Annual Review Book 2014-15

HIGHLIGHTS: A YEAR OF AMAZING ACTIVITY
CLASSICAL
The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
featured a strong programme of classical and some
contemporary music including Mighty Brahms in
October and Sublime Shostakovich in November.
Artistic director and main conductor Kirill Karabits
continued to lead this excellent orchestra.
For the first time we featured The Portsmouth
Chamber Series, a wonderful series of intimate
concerts in the round on our stage. A developing
partnership with the University the series featured
Ensemble 360 in October and the Benyounes
Quartet in January.
COMMUNITY
There were 25 community events in the concert hall
including Rock Challenge, The Schools Music
Festival, University Graduations and a number of
charity events which raised money for local cancer
charities, the Lord Mayor’s charity and Parkinson’s UK.
We held 2 very successful outdoor events in Guildhall
Square. Street Games, a free event, featured BMX bike
stunts, graffiti art, dance and music. It was attended over 2
days by 7,000 people. Funky Town Festival in late
summer was colourful and vibrant with circus, street
theatre and music. 3,000 people attended this free event.
Public feedback was excellent.
PARTICIPATION
2014-15 was an exceptional year for learning and
participation. Throughout the year Urban Vocal
Group held free vocal training workshops for young
people. In Spring 2014 we worked with SOCO
from Southampton by offering free musical
instrument lessons over several weeks. Top Banana
Circus School held weekly circus lessons in our
lounge.
In October we formally launched Get Into Music,
which supported young people to gain offstage
skills and experience. Over 200 students attended
an Industry Day where they heard from industry
professionals including the former manager of
Mumford & Sons.
ROCK, POP AND COMEDY
American supergroup Foreigner appeared to a sold out
audience in April 2014. Featuring founding member Mick
Jones, who grew up in Portsmouth, he was the first
inductee into the Guildhall Wall of Fame. Another local star
Lily Allen drew a large audience in November and the
wonderful and smooth Gregory Porter performed songs
from his hit album in December. We continued with our
eclectic music offer when we featured Jacqui Dankworth
in our Live Lounge series.
Some of the biggest comedians of the year appeared at the
Guildhall. Lee Mack sold out 3 nights in October and
Jimmy Carr and Noel Fielding performed in December.
GUILDHALL RENAISSANCE
In 2014 the project Guildhall Renaissance was
conceived. Over the next 10 years the Guildhall will
be transformed with improvements to the concert
hall, bars, café and front-of-house and backstage
areas.
VISUAL ARTS
There were several exhibitions in new areas of the
Guildhall. A new parternship with Aspex Gallery
resulted in Aspex Guildhall opening in June 2014
featuring an excellent exhibition by local artist
Johnny Hannah. The gallery exhibited three other
exhibitions in the year and continues to this day.
Elsewhere, a corridor was dedicated to the BSO and
Milton Glee. In June, the Portsmouth Festivities
featured the Spice Island Art Trail in the Zodiac.
Access All Areas went from strength to strength
and is now fully curated by local volunteers with a
passion for music. In October they launched ‘The
Tommy Exhibition’ featuring images and stories from
the film. A new recording studio was opened in the
Spring and over 1,000 people a month visit AAA.
In February we supported the Solent Music Hub
Conference, and in March Portsmouth Music Hub
held their first secondary schools and colleges prom
called Soundsational. Throughout the year we
worked with The New Theatre Royal and Aspex on
Jumpstart, an excellent arts project which
engaged with over 60 local schools and 3,600
children.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
It is critical to the future of the Guildhall that is
diversifies its offer and therefore develops some
Commercial opportunities. At the Cultural Trust we
have focused on promoting the Guildhall as Portsmouth’s
largest conference and business centre. In 2014-15 nearly
83,000 people attended conferences, meetings,
exhibitions, dinners and events.
National conferences such as the Quilters, National
Astronomy, Body Building, Tattoo Exhibition and many
more contributed to this increase in business. We are
extremely proud of the high standard of our catering,
café and front-of-house operations which attract many
plaudits from clients and customers.
Portsmouth Guildhall, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2AB Telephone: 02393 870200 Email: enquiries@portsmouthguildhall.org.uk Website: www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk