Welcome to Portsmouth Creates, a hub for supporting and nurturing the vibrant creative and cultural sector in Portsmouth. Our mission is clear: to drive growth and development within the local creative community, empowering creative individuals and businesses to thrive in today’s dynamic landscape.
At Portsmouth Creates, we are committed to:
Supporting Growth: We offer a range of support services tailored to the needs of creative individuals and businesses. From funding advice to marketing strategies and business planning, our expert team is here to support you.
Building Connections: Through our digital platform and networking events, we aim to connect creatives, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing opportunities that drive collective growth.
Showcasing Talent: We provide platforms such as We Create Markets and Curating Spaces, where local creatives can showcase their products and talents, contributing to the vibrant cultural tapestry of Portsmouth.
Advocacy and Partnerships: We advocate for the vital role of the creative sector in Portsmouth’s economic and cultural landscape. By forging strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, we amplify our impact and reach within the community.
Our Impact in 2024:
We supported over £3M of funding applications
We created 153 new jobs across the creative sector
We provided over 450 hours of face-to-face business support advice
Worked with over 30 volunteers
We welcomed over 1000 creative small businesses, freelancers and organisations to our business support events programme
Delivered 157 business support events, mentoring and coaching sessions
We supported 70 creative businesses to generate income at our We Create markets
Whether you’re a seasoned creative entrepreneur or starting your journey, Portsmouth Creates welcomes you. Please explore the resources below, sign up to the Portsmouth Creative Directory, attend one of our events, find us on social media, and get in touch through info@portsmouthcreates.co.uk.
Together, let’s create a brighter, more vibrant future for Portsmouth’s creative community.
SECTOR SUPPORT NEWS
DECEMBER – BUSINESS SUPPORT EVENTS
December brings a range of opportunities designed to support and strengthen the creative business sector…
WINNER OF BUS DESIGN COMPETITION ANNOUNCED
The winner of the Portsmouth Apprentice Bus 2026 design competition is announced…
THE PORTSMOUTH APPRENTICE BUS 2026
Students set wheels in motion for Portsmouth’s celebratory bus design challenge. Budding artists from City of Portsmouth College have been given the chance to showcase their creativity in a design challenge celebrating 100 years of Portsmouth…
WE THRIVE – OUR NEW MENTORSHIP INITIATIVE
Tailored support 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…
NOVEMBER – BUSINESS SUPPORT EVENTS
November brings a range of opportunities designed to support and strengthen the creative business sector…
OUR CREATIVE FUTURE
Join creatives, practitioners, arts and heritage partners, policy and decision makers from across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton for a time of sharing and agenda setting at a pivotal moment for our region…
WE CONNECT – NETWORKING EVENT
We Connect – Creative Networking Evening a chance for creatives, partners, and supporters from across the city to come together…
ONE-TO-ONE FUNDING SUPPORT
Portsmouth Creates CEO, Gemma Nichols, is now offering dedicated 1-1 funding support sessions to help local businesses access the opportunities they need to grow….
GROW AND GO WORKSHOP
Join our Grow and Go Workshop – designed for makers, artists, and designers who are ready to scale up from kitchen-table creations to retail success…
PORTSMOUTH CREATES ANNUAL REVIEW
We are proud to share our Annual Report, a reflection of 2024, a year that has showcased the power, resilience, and imagination of Portsmouth’s creative community…
INCLUSION IN THE ARTS – MEET THE SPEAKERS
Speakers biogs for We Connect 2025 – Inclusion In The Arts…
INCLUSION IN THE ARTS – WE CONNECT 2025
Event Details:
Thursday 25 September 2025
Portsmouth Guildhall, PO1 2AB
10:00am – 5:00pm (Networking until 5:00pm)
WE CONNECT Creative Networking Event at Aspex Gallery, Gunwharf
Portsmouth Creates in partnership with Southern Creative Catalyst warmly invite you to an evening of conversation, connection, and collaboration.
Location: Aspex Gallery, Gunwharf Quays
Date: Thursday, 7 August
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Portsmouth Creates and City Council Launch Match Funding for 2026 Centenary Cultural Programme
Portsmouth Creates, working in partnership with Portsmouth City Council, is excited to announce a new match funding opportunity to support a bold and diverse creative and cultural programme for the city’s landmark centenary celebrations in 2026!
OVER £690K LEVERAGED FOR PORTSMOUTH’S CREATIVE SECTOR
Portsmouth’s creative sector continues to thrive as Portsmouth Creates, in partnership with Portsmouth City Council, announces the outcomes of its latest UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) match funding initiative.
Portsmouth Creates Hub Returns to Victorious Festival 2025
The Portsmouth Creates Hub is back at this year’s Victorious Festival, providing a dedicated area designed to support and showcase the vibrant grassroots talent that Portsmouth has to offer…
FUNDING
Strategic Approach to the Development of Culture in Portsmouth
The 2018 final report from Stephen Browning - Strategic Approach to the Development of Culture in Portsmouth - with thanks to Victorious Festival and Arts Council England.
HISTORIC ENGLAND
HERITAGE
Grants offered for: People who own or manage individual historic sites and need to repair them or understand them better; for local authorities, for sites and buildings in their area and for organisations who want to encourage better understanding, management and conservation of the historic environment in its many and varied forms.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
HERITAGE
Investing in heritage for the future as well as for the present. Investing in places, not just individual projects, to bring about benefits for people, places and our natural environment.
The Britford Bridge Trust
MULTIPLE
The primary charitable purposes of the Trust are the prevention or relief of poverty; the advancement of education; the advancement of health or the saving of lives; and the advancement of the arts, culture, heritage, or science.
The Prince’s Trust
MULTIPLE
The Prince's Trust is a youth charity that helps young people aged 11 to 30 get into jobs, education and training. This fund is support for 18-30 year olds looking to start their own business.
Edge Creative Enterprise Fund
BUSINESS
Investment funding to support high growth SMEs operating within the UK’s creative sector industries - Media, Education and Entertainment
Aesthetica Creative Writing Award*
WRITING
An international literary prize for new talent in poetry and short fiction supporting emerging and established writers.
Creative Future Writers’ Award
WRITING
An annual development programme for talented, underrepresented writers in the UK.
Fenton Arts Trust
ART
A charity which focuses its efforts specifically on the support of artists at the beginning of their careers
The Hopper Prize*
ART
Grants available to individual visual artists based in any country working in any media.
Aesthetica Short Film Festival Awards*
FILM & MOVING IMAGE
Support for independent filmmakers from around the world, and an outlet for supporting and championing filmmaking.
Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Documentary Film Fund
FILM & MOVING IMAGE
Funding is available to finance the production of a short documentary film produced by an emerging British LGBTQ+ filmmaker.
Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival Awards*
FILM & MOVING IMAGE
An international film prize open to any film which is by, for, about or of interest to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex audiences.
IMDb Script to Screen Award*
FILM & MOVING IMAGE
Film writers of any nationality from any country can submit a script for a short film for a chance to win a financial prize package and a premiere of their film at FilmBath Festival.
Help Musicians – Develop Your Skills
MUSIC
Grants are available to enable professional musicians to access creative and professional development opportunities both in the UK and internationally.
Open Fund for Music Creators
MUSIC
Grants are available to support the development of 'outstanding' UK songwriters and composers of all genres and backgrounds, at different stages of their career.
Youth Music NextGen Fund
MUSIC
Grants are available to young creatives in the UK to help them take a step forward in participating and changing the music industries.
Women Make Music
MUSIC
Grants are available to individual women in need of financial support in creating new music in any genre in the United Kingdom.
PLL Momentum Music Fund
MUSIC
Grants of £5k-£15k for UK based artists/bands to break through to the next level of their careers. Activities eligible for support include recording, touring and marketing.
Arts Council England
MULTIPLE
Arts Council England invest money from Government and the National Lottery to support creativity and culture across England so that everyone, wherever they live can lead a happy, healthy and creative life. There is a range of funding streams available.
RESOURCES
The 2018 final report from Stephen Browning - Strategic Approach to the Development of Culture in Portsmouth - with thanks to Victorious Festival and Arts Council England.
Marketing, communications and social tips and bits from our networking event on 19th April.
A free online resource hub for cultural professionals that brings the collective intelligence of the sector together in one place, by you, for you.
The Digital Culture Network provides free and practical support to the arts and culture sector.
Useful guidance, summaries of our investigations, and publications for donors and fundraisers.
Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy transforms the fundraising knowledge, skills and levels of success of arts organisations.
