We Shine 2026
We are working hard on plans to bring back We Shine for the winter of 2026 as part of the city-wide centenary celebrations across the year.
Please keep an eye on our socials or check back for further announcements.
We Shine is a citywide festival of light and creativity dedicated to enriching Portsmouth’s cultural landscape, providing an accessible and creative winter celebration that brings together the community and showcases diverse artistic talents.
Hosted at various locations across the city it harnesses our city’s creative spirit by transforming overlooked or forgotten spaces into vibrant venues for exploration and engagement, encouraging visitors to view the city from a fresh and playful perspective and offering something for everyone.
Visitors get to experience interactive light installations and artworks from local, national and international artists, watch live performances and engage in a range of free creative activities across multiple sites.
We Shine is all about bringing something special to Portsmouth in the winter, something free, accessible, and full of creativity. We’re proud to create a space for our city to shine, and we couldn’t have done it in 2024 without the support of our fantastic partners: Arts Council England, Portsmouth City Council, The University of Portsmouth, Victorious Festival, and all our incredible delivery partners and shining stars.
For more information about We Shine and our other opportunities, please make sure you follow our social media or get in touch through info@portsmouthcreates.co.uk
BECOME A SPONSOR
If you would like to be part of the magic, community and light that is We Shine Portsmouth, please get in touch with Erica Smith by email Erica@portsmouthcreates.co.uk
Explore We Shine 2024 Photos
photo credit and thanks to: Joe Watson, Harry Dobson, Hannah Mesquita, Elliot McCrae and Dave Sloan
MENTORSHIPS
Heinrich & Palmer
The We Shine 2024 Festival will illuminate St. Mary’s Church in Fratton with a collaborative light installation by Heinrich & Palmer and three MA Interior Architecture students from the University of Portsmouth. The students, mentored by the artists, have designed a piece to complement Heinrich & Palmer’s main projection, “Once a Sea,” which will light up the church’s interior. This vibrant collaboration highlights the festival’s theme of community and creativity, making it a standout feature of the free and open We Shine Portsmouth festival, celebrating light art and performances throughout the city. READ MORE….
Limbic Cinema
We Shine’s mentoring program features Limbic Cinema’s “Forged in Water” installation, which immerses viewers in underwater worlds while providing local students with opportunities to create animations for water projection. These animations will be showcased at Hilsea Lido, offering valuable exposure alongside Limbic Cinema’s work. The mentorship also includes music composition by local musician VESPER, fostering a collaboration that enhances students’ skills in both visual art and sound. This initiative highlights the role of creativity and storytelling in public art, inspiring curiosity and new perspectives. READ MORE….
Young Creatives
Another of We Shine’s Mentorship programs is aimed at Portsmouth’s young makers and creatives. Through partnerships with HSDC and City of Portsmouth College, we’re providing young people the chance to showcase their talents, develop new skills, and engage with the community through the We Create Market ‘Young Creatives’ Area. This mentorship has enabled the next generation of creatives to develop new products and bring these fresh ideas and unique creations to market. It not only enables their creative growth, it also helps shape a vibrant future for the city’s cultural landscape. READ MORE…
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Thomas Buckley and Young People
This year’s We Shine Portsmouth will showcase A Hand, Held, a captivating interactive projection at Hilsea, created through a collaboration with young people from Motiv-8, artist Thomas Buckley, and Portsmouth Creates. The project empowers local youth to develop digital skills through workshops at The Base, where they create visuals and sounds that will feature in a large-scale installation spanning Hilsea Bridge. The installation invites visitors to engage by holding hands and “measuring their connection,” triggering dynamic projections and soundscapes. READ MORE….
Splodge and Young People
As part of We Shine Portsmouth, local secondary school students from The Portsmouth Academy and The Madani Academy have participated in a series of stop-motion animation workshops led by Splodge Designs and Fratton Together. Over three sessions, students explored storytelling, set and character creation, and animation filming, all inspired by fossils. Guided by Claire and Paul from Splodge Designs, the students worked collaboratively to produce their own animations, which will be showcased at St Mary’s Church during the We Shine festival from 21st to 24th November 2024. This initiative offers students a unique opportunity to develop creative and technical skills while contributing to Portsmouth’s cultural scene. READ MORE….
PREVIOUS WE SHINE ARTISTS
To find out more about how you could be involved in We Shine please get in touch with Billie Coe Billie@portsmouthcreates.co.uk
