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Portsmouth has always been a city full of creativity. Not just in galleries and venues, but in its streets, neighbourhoods and the people who call it home. It’s a place where ideas take shape, where creativity flourishes in unexpected places, and where people aren’t afraid to do things differently. That’s why I’m proud to support We Are Pompey 2029.
Over the years, I’ve watched Portsmouth’s creative community grow in confidence and ambition. Through projects like Look Up Portsmouth and the incredible artists, makers, musicians and performers across the city, we’ve shown what can happen when creativity is given the space to thrive.
Becoming UK City of Culture 2029 will shine a spotlight on those voices and give Portsmouth the platform it deserves. We’re a city with remarkable stories to tell, and now is our chance to tell them to the world.
As a Portsmouth lad, born and raised in this great city, I am immensely proud to be a Patron for Portsmouth’s UK City of Culture 2029 bid. Portsmouth’s extraordinary maritime heritage has shaped not only our city, but my own life and the creation of Wetwheels, which I founded here in Portsmouth.
Through Wetwheels, thousands of disabled people, together with their families and friends, have been able to experience and enjoy our magnificent coastline, harbour and maritime heritage, often in ways they never thought possible. For me, culture must be something everyone can experience and be part of, including disabled and disadvantaged people who are too often excluded from everyday opportunities.
Portsmouth is a diverse, resilient and wonderfully distinctive waterfront city, and this bid is our opportunity to celebrate our remarkable past while showing the country what a genuinely inclusive and ambitious City of Culture can look like.
Portsmouth gave me my first opportunities to dream big. From training in local pools to competing on the world stage, I learned that talent can come from anywhere when people are supported, encouraged and given the opportunity to thrive.
That’s why I’m proud to support We Are Pompey 2029. This bid is about much more than culture for a single year, it’s about creating opportunities, inspiring ambition and helping more people believe in what they can achieve.
Portsmouth is a city full of creativity, resilience and heart. It’s a place where communities come together, where people look out for one another, and where there is an unmistakable sense of pride in who we are.
Becoming UK City of Culture 2029 would shine a national spotlight on everything that makes Portsmouth special while helping to create a positive legacy for future generations. Portsmouth has shaped who I am. I would love to see the rest of the country discover that Portsmouth is a place with the talent, passion and potential to achieve great things.
The late Alan Knight MBE was a proud Patron of We Are Pompey 2029. A true Portsmouth legend, his love for the city, its people and its future remains an enduring part of our journey. He said:
Portsmouth isn’t just where I’m from; it’s part of who I am. I’ve spent most of my life representing this city, and one thing I’ve always known is that in Portsmouth people stand together. We back each other, we’re proud of where we come from, and we never stop believing in our city.
That’s why I’m proud to support We Are Pompey 2029. This bid is a chance to celebrate everything that makes Portsmouth special: our people, our stories, our creativity and our community spirit.
We’re a city with real character, shaped by resilience, hard work and a fierce sense of identity. Becoming UK City of Culture 2029 would give us the opportunity to share that story with the rest of the country and inspire future generations.
Portsmouth has always punched above its weight. I believe we’re ready to show the nation exactly what Pompey is all about.
Throughout my life, sailing has taught me the value of ambition, resilience and the confidence to set a course towards something bigger than yourself. When I became the first person to complete a non-stop solo circumnavigation of the globe, it reinforced my belief that bold ambitions are worth pursuing. Portsmouth is a city that understands those qualities better than most.
As one of the world’s great maritime cities, Portsmouth has always looked beyond the horizon. It is a place shaped by exploration, innovation and a determination to take on challenges that others might shy away from.
That’s why I’m proud to support We Are Pompey 2029. This is an opportunity to showcase Portsmouth’s unique character, rich heritage and remarkable creativity, while demonstrating the ambition and confidence that continues to drive the city forward.
Becoming UK City of Culture 2029 would give Portsmouth a powerful platform to share its story with the nation and beyond. We are a city with global connections, extraordinary people and a bold vision for the future. I believe Portsmouth is ready to seize this opportunity and chart an exciting course for the years ahead.
Music has taken me all over the world and given me the privilege of performing alongside some of the biggest bands and artists in the world. Throughout my career, I’ve always been proud of my Portsmouth roots and the inspiration that came from seeing legendary artists across the city set me on my path. I owe a debt of gratitude to Pompey’s music-loving community and the venues across the area, which were known for supporting emerging local talent.
Portsmouth is a city full of talent, creativity and individuality, with a commitment to the arts. It’s a place where people are encouraged to forge their own path, where culture is woven into everyday life and where there is no shortage of ambition or support for local talent.
That’s why I’m delighted to support We Are Pompey 2029. This bid is an opportunity to celebrate not only our rich heritage and unique identity but also the incredible artists who continue to shape the city’s cultural life both today and in the future.
Becoming UK City of Culture 2029 would help shine a spotlight on our talent, inspire the next generation and show the country that Portsmouth is a city that appreciates and supports its talent and where creativity thrives.
Portsmouth is a city that has always encouraged people to be curious. In Portsmouth, I learnt the value of asking questions, exploring new ideas and looking beyond what seemed possible. Those qualities have shaped my career, from studying physics to communicating science to audiences around the world.
That’s why I’m proud to support We Are Pompey 2029. Culture, like science, begins with curiosity. It helps us understand ourselves, connects us with different perspectives and inspires us to imagine a better future.
Portsmouth is a city rich in stories, creativity, and talent. It is also a city that has never stood still. From its maritime heritage to its university, innovators, artists and communities, Portsmouth has continually reinvented itself while staying true to its identity.
Becoming UK City of Culture 2029 would be an opportunity to showcase that spirit to the nation. It would celebrate not only what Portsmouth has achieved, but what it can become. Most importantly, it would inspire future generations to think bigger, be more ambitious and recognise that great ideas can come from anywhere, including Portsmouth.