EXPRESSIONS OF HOPE AND OPTIMISM FOR OUR CITY BEYOND COVID-19

Help Supporting Our Creative Community

As part of ‘We Believe’, a new crowdfunding campaign to create a new Covid-19 inspired poster art trail at different point in the city, Portsmouth Creates is asking for local, emerging artists financially effected by the pandemic to put themselves forward for consideration for one of 20 commissions of £500 (if the campaign reaches its total). Closing date is 22nd June 2020 so be quick! You can download the application form and find out the terms and conditions HERE.

During lockdown, Portsmouth Creates, on behalf of Portsmouth’s creative industries, answered the call for evidence from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) into the impact of the Covid-19 crisis. Local creatives and businesses within the creative sector responded to our survey to provide a clear insight into the impact of the pandemic upon their creative practice and businesses. The findings highlighted the direct impact of the pandemic on the creative sector as a whole, including its detrimental effects on the income and opportunities for freelance artists; many of whom were not eligible for financial support from the government, with a knock on effect on both their personal and family lives and an uncertain future.

As a response to this we want to act quickly by immediately working together with the community to begin to support 20 emerging artists within Portsmouth. Pledging support for the crowdfunding campaign will help to create a colourful, positive and free ‘street exhibition’ of poster artwork around the city, sharing with all the incredible work lovingly produced by our very own creative sector in the city.

…Portsmouth Creates is asking for local artists to put themselves forward for consideration for one of 20 commissions of £500…

…These new commissioned pieces will fill our city’s outdoor poster boards with original and optimistic artwork and create a fun, physical art trail…

We Believe – Creating an open-air arts trail & supporting local artists!

This project provides an opportunity to 20 local emerging artists who have been unable to access financial support via the ‘Small Business Grant’ or ‘Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Grant.’ Not only will this investment in to our city’s upcoming artists and designers offer a financial lifeline, it will also offer an opportunity to showcase their awesome talent and help to raise the profile of the bustling cultural scene and hotbed of creativity we have within Portsmouth.

These new commissioned pieces will fill our city’s outdoor poster boards with original and optimistic artwork and create a fun, physical art trail along the seafront and in the north of the city, for everyone to be inspired by and enjoy as we transition in to an uncertain post-lockdown world.

Expressions of hope and optimism for our city beyond Covid-19

It will be exciting to see the artists’ interpretations and the unique artworks it will inspire. Together, as a city, we can make a real difference to each other and build for a new future post lockdown. At a time when the ‘support local businesses’ phrase has perhaps never been so eminent, helping Portsmouth Creates will extend this support to our local creative family.

This short-term investment in these emerging artists not only has an immediate positive impact on them but it means together we can sow the seeds of a stronger and more vibrant arts and cultural sector in Portsmouth and a future packed with creative potential.

Find out more and pledge to support our wonderful local artists on the Crowdfunder page.

…together we can sow the seeds of a stronger and more vibrant arts and cultural sector in Portsmouth and a future packed with creative potential…