An innovative surfboard recycling initiative has combined environmental sustainability with community art and has been recognised for its success.
Mathew King, 34, from Kiama, is the founder of Creative Kooks, a small business that uses surfboards as a creative outlet for people of all ages. The business is one of the finalists at the Illawarra Business Awards in the ‘New Business’ category.
“I’m so honoured and so stoked. To be a finalist for me, is a huge achievement,” Mr King said.
“Something that was a passion project of mine has now turned into a real job. Like, it’s really emphasised the professional side of it.”
The Creative Kooks initiative has managed to save 176 surfboards from landfill by turning them into unique pieces of art. Mr King said that surfboards do not degrade, and most of the surfboards that have ever been made are still on Earth.
Creative Kooks offers workshops for people of all ages, including early learning centres and primary schools, music festivals, and birthday parties. The workshops entail a range of activities including breath-work, yoga, and of course, creating art on the second-hand surfboards.
“I’ll have fun with it and with the underlying message of repurposing items or doing a little bit of exercise, and, you know, having a bit of fun with surfing. They love it. It’s really fun,” Mr King said.
Creative Kooks began when Mr King had been made redundant from his previous occupation in mining. Amidst the COVID-19 lockdown, he was “clutching at straws” with how to entertain his infant daughter. He grabbed his old surfboard, and they began to draw on it. Mr King said his daughter was thrilled to be doing something out of the ordinary and slightly naughty.
“If I was ever having a bad day I could just look at the artwork done on the surfboard, and it reminded me that me and my daughter did it, and it was a bit of fun,” Mr King said.
If you have surfboards that you want to donate to Creative Kooks, you can do so by emailing Mathew King at: creativekooks@gmail.com