Crafting my Idea

What is your project idea?

My idea is to create a diorama (3D and scaled) of the ultimate skatepark.

Who will be involved in the project?

The young people in the youth organisation Project4change. Preferably young people who would want to be involved in something creative, mature and well-behaved in group activities and had a solid connection to Blakelaw skatepark.
Youth workers of the organisation will supervise the sessions.

What are the approaches to the project?

To have sessions once a week working with the same group of young people.

Session focus:

The goal of the outcome. We will discuss the aim of this project. Have an open conversation about the skatepark. Then discuss the timeframe and an idea of what will happen each session. End of the session, tell each participant to bring one printed image of a skatepark they like for the next session. (sessions: 1)
Have an ideas session on the skatepark's structure, designs and colour scheme. Brainstorming ideas, mind map. The life-size scale of the skatepark. Images from Pinterest or Google Images. (sessions: 2)
To draw and paint their skatepark idea on paper (can do more than one design). Including labels and life-size measurements. Discuss which design they like the most to be included and why. (sessions: 3)
(1 Session Break for me to create final design plan) The final design will be a collection of young people's creations. The design will have measurements to follow when making. Measurements will be converted from life-size to model.
Each young person is given an area of the skatepark to work on. The base of the skatepark will be a paper mache with a base of cardboard. (sessions: 4)
Add to the base. Build their skatepark section with paper, cardboard, tissue paper and glue, then paint with acrylic paint when the structure is dry. When finished, put all pieces of the skatepark together to create the ultimate skatepark. (sessions: 4)
Make polymer clay of people with skateboards using the skatepark in proportion in size to the diorama skatepark. Clay was set in the oven, strengthened with gel polish and UV light and then glued onto the diorama. (sessions: 2)
Create a poster for the exhibition using photoshop. All names of the participants involved are included.
Print of poster. Give to participants. Have a day of going around putting signs up.
Set up for exhibition in hired location. Participants have the option to help with set-up.
Private first day, invite only, and the rest of the hired days are open for walk-ins.

Where is this held project?

The sessions can be held at Betty’s hut (project4change building) or community centre space. This depends on how many participants want to be involved.

What is the time frame?

6 months. 1 session per week. 2 to 3 hours for each session. Exhibition set up and showcase (minimum 1 week).

What will the outcome be?

A paper mache diorama of the participant's ultimate skatepark. The diorama will be exhibited in a hired exhibition space (show for a week or more?) and then be moved to the local community centre for display. The diorama can be exhibited with my work from my participatory exhibition, Stolen. The participants can invite family and friends to the exhibition. The youth organisation, Project4Change, can invite council members to view the exhibition to convince them that the skatepark is necessary for the young people in Blakelaw.

How will the people involve in the project benefit?

Young people:

It provides a safe and open space to discuss the skatepark and its meaning to them and their community. It creates confidence in their communication and social skills.
It allows them to be significant creative facilitators in designing and making the ultimate skatepark.
The project is a collaborative piece which relies on social inclusion. This allows the participants to make friends and creates a sense of community as the participants have an end goal to work towards.
They are learning and using materials and methods they may not have encountered before. It enhances their art knowledge and skill.
The diorama can be a tool that can convince the council to build a skatepark in the Blakelaw area.

Youth workers:

Learning or enhancing artist knowledge and skills.
Get to know the young people during the sessions.
The diorama can be a tool to secure a new skatepark.

How does this project develop my practice?

This project will be a continuation of my exhibition Stolen, which spread awareness of taking away the Blakelaw skatepark to build a sports hub showcasing dismissiveness to the community of what they want or need in the community for using the area of Blakelaw as economic profit. Adding the diorama skatepark in the exhibition Stolen will be a response to show that a skatepark is essential to the young people of Blakelaw by having a physical sculpture of the young people's dream skatepark. This will further solidify to give the proposal to the council to build a new public skatepark in the Blakelaw local area.

What is the budget for this project? e.g. practical cost, materials, transport, artist funds, and hire fee.

My artist fund, fee and transport expenses.

Youth worker fee.
Community centre hire fee (if there are many participants)
Materials: A4 paper, pen, pencils, coloured pens, coloured pencils, cardboard, newspaper, coloured tissue paper, tissue, PVA glue, Coloured card, card, coloured paper, scissors, masking tape, acrylic paint, brushes, posca pens, coloured polymer clay, gel polish, UV light.
Exhibition space hire (minimum 1 week)
Minivan to transport exhibition pieces.
Snacks and drinks (during sessions).
Snacks and drinks (during exhibition opening day).