Mobility, Ephemerality and Tourist Economies: Graffiti Running Tours in León Guanajuato

Abstract

In this paper, I examine the creation of a running tour showcasing commissioned Graffiti Art, or Urban Art, in León Guanajuato, Mexico. Set up in 2017, the tours are part of a larger economic and cultural shift away from the city's agricultural and industrial past. While seeking global city status since the 1990s, León is also trying to keep its traditional roots. Urban Art, as a form of creative expression, helps foster an appealing urban image. This paper argues that the tours highlight three critical issues that lie at the heart of the Creative City discourse and the institutionalization of graffiti, namely: Mobility; Ephemerality; The Economy.