Terralong Sreet’s Jazz Alley will receive a new mural after the original artwork was painted over with beige paint [Kiama loses Jazz Alley mural], causing community outrage on social media.

The mural, which was showcased on the external wall of the Vinnies store, was painted by local artist Mikey Freedom in 2017 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival.

In June, while the Vinnies store was undergoing refurbishment, the wall was covered in a layer of beige paint unannounced.

Regional Manager of St Vincent de Paul Society, Miranda Egner, says urgent and unplanned waterproofing repairs that were required on the internal and external walls of the building resulted in the mural’s cover up.

“Unfortunately during this process the existing mural was covered, this was not a part of the original scope for the refurbishment,” Miranda says.

In acknowledgment of local art, Miranda says a new mural will be painted.

Mikey Freedom on the day he painted the Jazz Alley mural

“Once the refurbishments have been completed, we will repaint the wall with a new mural.

“We’re yet to commission an artist however we will engage with the original artist during the selection process,” she says.

The Vinnies store will reopen on Wednesday 5 July.