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Another outstanding Coping Festival at Manchester's Graystone Action Sports
2023 Coping Festival was another hit and greeted us with open arms. It's OKAY Project not only returned another year to host a workshop, but was one of the chosen charities in which proceeds were donated too. We couldn't be more grateful to Wil and the whole team.
Photography Eckers
We are still coming down from the massive high of what Coping offered in the special one day event focused on skating, creating and wellbeing. So here's what happened on the day:
COPING GAMES
Skatepark silliness for U16s dishing out prizes from our fantastic supporting brands - Nell’s Pizza, Stance, DC, Skatehut, Shindigger, Mizu, TSA, Arcade, Marshall, SunBum, Maple Lab
COPING CLASH SKATE JAMS
WOMEN’s winner: Molly Seed
MEN’s winner: Logan Wilkinson
Thanks to Oakley for the prize money and Cyber Security Specialists for matching the prize money with a charity donation.
LEARN TO SKATE & CLIMB
We left loads of people keen to progress at Skating & Climbing with FREE “Learn to Skate” & “Learn to climb” taster sessions!
ZINE WORKSHOP
IT’S OKAY PROJECT representing as usual to talk, paste & collage - adding to the collaborative triangular prism of art!
SKATE ART
Deck & Griptape workshops with Jess were a big hit as usual from Jessies Creations. Thanks to Skate Hut for donating the decks and Posca for the pens.
FORESTRY CRAFT
Emerald Wellbeing were back again this year bringing their lovely calming vibes. It’s always awesome to see people getting hands-on and creative with nature.
POTTERY WORKSHOP
The mindful potter David from Partington’s Pots was creating faces with clay this year and, as always, was very popular!
LIVE MUSIC
NGUVU provided some awesome vibes followed by Dub Smugglers, Schmika & the rest of the crew DJing to finish the party
Photography Sara Prinsloo
Every year we join the Coping team and help with workshops and generally lending a hand with anything we can. It's OKAY Project has been working with Coping since 2019 as we love the unique festival, which brings together our community to celebrate the incredible organisations that are improving well-being in our society. This year we had some very special contributions to help Coping reach the staggering, £4150 of fundraising.
£1000 straight to Ben Raemers & It’s OKAY thanks to TSA
£500 each thanks to Cyber Security Specialists is going to the chosen charities of our two Clash winners - Logan & Molly who donated to Live Like Ralph and The Ben Reamers Foundation.
50% of funds we raised on the Withington Walls x Art Battle Manchester x Coping art auction went to It's OKAY Project, gifted from top seller, Artist Joel Poole!
Photography Eckers
A huge thank you to everyone who came by and made this festival something really special! Thank you to Jess who we work alongside with, making a sick creative space for everyone to enjoy. Thank you to the amazing Coping team who are always a pleasure a work with. Congrats to all the rad skaters who took part and those who won comps, thanks for the vibez and all the love and support. Every year we have so much fun and make so many new friends, and this year was nothing different.
If you missed it, don't worry, make sure you follow Coping on socials and be the first to know about Coping Festival 2024!
Images by Sara Prinsloo