Long Live Southbank
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| Founded | April 2013 |
|---|---|
| Type | NGO |
| Registration no. | England & Wales (08487222) |
| Location |
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| Origins | London, England (UK) |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Members
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150,000 |
| Slogan | "You can't move history" |
| Mission | To safeguard the future of the South Bank Undercroft and its resident community with a commitment to the original design of the space and the organic evolution of the creative culture to which it is connected. |
| Website | www |
Long Live Southbank, commonly known as LLSB, is a non-profit organisation that successfully campaigned against the redevelopment of the Southbank Undercroft skateboarding spot in London, England. The organisation is now campaigning to safeguard the space and help the community continue to evolve creatively.
The movement was established in April 2013 in order to safeguard the historic site in British skateboarding following the release of the Festival Wing plans by the Southbank Centre released on 6 March 2013. On 18 September 2014, Long Live Southbank signed a Section 106 agreement with the Southbank Centre guaranteeing the space's long-term future.
The area has been continually used by skateboarders, BMXers and other creative urban art forms since the early seventies and remains an important landmark for urban culture. The campaign seeks to protect a dynamic space that has been utilised for creativity and self-expression for decades, independently building a culture and community that continues to attract visitors from all over the world.
LLSB volunteer, Henry Edwards-Wood, says of the motivation for the campaign; "This space has empowered generations of physical, visual and collaborative expression and informed and directed the lives of people from all walks of life. This world famous landmark and cultural icon must be preserved for future generations to flourish."
The Undercroft skateboarding area was an unused space appropriated as a cultural and recreational facility within the South Bank complex that has been used consistently for over 40 years. Skateboarders initially appropriated the area but it soon became used by BMXers, inline skaters, graffiti artists and many other creatives including street dancers, musicians, videographers and more.
The space is unique as it grew organically into what is now widely recognised as the home of British skateboarding. As an import from California, skateboarding in Britain was difficult due to the weather. The Undercroft space provided the perfect environment for skating as it was covered from the rain, smooth, flat with unusual architectural features resembling the ramps Californians skated, but most importantly disused.
In London, the concrete banks below the Southbank Centre's Hayward Gallery proved ideal for early surf-related moves,
In late 2003 the Southbank Centre reduced the skate area by two thirds without consulting any users of the undercroft space and destroyed the small banks and driveway ramp that was in that area, this area was then used as extra storage space.
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Wikipedia