Around the world, a few skate parks and skate spots have become the stuff of legends. I’m talking about places like the Venice Beach skatepark, Love Park in Philly, and the legendary El Toro stair set in California. But there’s also a world-famous skate park right here in London, hidden away underneath a prestigious museum and venue. I’m talking, of course, about the Undercroft Skate Space and its legendary ‘Southbanker’ skaters. And a new exhibition at the Southbank Centre, Skate 50, will celebrate this iconic spot with a retrospective exhibition that dives into its 50-year history.
Running from April 30 – June 21, Skate 50 is a multimedia exhibition that explores “the history of the iconic skateboarding space and the communities it has fostered over the past half century”. Pieces will incorporate photography, moving image, and sound to explore one of the world’s most recognisable skateboarding locations.
Skate 50 – telling their stories
Naturally, the museum has worked with the skaters themselves for the exhibition. They’ve partnered up with active members of the Southbank skate community to get their stories and to commission pieces for the exhibition. At the core of this collaboration was a series of workshops from filmmaker Winstan Whitter. Whitter brought together “different generations who have used the space over the years to identify notable events across the five decades”.
All of the artists involved have their own personal connection to skateboarding, even if they’re not specifically part of the Southbank community. Among the people working on the exhibition are:
- Winstan Whitter
- Dan Magee
- Jack Brooks
- Lev Tanju (founder of skatewear brand Palace)
- Sofia Negri
- skate collective Keep Rolling Project
- Beatrice Dillon
Coinciding with the Skate 50 exhibition, the BFI will showcase a curated skate cinema programme at the BFI Southbank and online on the BFI Player. Running from June 19-21, the PUSH PLAY event will range across shorts, features, premieres, workshops and talks with established filmmakers.
Tickets for Skate 50 are available on a ‘pay what you can’ basis. Free tickets are available to those who can’t afford entry. Those who are able to pay the suggested ticket price of £8 or more will support those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend.
🎟️ Find out more here.
📍 Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. The nearest station is Waterloo.