Some of the children just lend a hand to the project while others are there most days and say they want to be artists themselves. (CBC)

The city of Ottawa is enlisting established artists in its war on graffiti, spending $50,000 so artists can supervise young people painting large murals throughout the city.

One of the well-known artists is Ottawa's David Cation, whose dark-themed works have been featured in galleries around the world.

On Wednesday though, he was helping children finish a brightly coloured mural on the side of a low-income apartment building near Pinecrest Road.

"You got kids working with you, you really loosen up. For a guy like me, when I go back to the studio, that's important. To be in touch with the spirit of a child, that's important," Cation said.

Some of the children just lend a hand to the project. Others are there most days, and say they want to be artists themselves. The work attracts a lot of attention from both children and adults.

A mural, on the side of a curling club off Richmond Road, is already finished.

Nancy Worsfold, the head of Crime Prevention Ottawa, says the program is to engage at-risk youth, beautify the community and prevent graffiti.

"Murals have a proven track record of graffiti prevention. We know that taggers don't tag murals, and walls like this one at the Granite Curling Club were being graffitied, and now we hope they won't be."

Community members are also keeping their fingers crossed that graffiti vandals steer clear of the mural.

"So far we are hoping it doesn't get tagged, that's one thing we are hoping, because in a place like this it will get tagged," said Edgar Newton, president of the Foster Farm Community Tenants Association.

As for Cation, he's just happy to be out of his studio working with enthusiastic young people.

"A lot of artists are on pedestals. Trust me, a lot of artists are on pedestals. They need to come down. So I'm glad I'm here," Cation said.