The Guide Awards, organised by The News, are an annual celebration of all that is good from across the region’s arts community. 04 December 2019
Portsmouth DarkFest, the annual creative and cultural festival exploring all things dark, sinister and supernatural, has been nominated for ‘Best Event’ in this year’s The Guide Awards.
The Guide Awards, organised by The News, are an annual celebration of all that is good from across the region’s arts community. There are 13 categories open for voting, ranging from stage to screen, music, art and more.
Inspired by the Supernatural Cities project at the University of Portsmouth, and working in close collaboration with the city’s creative communities and cultural organisations, DarkFest brought together artists, writers, performers, academics, storytellers and musicians to explore ghost stories, urban legends, crime, horror and hidden histories.
Celebrating the fantastic wealth of Portsmouth’s creative talent, there were over 20 events include spooky storytelling, live music and performances, public talks, guided walks, film screenings, plays, immersive experiences, art exhibitions and writing workshops.
It is great to see recognition for an initiative that grew from the ground up, based on the sheer talent, drive, and good will of local creatives and academics. It has been a pleasure to help transform those efforts into a celebration of Portsmouth’s creative cultures.
Dr Karl Bell, director of the Supernatural Cities research project and co-organiser of DarkFest, said: ““We are absolutely delighted that Darkfest has been nominated for the Guide Awards. It demonstrates how the festival has had an impact on Portsmouth’s cultural scene and the local community. It is great to see recognition for an initiative that grew from the ground up, based on the sheer talent, drive, and good will of local creatives and academics. I was amazed how a broad range of artists responded to ideas arising from my research on urban supernatural folklore. It has been a pleasure to help transform those efforts into a celebration of Portsmouth’s creative cultures. We are up against some very strong competition, so fingers crossed.”
The News’s editor Mark Waldron says: “Last year we received a record number of votes – people voted for the awards in their thousands – which is a clear indicator of how much they mean to people.
“We want you to back your favourites and help spread the word about just how many talented people we have among us.
“It would be wonderful if we could top that number of votes this year and create a new record.”
The awards night will take place at the Kings Theatre in Albert Road, Southsea, on Monday 27 January 2020.
You can vote for DarkFest as the Best Event here. Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 29 December.