NETLEY Skatepark Mural project

Please feel free to enjoy both videos showing the Netley View skatepark mural project. The videos show the entire process over the 2 final days!

MBN Arts were commissioned by The Handy Trust, a youth organisation based in Hythe, Hampshire, to deliver an exciting large-scale youth mural project at Netley View Skatepark. The project was made possible with funding from ExxonMobil, Hampshire County Council and other project sponsors, bringing together local young people, youth professionals and artists to creatively regenerate the skatepark.

The aim was to transform the skatepark through a bold, fun and interactive mural, while giving the young people who regularly use the space the opportunity to get directly involved in its regeneration and create something they could feel proud to have contributed to.

MBN Arts artists Mike and Jack developed the concepts around one of the park’s most popular activities – scootering – combining this with a colourful, futuristic space and alien theme. The designs featured cosmic textures, planets, friendly hip-hop-inspired aliens, UFOs, a futuristic alien scooter and a large-scale “NETLEY” typographic piece celebrating the identity of the local area.

Once the designs had been outlined across the skatepark surfaces, around 30 local young people got involved, learning how to use spray paint and working together to fill, blend and shade the artwork. Mike and Jack then worked back into the murals, adding the final details, highlights and effects to bring the designs to life.

The project was a fantastic success. Alongside developing new creative and spray-painting skills, the young people experienced teamwork, collaboration and the value of looking after and contributing positively to their local environment. It gave them the opportunity to be creative and expressive alongside their friends, learn new skills and play an active part in improving a space that is important to their local community.

Throughout the project, many local adults stopped to speak with us and commented on how well the young people were doing, how positive it was to see them involved and how much the artwork had improved and transformed the skatepark.

The feedback from the young people was equally positive, with many telling us how much they had enjoyed taking part and that they would love to be involved in more creative opportunities in the future.

“It has been great to work alongside The Handy Trust, and thank you to everyone who has made this possible. We are incredibly impressed with the young people’s engagement, and they should be proud of what they have achieved. Community artwork projects not only regenerate a space, but bring local communities closer together and provide young people with a focus and a real sense of achievement.”

— Mike, Director of MBN Arts

The newly transformed skatepark is now ready for this year’s summer skate competition, being delivered by The Handy Trust at Netley View Skatepark.

A huge thank you to The Handy Trust, the funders, sponsors and all of the professionals involved for including MBN Arts in such a positive community project. Most importantly, a massive thank you to all of the young people who took part – you were fantastic, and the finished artwork is something to be proud of!