratory system become irritated. It's best to schedule a cartridge "change-out" before you notice that you are being exposed to the contaminant.
Small children, pregnant women or women whom suspect they may be pregnant should not breath paint fumes, and should maintain a distance of at least 25 feet from any people actively using spray paint.
Vapors from spray paint are harmful. Vapors may affect the brain or nervous system causing dizziness, headache or nausea, cause eye skin, nose and throat irritation. Use with adequate ventilation at all times. Avoid continuous breathing of vapor and spray mist. To avoid breathing vapors or spray mist, only paint when there is a breeze present. If you experience eye watering, headaches, or dizziness, stop painting. Before painting further, increase fresh air or wear respitory protection such as a NIOSH approved respirator with fresh cartridges.
All empty spray cans should be deposited in the specially marked trashcans that are reserved for spray paint only.
Reports have associated repeated and prolonged occupational exposure to solvents with permanent brain and nervous system damage. Intentional misuse by deliberately concentrating and inhaling spray paint vapors may be harmful or fatal.
Spray paint is flammable when it comes in contact with an open flame. No smoking while using spray paint.
Artists should use caution when using spray paint to ensure that the tip is facing away from them when they spray.
Do not puncture, incinerate, burn or store spray paint above 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Program Dates & Hours
Summer/Fall 2007
JuneHours 10AM - 7:30PM (Sunset at 8PM)
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JulyHours 10AM - 7:30PM (Sunset at 8PM)
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AugustHours 10AM - 7PM (Sunset at 7:30PM)
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SeptemberHours 10AM - 6:30PM (Sunset at 7PM)
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OctoberHours 10AM - 6PM (Sunset at 6:30PM)
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NovemberHours 10AM - 4PM (Sunset at 4:45PM)
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