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Creativity and Media
The creative and media industries form an exciting and dynamic sector in the Portsmouth city region. The wider Hampshire area has over 9,000 creative businesses, employing over 35,000 people in activities such as design, architecture and film production. The sector is expected to continue to grow and flourish in the future.
The region is home to many established and up and coming design firms, including Fox and Hoyle, ASR Graphics and Boxchilli Media. Other creative companies in the area include architectural firm Axis Architecture, video production company Next Trick Films and music production company FB Music and Media. The digital media and computer game industries have shown particularly high growth in the last few years and Portsmouth is home to several world famous developers. Independent games company Climax Group have worked on many big titles, including racing game MotoGP, and are currently developing games for major international company Konami. Critically acclaimed PC games company Vulcan Software produces the successful Valhalla adventure game series.
The University of Portsmouth’s Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries has a long history of excellence in the arts and technologies and is regarded as highly innovative and cutting-edge. Areas of particular strength include architecture, animation, film and media. Over 7,000 students from creative disciplines graduate each year from universities in South Hampshire, contributing to a highly skilled talent pool in the region. The universities also support the sector through knowledge and technology transfer and through investment in business support and infrastructure.
Portsmouth has a range of support for creative companies and individuals in the region. The Creative Industries Business Advisory Service offers free business and professional development advice to local artists and creative businesses as well as organising training and networking events. Portsmouth City Council runs Arts Services which assists artists with marketing and publicity in addition to publishing a bimonthly arts magazine. Other initiatives include Artsdata, a database of local creative businesses and facilities and ARC, a resource centre for creative practitioners based at the aspex gallery in Portsmouth.
