Claire Sambrook is a key member of the Strong Island team as well as a driving creative force at the University of Portsmouth and quite simply, Strong Island would be a shadow of its current self it it wasn’t for Claire’s drive, input and ideas. From back in 2010 when we first began working on the Strong Island Exhibition in the Round Tower to Primary to Creating Balance to Creative Cargo and next year’s big project the Creative Census, Claire has been at the centre of much of what we do to showcase Portsmouth & Southsea’s artists, designers, photographers and creative businesses. Plus…what Claire does with Strong Island is only a part of the contribution she makes to the city. Projects and events such as Love Your Bike, the Deckchair Project and the hugely popular Creative Portsmouth book have all helped to put this city on the map.

Needless to say, Claire deserves to be given a key to the city but in the meantime…we would love to give a huge congratulations to Claire for winning the Woman in Arts category at this year’s The News Woman Of The Year Awards, a category with some serious competition. Good work Claire!