A collaborative street art project is set to transform Munich's Arnulfsteg bridge, bringing together renowned artists and local residents to beautify the structure that serves as a vital connection between the city districts of Schwanthalerhöhe and Neuhausen. The initiative, led by social work student Kaya Erdinç, aims to replace the bridge's current gray walls with colorful murals and interactive art installations.

The Arnulfsteg bridge is utilized around the clock by pedestrians and cyclists crossing over the railway tracks, flanked by viewing windows overlooking the train station landscape and plain gray walls that Erdinç believes would be perfect for vibrant paintings and graffiti. Originally planned to launch this fall, the project has been delayed after the Cultural Department required consultation with the bridge's architect to determine whether artistic use of the structure would be permitted.

The Neuhausen district committee has already invested 1,000 euros in the project, while the Schwanthalerhöhe district committee is waiting to provide additional funding pending architectural approval. "I think we'll get started next spring," Erdinç explained, expressing optimism about the project's timeline despite the bureaucratic hurdles.

The artistic vision for the bridge involves collaboration between established street artists and community members from both neighboring districts. Larger wall surfaces at the bridge entrances will be designed by renowned street art artists including Hugo Levin (known as Ilovedopebeats on Instagram), Felix Waldherr, Leyla Schiemenz, and Yasin Ittlinger. These artists bring diverse styles to the project - while Levin and Waldherr work extensively with color, Ittlinger specializes in letters and black-and-white forms.

The seating areas in front of the windows in the middle of the bridge will feature a unique interactive element - game boards painted directly onto the surfaces. "We want to paint the seating areas in front of the windows with game boards so people can sit here and play chess, Nine Men's Morris, or backgammon," Erdinç described. This painting and spraying action using stencils will specifically involve residents from both adjacent districts, particularly retirees and students, fostering community engagement and ownership of the space.

Beyond aesthetic improvement, the project aims to address existing vandalism issues on the bridge. "The Arnulfsteg is designed to be bright and well-lit, and is intensively used by residents of both districts, even in the evenings," Erdinç noted. "We believe that radical political graffiti, which can currently be seen sporadically on the bridge, will disappear through artistic graffiti, as sprayers generally respect wall art." He added pragmatically that even if vandalism occurs, it wouldn't be a major concern since the motifs are planned to be changed approximately twice a year.

The project emphasizes providing opportunities for artists who typically have limited exhibition chances. Erdinç stressed the importance of supporting emerging and underrepresented artists in the street art community, giving them a prominent platform to showcase their work in a high-traffic public space.

While waiting for final approval from the Cultural Department and Munich architects Lang Hugger Rampp, Erdinç is organizing an exhibition featuring the planned artists in the Creative Quarter. The exhibition will utilize House 2, including its exterior wall, as display space. "I think this will happen before Christmas. A date will be confirmed shortly," he announced. The exhibition will also offer prints for sale, providing Munich street art enthusiasts with a permanent preview of the Arnulfsteg street art project and helping to build community support for the initiative.