Skaters on Screen: Capturing DIY Skate Culture & Community Action with Jim Donaghey in Portrush (NI)

“This research project has given us a responsibility to do this. It’s put Portrush on the map as a skating destination.” How can collaboration and co-creation among skaters, partners, and local authorities build a stronger, inclusive and vibrant skateboarding community in Portrush?

Join Community Innovation Practitioner and Research Fellow Jim Donaghey from Ulster University, as he explores the power of partnership, collaboration and DIY culture to support the long-standing campaign for a skate park in Portrush, Northern Ireland.

In this episode, discover how preserving skateboarding heritage through videography, is helping to connect past and present generations of skaters. This is helping to foster a sense of community and supporting them to advocate for a dedicated skate space.

You'll visit skate spots, meet passionate skaters, and hear from urban sports experts and lots of different community voices, from local shop owners to parents. 

Listen as Jim shares the story of this Creative Communities project, exploring the challenges and triumphs of creating a supported skate culture in his hometown.

BBC © copyright content reproduced courtesy of the British Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mvxy 

Music: ‘Causeway Rebel’ Team Fresh, 2010. By Browne, Crowe, Donaghey, Dunbar, Evans, Kennedy, Friers, Shields.

Read the transcript here Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Creative Communities Podcast

01:31 Exploring Portrush's Skateboarding Scene

03:33 The Skatepark Campaign: A 30-Year Journey

05:51 Challenges

08:12 Community Voices: Perspectives on Skateboarding

14:21 Station Square: A Hub for Skateboarding

18:12 DIY Culture and Community Efforts

27:35 Research Interventions and Their Impact

35:11 Reflections and Future Prospects

52:58 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

Useful links About Jim’s Creative Communities project - https://creativecommunities.uk/research/jim-donaghey

More from AHRC Creative Communities Programme, and to find out how to get involved - Creative Communities.ukThanks

Deepest gratitude to Slaine Browne for all his creative work, and to everyone at Causeway Association of Urban Sports – we’ll get Portrush a skatepark yet. Thanks to Coast Carpentry for showing us what to do, and to Igloo Pizza and Babushka Café for keeping us fed and watered.

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The Creative Communities podcast explores the power of cultural research and collaborative creativity. Join us as we discover how communities across the UK are tackling challenges and building a brighter future through groundbreaking projects. 

Over six episodes, meet inspiring "Community Innovation Practitioners" leading the way. We'll follow their journeys of cultural collaboration, co-creation, and innovation, showcasing real-life examples of how creativity empowers communities to build a stronger, more resilient UK.

Credits

Creative Communities is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council UK (Grant Agreement No AH/X001555/1) and hosted at Northumbria University, Newcastle.

With podcast production and training from MIC media.