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Banksy's work "Girl with Balloon"
PHOTO: TOM NICHOLSON / REUTERS
The works appear suddenly - and when they are discovered, they often attract international attention.
British street artist Banksy is now to be awarded an honorary professorship.
The BBC reported this, citing the British University for the Creative Arts (UCA), which has several campuses in the English counties of Kent and Surrey.
The award is to be celebrated with a ceremony on July 6th in London's Royal Festival Hall.
However, Banksy's identity is unknown - according to the report, he is said to be represented by an empty chair.
UCA professor Terry Perk told BBC radio that the artist was to be honored for his "human rights efforts" and "the impact he had on the global art scene."
Banksy is an artist who is still considered an outsider in the artistic elite.
He added: "But he certainly influenced the art world and the public's imagination and we want to reflect that at our university".
Banksy was contacted through his representatives and gave his consent, Perk told the BBC.
There was nothing to read about the planned award on Banksy's Instagram account.
ani/dpa
