Partnership Sees Artists Paint WightFibre’s Broadband Cabinets

Broadband ISP WightFibre, which is deploying a full fibre network across the Isle of Wight – near the South Coast of Hampshire (England), has joined forces with artists Emma and Hollie of Community Murals to tackle the problem of graffiti in Ryde by painting the operator’s street cabinets with something a bit more.. attractive.

The first example of this artwork project, which is also being conducted alongside Ryde Town Council and Community Murals, can be seen near the entrance of the Co-op car park on George Street. “This initiative represents an innovative approach to addressing the issue of anti-social graffiti. By embracing creativity and turning once-plain infrastructure into stunning works of art, the project aims to discourage vandalism and promote community pride,” said a WightFibre spokesperson.

The announcement gives the impression that we may soon see more of the operator’s cabinets in Ryde receiving professionally painted murals of their own. But we should point out that this is by no means the first time that people have used “art” to decorate street telecoms cabinets (here, here and here).

The mass of unwanted graffiti that tends to pervade such infrastructure – across multiple operators – is often significantly less appealing than the work shown above (the occasional ‘Banksy’ notwithstanding – here). But normally the main reason for re-painting a cabinet is to make it blend better into its local environment.