We Thrive is a tailored support programme, designed around each artist’s individual needs, pairing them with mentors who can help refine their craft, grow their audiences and take their next creative steps with confidence.
The brainchild of Portsmouth Creates, We Thrive offers each participant a £1,000 development bursary to invest in their growth – from buying equipment and accessing specialist training to exploring new creative experiences – all guided by experienced mentors working within their sector.
For 2025/26 We Thrive is in partnership with Portsmouth Pride. This year’s artist cohort features a vibrant mix of talent, including spoken word artists, drag performers, singers and musicians who, as part of their mentoring journey they will take to the stage at Portsmouth Pride 2026, one of the city’s most popular annual events, showcasing their development to date as professional artists.
Last year, Portsmouth Pride saw up to 20,000 partygoers descend on Southsea Common to enjoy a glittering line-up of acts including Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud, Grammy, Brit and Ivor nominee Sabrina Washington, and drag queen and cabaret performer Victoria Scone.
“This programme perfectly represents what we’re aiming to achieve by hosting UK Pride – shining a national spotlight on diverse talent from across the country, bringing those performers to Portsmouth, and using their talents to inspire and develop local performers,” said CP Robinson, Co-Chair and Campaigns Manager at Pride Portsmouth Trust.
Gemma Nichols, Chief Executive at Portsmouth Creates, added: “We Thrive is an initiative born out of our on-going commitment to support creative growth, and we are extremely proud to be part of something so transformative for the city’s creative community. Portsmouth is a treasure trove of local talent, and each artist was chosen not only for their ability but for their readiness to grow through mentorship. With this vital programme, we’ll be able to champion these performers while offering real, lasting support to those who deserve to be seen and celebrated. We wish them the best of luck in the year ahead.”
We Thrive forms part of the broader Place Partnership initiative, which champions creativity, community and artist development across Portsmouth. Through collaboration and investment, Portsmouth Creates and its partners are ensuring that local talent doesn’t just survive – it thrives.
The Artist cohort for 2025 includes:
- Brenda Rant – Drag performer aiming to build skills in costuming and stage presentation.
- Chris Young – Musical theatre-trained singer working to regain confidence and visibility.
- Elysia Sheridan – Aspiring full-time musician focused on tech skills, branding, and songwriting.
- Theo Dussek – Singer-songwriter seeking guidance on gig networking, ethics policies, and digital growth.
- Han Newton – Poet expanding from written word to impactful performance.
- AID-Y – Drag performer exploring new forms like poetry and multimedia.
- Tooty Frooty – A drag and dance performer with ambitions to refine their cabaret craft.
- Ben Eales – A singer-songwriter with a keen interest in the visual and aesthetic elements of live performance.
- Abder – A performer balancing singing and dance, aiming to build confidence, experience and brand.
- Hannah Clark – A singer-songwriter focused on recording original music and organising a debut launch event.
We look forward to sharing more about this year’s artist cohort and their mentors shortly.
