The We Create Market brings a huge new opportunity to Portsmouth artists and creatives

Their presence was reassuring not only to shoppers as trusted brands, but also to other businesses as they brought people into the area.

But in July 2019 Knight & Lee closed, and then at the start of this year Debenhams followed suit. And then of course the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown hit.

However, behind the scenes, plans were afoot to make good use of the empty Debenhams space.

Councillor Steve Pitt, in charge of culture and city development matters for Portsmouth, approached Portsmouth Creates to see if something could be done to utilise it.

Portsmouth Creates is a body which started last year with the aim of supporting the city’s creative and cultural industries. It is funded by the city council, the University of Portsmouth, Arts Council England and Victorious Festival.

Billie Coe, from Portsmouth Creates, says: ‘It’s a huge space and it’s such a shame for it to sit there empty. We looked at it, and the opportunity we had for local traders was immense.’

With monthly events like Crafts in The Tower down at the Square Tower, Old Portsmouth, unable to happen, the idea was simple.

‘At the tower they had problems there with the Covid regulations and capacity, says Billie. ‘And so many other smaller buildings and shops aren’t able to function with the current space and people limitations – even having simple things like moving in and out separate doors.

‘A lot of these venues are obsolete at the moment and that means the people who use them are stuck with nowhere to trade.’

The first We Create Market took place on the weekend of September 12 and 13 and queues were out the door throughout. The market took over about half of the ground floor and hosted more than 60 traders, plus art displays, music and food and drink. Members of the Victorious Festival team, Crafts in the Tower, the Hotwalls Studios, Makers Guild and the University of Portsmouth turned the space into a buzzing market with wide walkways, spacious stall layouts and plenty of hand sanitiser stations.

But even the team behind it were taken aback by its success.

‘Initially we just put it out there as a press release and on social media and we really didn’t have a clue. We knew there was an appetite there, that there would be people who wanted to trade, but it’s a brand new thing, and people could be a bit cautious.

‘We dealt with the September market, initially as a smaller event, almost like a pilot to see how well received it was and to enable us to get feedback from the traders to see whether they thought it was worthwhile, whether they enjoyed it, whether they got business from it?

‘That feedback was enormously positive – the traders were all so pleased, and we were inundated with applications for the subsequent markets.’

The market is running again both days this weekend, November 7/8 and December 12/13. And this time it will double in size – taking over the entire ground floor of the building.

‘We’ve had double the amount of applications as we have stalls, which is great, but also disappointing because we do have to turn some people down. But we couldn’t have anticipated until we’d done the September one how it would go.

‘It shows the need for things like this. It could be the way forward for the time being.’

Unfortunately the building’s owners have plans for its future use, but Billie adds: ‘We’ve bagged the lease for up to December as they’ve told us they've got no plans for it before then. We’d love to be able to do something after that, but we’ll just grab the opportunity where we can when we can.’

Many traders from the first market were quick to snap up a place for this month as well.

Marie Poussardin of furniture restorers and upcyclers Charlotte O’Fraise says: ‘We had an extremely good response from the public and got a few commissions out of it. And we had the Lord Mayor pictured sitting on the chaise longue I brought in, which looked good for us!

‘I know the team behind it, what they are capable of doing and how organised they are, and I’ve always liked what they’re doing, so I didn’t have any doubts about how good it would be.

And Debbie Pinhorne will return with her bow business. She normally sells from home or at events like school fetes, which have this year ‘been nonexistent.’

Debbie says she ‘didn't even hesitate’ to apply for a stall this month after the first market.

‘It was amazing there were so many people there but they still kept to social distancing and the safety was brilliant. Everyone was so pleased that something like this was happening, because it was so needed! My experience with the other traders and the general public, everyone was so jolly and friendly.’

Southsea-based brewers Makemake will again be there selling draught beer to drink at the tables, or in cans to take away.

Brewer and owner Marc Renous is friends with the founders of Victorious, and they suggested he get involved.

‘The response was great, says Marc. ‘The turnout was insane with queues around the building on both days. It was really well organised, I think what the Victorious Events team have done with it is fantastic. They’ve created something out of nothing, and it’s been so good for the surrounding area.’

Art is a major part of the We Create experience too – not just from the trading side.

October’s market will see the open studio in the windows occupied by local muralists and graphic designers 2 sisters.

There will also be new window displays from Strong Island, White Dog Gallery and Hot Walls Studios. Inside will be an exhibition of Portsmouth, My Portsmouth by Karl Bailey, the Portsmouth Creates’ We Believe Art trail, and My Scarf Tapestry – Eugene Noble’s collection of Portsmouth Football Club scarves displayed with an emotional backstory, plus Palmerston Road – Change and Renewal, a photo exhibition curated by Portsmouth History Centre, and community tapestry project Eye Sea Squares 2020 developed in school workshops with visually impaired artist Clarke Reynolds.

The market runs from 10am-4pm today and tomorrow.

For more information go to wecreatemarket.co.uk.