SouthseaScene

The Guildhall is hosting a free event to celebrate the cultural and creative industries in the city on Thursday 31 January from 8:30am-1pm at Guildhall Studio, Portsmouth Guildhall. At the event, Cllr Steve Pitt,Cabinet Member for Culture Leisure and Sport at Portsmouth City Council, will talk about the importance of cultural and creative industries for the region's economic growth while Professor Trevor Keeble from the Faculty of Culture and Creative Industries at the University of Portsmouth will talk about employment and enterprise in the UK Creative Industries and in Portsmouth. There will also be key note speakers from successful international creative film, design and music industries who will be sharing their experiences, discussing future challenges and how we shape future growth in the city. Cllr Steve Pitt said: "There's a huge amount of creativity in the city and many cultural and creative industries to celebrate including literature, film and music, art,

Development funding of £32,100 has been awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to help St Mary’s Church progress its plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant in 2019. Come along for a glass of wine, a chat about The Organ Project and a tour of the Walker organ at  St Mary’s Church , Fratton Road, Portsmouth, PO1 5PA on Thursday 10 January 2019 from 1930 to 2130. The event is free with a retiring collection in aid of  The Organ Project . The Organ Project celebrates the heritage associated with 125 years of music making in St Mary’s Church, Portsea. The unique 1889 Walker pipe organ is at the heart of life within the Parish, but is now in a critical condition where interim repairs are no longer sufficient to keep the nationally significant instrument from being lost. The project will engage with local communities, develop volunteer skills and enthuse visitors with an exciting activity and education programme, interpret the organ’s history, science, sound and function, and make a

Signage has been unveiled at Landport playpark asking people not to smoke or vape there. This is the first park in Portsmouth to go smoke free. This move follows consultation with visitors at the playpark, which saw 94% in favour of the park being smoke free. This support was shared by both smokers and non-smokers. Children at nearby St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School took part in a competition to design signage for the park asking users not to smoke there. Marsela Pervataj, aged 8, was chosen as the winner with her designed sign now prominent at the entrance to the playpark. Compliance with the request not to smoke at Landport playpark will be monitored to make a decision on whether to implement this approach at other playparks in the city. Cllr Matthew Winnington, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care at Portsmouth City Council, said; "I'm pleased to be unveiling this signage in what feels like an important step for the city. Children shou

‘Discovering the Guildhall’ is an exciting National Lottery funded project seeking to engage the public to share their memories of the Guildhall and the historic events which surround it, which will culminate in the production of a digital archive, two short documentary films and a major exhibition to preserve these memories for future generations. Which legendary concerts at the Guildhall have you attended – The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who? Were you there when HM Queen Elizabeth II reopened the venue in 1959? Did you see the Guildhall after it was gutted in the Blitz in 1941? Have you ever performed on the stage or worked there? Did you meet your partner at the Guildhall? Do you have any tickets, programmes or merchandise you would be happy to loan, gift or that may be copied? The Guildhall is now asking for people to come forward and share their memories and memorabilia as part of this fascinating project. Memories can be submitted online at www.portsmouthguildhall.org.u