We’ve heard news this week about a really inspiring new youth project from Ventnor Community Projects and the IOW Council Arts Unit, which has just kicked off in Ventnor.
It’s called the StreetStyle Project and will be aiming to engage teenagers and young adults in active citizenship. Sounds like a fantastic idea and with the right support (which it seems to have) should be really successful.
Amongst those involved, will be John Cattle the professional skateboarder and film producer (mentioned yesterday on the blog) and Raff Raphael (who first appeared on the blog way back in October 05 when we covered the excellent Shopping Trolley event).
Expect a ton of initiatives to come out from the group, the first being news of a summer youth festival in Ventnor. Something along the lines of skateboard comps, parkour, live MC’ing/DJ’ing and street art.
What’ll be needed are repairs to the existing skate ramp and the introduction of some new kit that can be used by beginners and intermediate level skaters.
In the run up to the festival itself, workshops in MC’ing/DJ’ing, street art, and video filming to record their activities with the intent on producing a DVD are planned. We hear that they are also organising MySpace computer sessions, which we assume will cover how to set one up and maintain it.
We’ve not heard where they plan to hold the festival, but I’d assume the vicinity of the skate ramp would be the hub. It did cross my mind that if Cheetah Marine get approval to build in the public car park, then the whole area down there could potentially be blighted by a rather large building site.
Anyway, here’s where you can get involved. If you’re 16 or over and interested in what you’ve read or have some new ideas then go along on Tuesdays to the drop in sessions from 6pm at Ventnor Community Projects, 1, Albert Street.
For more information contact Alison Knapman on 823826, mob: 07976 009414.
We’re fully behind this one, anything that gets Ventnor youth involved in positive and inspiring projects get our backing. It’s also great to see people off their backsides and wanting to engage our teenagers rather than just moan about them.
It feels like this one is going to be a good’un. [Photo courtesy of Skateboard World Records by Adil Dyani]
