Today, young people from the Portsmouth Teenage Project enjoyed a fantastic visit to Pivot Fest at Aspex Portsmouth, taking part in the inclusive movement and circus workshop led by Head Over Wheels.
The workshop created a relaxed and welcoming space where everyone could get involved, try something new and build confidence through movement, physical theatre and circus skills. There were naturally a few nerves to start, but by the time the session got going, there was plenty of laughter, encouragement from everyone and creativity from those taking part in the workshop, with young people from the group supporting each other and enjoying the opportunity to express themselves in different ways.
Designed to be fully inclusive and accessible, plus the session being kindly adapted for a younger group, this workshop showed how important the arts can be in bringing people together from all ages, helping young people step outside their comfort zone and have fun in a supportive environment. It was wonderful to see the young people giving everything a go, growing in confidence and leaving with huge smiles on their faces, aided by gifts from LUSH and a disability-proud flag.
Pivot Fest itself is Portsmouth’s first learning disability-led arts festival, celebrating creativity, inclusion and community through performances, workshops, exhibitions and live events across the weekend. Throughout this weekend, Aspex Portsmouth is the place to be, with the festival bringing plenty of vibrancy, matched with a welcoming space and workshops full of positive energy, making it a brilliant experience for everyone involved.
There is still plenty more to enjoy tomorrow (Sunday), including guided exhibition tours, live performances and the festival’s closing celebration. We would absolutely encourage families, young people and members of the community to head along and experience this fantastic event for themselves. Booking is advised for some activities due to limited spaces.
For more information visit
aspex.org.uk/event/pivotfest
Some of the photos kindly taken by Joe Watson.
