Project: Youth art mural
Grant: £2,000
Area of benefit: Weymouth
This art project was one of the best we have done at Weymouth Skate Park.
The funding enabled us to employ two amazing local artists. Peter Sheridan, a professional Graffiti artists and Joe Coleman, a professional sign writer/painter.
For a whole week we had local school students coming in from Westfield School, Budmouth School, Weymouth College and also some of our skatepark members from other schools. Permission to attend was given by the schools.
The students came in on the first day and met with the artists and discussed their views on belonging to the skatepark community and how they could express this in art and also their love for the Front Skatepark and all that it means to them in the way of a sense of belonging, a safe space, a happy place and the friendships they have made here.
We let the young people take the lead on this project, so all of the artwork came from their ideas and over the week they learned how to:
- stencil the art onto the walls
- spray paint
- sign write
- use different art materials and the effects it can make on the walls
From start to finish this project was all a combination of their ideas.
We saw students come together from different schools, different abilities, diverse backgrounds, talking and working with each other. One student came from Westfield School and did not want to take part or even walk into the room where the project was taking place, but within an hour she was completely involved and came back every day to see the project through.
We saw young people with no confidence in art, take their work to the walls and paint with confidence. This was a joy of a project to see evolve and one that students themselves said they would never get to do at school or anywhere else.
We saw the confidence in the young people attending improve over the week, the eagerness to come back the next day. These young people led the project from start to finish with guidance from professional artists and were thrilled to be given the opportunity to work alongside professional artists.
The pleasure of these students seeing their own artwork on the walls was great they were able to express feelings, thoughts, emotions, experiences, memories through this art they were able to discuss all of this with peers whilst painting or drawing.
They were able to listen to others' ideas and to have own ideas heard without judgement. To see the smiles on the students faces, and the pride when they saw their finished work was rewarding.
The project delivered a high-quality arts project meeting many cultural outcomes, the legacy is an impactful art mural which enhance the facilities for customers.
Further information on the skatepark can be found on their website and on Instagram.
Quotes
“I really liked using the spray paints and being able to be able to paint my own designs. I also really enjoyed designing my own version of the paining that will go on the Wall.” Project Participant Kai, Weymouth College Year 10.
“I loved spray painting I also loved talking to loads of new people and learning lots of new things. It was great having the opportunity to do things here that I wouldn’t have been able to do at school, like having professional artists tach us how to graffiti and paint on walls.” Project Participant Lily, Budmouth Academy Year 10.
“I enjoyed spray painting and the sign writing, thanks to Joe and Peter and thanks to Lisa and Claire (aka Dog and Cat)" Project Participant Chase, Budmouth School Year 10.