Lewisham's long-serving community mural initiative is one step closer to launching its own school after winning a £25,000 Mayoral grant.

Founded by Buenos Aires-born Patricio Forrester, Artmongers is behind a number of well-known murals in the area, most famously 'His and Hers', which has overlooked Deptford market since 2002.

The Goldsmiths and Lewisham Council supported project, which will teach residents how to create public artworks, claimed a portion of the Mayor's 'Good Growth' fund, taking the total raised to within £10,000 off the £63,000 required to launch.

Patricio Forrester said: “We are thrilled to have received such a huge endorsement from The Mayor of London and it has brought us a lot closer for it to become a reality.

"We are now looking for local businesses who might want to jump in.”

Students from all disciplines at Goldsmiths will be working alongside young local artists, to "respond creatively to the challenges of urban living."

Supported by Brewers, Network Rail and Goldsmiths, the school will run three courses of ten weeks each, over a period of 18 months.

Each course will have 12 students, who will have the chance to produce two murals for the community.

Goldsmiths has already pledged £15, 000 and a space in-kind where the initial workshops will happen, which will then move on site for the making of the murals.

The funding will also go towards a 'Mural Mobile' with all the equipment necessary to prepare, paint and maintain the murals including items such as a scaffold tower and a hot water pressure gun for graffiti removal.

Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills, Jules Pipe, said:“The Mayor and I are committed to doing all we can to support projects which create opportunities to regenerate their local areas.

"This is a great example of how Londoners can take a lead in shaping the future of the capital.”

To donate to their crowdfund, which runs until May 25, visit: https://www.spacehive.com/lewisham-school-of-muralism