Playland
A new venue in Portsmouth by and for people under 30
We are re-imagining Playland – the abandoned arcade on Commercial Road – into a vibrant, youth-led creative space. And it’s a totally blank canvas…for now!
Wherever you are on your journey and whatever you are passionate about – Playland is a safe space to express yourself, and access opportunities to build skills and experience for your creative career.
About the project
We have joined forces with Portsmouth Creates to transform the previously vacant amusement arcade, Playland, into a vibrant youth-led creative venue.
Playland is the big downstairs space at Playland Creative Hub, located on Commercial Road.
We’re looking for young people aged 16 – 30 to help shape every part of this new space: from designing the blank-canvas interior into a functional and playful space, to planning what will take place there.
In return we’ll offer training, mentoring, and shadowing opportunities, and we will support you to make your ‘dream’ events come true. This is a chance for you to co-create something from the ground up, shaping it as YOU think it should be.
The Playland project has emerged from previous conversations with local young people, who expressed that there was a lack of spaces where they felt real safety and belonging. Playland will provide this space, as well as driving skills development and pathways into the creative industries.
Between running workshops and meeting the wider public, we’ve been able to create 3 opportunities for young people with no prior professional experience and reward them for their time. As Playland’s Creative Engagement Practitioner, taking on my first post-university role in the same city I grew up in makes me especially proud of the supportive environment we are creating.
How can I get involved?
The way that Playland will look and run is all down to you. Here’s how you can join our team of under 30s leading this project.
Shape Playland
Discussion meetings are hybrid (in person at Playland and online via Teams). The weekday sessions (usually Tuesdays or Thursdays) run from 5pm to 7pm and the Saturday sessions run from 11am to 4pm.
Creative projects
Our next milestone is a stakeholder launch event in October, where we’ll be sharing our work with key investors and local businesses.
In the weeks leading up to the launch, we’re running a few creative projects you can take part in:
- Window painting: In early September we’re coming together to brighten up the Playland windows with glass paint, so need all creative hands on deck!
- Heritage project: This will involve researching, collecting, and displaying photos of Playland through its history.
We are also planning a Halloween event, more details coming soon or keep up to date below.
You are welcome to join just one project, or as many as you like – just let us know what interests you.
Want to stay up to date with what’s going on?
Are you an artist, creative business or collective in Portsmouth and beyond? Here’s how you can get involved:
- We offer space hire at affordable rates. As part of our space hire model, one of our capable under 30’s in the Playland leadership group will also be on hand to assist your workshop/event. Please enquire for more details.
- We also host free taster workshops for young people in the city, so that more under 30’s have the opportunity to get involved in Playland. If you’d like us to deliver a free workshop with young people in your organisation who may be interested in youth leadership at Playland, get in touch to grab a slot before they are gone. Email Anastasia at anastasiaalexandru@artswork.org.uk
- We’re also really excited about offering young people training opportunities, so if you have any specialist skills that you’d like to offer as a development opportunity for our under 30’s, do reach out to us by emailing playland@artswork.org.uk
Project partners
We’re working with Portsmouth Creates on this project and The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner have pledged £25k to support activity at Playland.
