Whatever It Takes

Whatever It  Takes  started with a competition for a Cornish skateboard,  launched in 2012. It was developed with Nick Jensen, one of the country’s top skateboarders. A  free exhibition at Heartlands, Cornwall put prize-winners on display for two months in autumn 2012.

We worked with Claire Arymar, Neighbourhood Manager for Pengegon estate and surrounding areas, and Cornwall Community Action Network (CCAN) which runs work placements and apprenticeship schemes.

Thanks to Nick Jensen’s involvement, we received a flood of designs. These threw a spotlight on the life, experience and expectations of entrants who might otherwise never have the chance to express/display, any aspect of their lives to a wide audience. We launched this competition in the Camborne Redruth area where unemployment is high, as are child poverty levels.

Nick, and fellow pros, donated used decks for short-listed competitors to use as canvasses. Nick painted a new board as a point of inspiration, as did Mark Foster (Fos), now based in LA, and other selected artists. These boards are now on display at Camborne Library.

The competition was launched on 9 August 2012 at Pengegon and East Pool Park, Camborne, both of which figure within the top 5% nationally of areas of deprivation and child poverty. A local builder donated wood that was cut into deck templates and primed by carpentry apprentices.

More than 50 young people enthusiastically entered the competition and painted boards. Local MP George Eustice  – now Environment Secretary – painted a board.

Community worker Claire Arymar stressed the importance of the competition:

“What unites children/young people on this estate is sport and particularly skateboarding/BMXing etc.

“This project gives the young people of the area an opportunity to get involved in something which will lead to their work being displayed at a local community attraction for all to see. This will not only be fantastic for their self esteem by seeing their work displayed publicly but also in terms of allowing them to design a skateboard with their view of life in Cornwall. For some of these youngsters that question is rarely asked of them and their opinion not always recognis