Southsea Skatepark is quite possibly the oldest and most iconic skatepark in the UK and on the 25th July local skaters in particular are invited to work on a new project with ArtReach (which delivers the annual Journeys Festival International from 19-28 October) in collaboration with a professional photographer and award winning artist Sam Ivin.

Sam Ivin will meet with young people at the skatepark and chat about his work with refugee & asylum seekers and his photography book ‘Lingering Ghosts‘. This will be followed by a chance to join in free Polaroid photography workshops and write messages of welcome to refugees which will be printed on a banner to be used during a procession as part of Journeys Festival International in October. The project, supported by ISD Google and the University of Portsmouth, was created to promote dialogue around issues of asylum and refuge but also to involve the skaters in supporting the larger festival later this year.

Claire Woollard, Producer for Journeys Festival International, said that “To work with a professional photographer is a great opportunity for the local skate crews, but, with this project feeding into the full festival, later on in October, it’s a great chance for the young participants to see their work contribute towards something much bigger. The fact that it’s all free of charge is a bit of a bonus too!”

Workshops will be on Wednesday 25 July and run from 12pm-5.30pm, with two sessions that day, skatepark regulars and people are encouraged to drop in, grab some free refreshments during artist talks and get involved with this exciting new project. For any questions please contant Gary Cicinskas on gary@artreach.biz.

(Image Credit: Sam Ivin/Fabrica)