Youngsters in Newlyn have tried their hand at film making and music DJ-ing to create material for a digital archive being produced in the port.Earlier this year the Gwavas Residents Association (GRA) was awarded £20,000 from the Local Heritage Initiative to explore the area's history and create an online digital archive.

In partnership with Everybody Online and GRA local people have been working to produce an oral and visual history of the area and in particular explore its relationship with Penlee Quarry.

The archive was the brain-child of GRA chair Jenny Beamish, and Everybody Online project officer Gary Palmer.

Jenny said: "We saw the project as a way for the younger members of the community to engage with older residents while learning and passing on new skills.

"The project has film, photography and performance elements, so we are looking to get a really good cross section of the local community involved, including residents from Mousehole and Paul."

Gary added: "Everything produced by the project will eventually be put online.

"The archive will be a contemporary, as well as historical, record of the area to draw knowledge and inspiration from and make the internet relevant to local people."

The most recent part of that process has seen children from the estate take part in film and DJ workshops.

Local film-makers Barbara Santi and Denzil Monk lent the children some of their expertise, while over the half term holidays two DJ workshops took place.

Gary Palmer said: "The workshops gave local youths the chance to learn DJ-ing and music production skills and also contribute to the Gwavas-Penlee Digital Archive Project, which is scheduled to go online in July 2007."

The sessions were run by DJ Moss, who has gained a national reputation from his studio remix work.

Anyone interested in taking part in the ongoing project can contact either Jenny Beamish at Gwavas Residents Association on 01736 365021 or Everybody Online project officer Gary Palmer on 07793 742351

THE  CORNISHMAN