University of Portsmouth Students Team Up with Portsmouth-based Artists for We Shine 2024

Thanks to a collaboration between St.Mary’s Church, Fratton Together, The University of Portsmouth and the We Shine team, St.Mary’s Church became a stunning hub of activity for we Shine 2024. At the heart of this project were three University of Portsmouth students, working with well-known local artists, Heinrich & Palmer, to create something truly unique.

Heinrich & Palmer, famous for their stunning multimedia installations around the UK and beyond, brought their talent back to Portsmouth for their biggest project at We Shine. Alongside their own incredible light, sound and projection installation, ‘Once A Sea,’ which illuminated the inside of the church, they mentored three MA Interior Architecture students from the University to support them to design and produce their own light installation for the festival.

Over six mentorship sessions, students Ismail El Zahed, Ayushi Patel, and Kywat Hmu May created a complementary and magical installation themed around marine life which was hung nestled between trees in the churchyard, shimmering and dancing in the breeze. Together, these installations offered a beautiful exploration of light and community, making this collaboration one of the standout features of We Shine 2024.

As part of We Shine’s mentorship programme, the Forged in Water audio-visual installation by Bristol’s Limbic Cinema did more than immerse viewers in surreal underwater worlds of artificial reefs —it offered transformative opportunities for emerging artists.

Limbic Cinema ran a masterclass and mentorship program at the Centre for Creative and Immersive Extended Reality (CCIXR) at the university of Portsmouth. Here, local students learned how to create animations specifically designed for water projection. Under expert guidance, they explored new techniques and honed their storytelling skills.

These animations were showcased on a huge water screen in Hilsea moat, forming part of Limbic Cinema’s main water projection installation ‘Forged In Water,’– an exciting chance for them to contribute to a high-profile public art installation. By having their work showcased alongside that of Limbic Cinema, these young artists gained invaluable exposure and confidence, learning the impact of visual storytelling on audiences.

The mentorship opportunity went beyond visuals, incorporating music into the students’ projects via a collaboration with Portsmouth City Council’s Rant studio, a creative hub supporting young musicians in the city. Under the guidance of Paul Weston from Rant studio and Phoebé Guillemot, a Montreal based musician, Cameron Kirby, an aspiring local electronic music producer known as VESPER, was mentored to compose a soundtrack to accompany the Student’s visual production.

By bringing together the diverse talents of visual artists and musicians, the mentorship has broadened the students’ skill sets and created a vibrant interdisciplinary experience, illustrating the powerful synergy between audio and image.

Limbic Cinema’s hands-on approach teaches the importance of creativity and storytelling in immersive experiences. This journey also showcases the potential of public art to spark curiosity, challenge perceptions, and inspire creativity.

In 2024 the We Create Market introduced a brand-new initiative developed for Portsmouth’s next generation of artists and makers: the Young Creates Area! In partnership with HSDC (Havant & South Downs College) and City of Portsmouth College, Portsmouth Creates was thrilled to support emerging local creatives, providing them with a unique opportunity to develop their skills, gain hands-on experience, and showcase their work in a real-world market setting.

Students from HSDC and City of Portsmouth College were invited to participate in an extra-curricular mentorship programme titled Young Creates. Young people learnt the essential skills for taking a creative product from concept to the marketplace, learning the fundamentals of product research and development, design, creative mediums, packaging, marketing, event planning, sales, and risk management — skills that go beyond the traditional classroom curriculum.

The Young Creates area at the We Create Market was a launching pad for these students, giving them a chance to apply what they’ve learned in a supported environment. Not only did they gain real-world trading experience, but they also the opportunity to engage with their community and showcase their creations alongside established local artists. To make the experience accessible, each participating student received a small bursary from Portsmouth Creates, covering materials and production costs, removing potential barriers to participation

The Young Creates area gives these emerging talents a platform to showcase their work, engage with the community, and be part of Portsmouth’s creative scene. By nurturing the creativity of these young makers, We Shine supports a vibrant, innovative future for the city’s creative landscape.