Pushing Boarders Conference Opening in Malmö

Running from 14 – 18 August 2019, Pushing Boarders brings together international academics, activists and Olympic athletes to share their stories on the cultural and social benefits of skateboarding. Thom Callan-Riley and Dr Sander Hölsgens have co-curated the conference in partnership with Skate Malmö Street, SKATE 2019! Photo Exhibition, and the Smörgåsboard Skate Film Festival.

Throughout the four days, contributors will explore the unconventional role of skateboarding in fields as diverse as education, urban planning policy, humanitarian aid, and gender identity. Discussions throughout the event aim to create better relationships and understanding between research and practice, bringing together academia with skateboarding charities and the skateboarding industry.

Highlights of the event’s programme include ‘Skate & Educate’, a discussion exploring the potential of skateboarding as an immersive and transferable learning tool, and ‘Sacred Spots’, a conversation on the cultural significance of two iconic skateboarding heritage sites: Philadelphia’s Love Park and London’s Southbank. 

The first Pushing Boarders conference took place at The Bartlett in June 2018, and was co-curated by Bartlett students and researchers along with community groups, SkatePal and Long Live the Southbank. The conference was the first of its kind and featured speakers such as Elissa Steamer, who was the first woman to become a professional skater. 

Find out more 

Pushing Boarders Malmö

Pushing Boarders is free to attend and all of the talks will be recorded and made available online for free after the event.

Pushing Boarders London 

• Find out more about the first conference of its kind, supported and hosted at The Bartlett. 

Lead image: Panelist Atita Verghese at Pushing Boarders 2018. Photography by Filip Jedraszak.