The Ports Fest Team

Erica Smith – Director

Erica Smith has been the Director of Ports Fest since 2015. She has been a senior programme manager and creative producer in the creative industries for 20 years including the national Creative Partnerships programme where she was at the heart of creativity in education for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for 7 years. She has devised hundreds of innovative projects and produced thousands of events with a specialist knowledge of mixed media.

Erica is also the director and Co-Founder of Voice FM radio station in Southampton and a trustee for BAFA – The British Arts Festivals Association.

Tory Smith – Administrator

Tory joined Ports Fest in 2016 and manages the social media, marketing, events, and other PR for the annual programme. With years of experience in various administrative roles, Tory returned to education in 2010 to gain further qualifications before embarking on a degree in Photography in 2012. Whilst on the course, she undertook a year’s paid placement at the University of Portsmouth to work with the Promotions Manager and gain further experience in running events, social media and promotion.

As well as being into photography, Tory is also a keen crafter and Treasurer for a local scout group in Gosport, having recently become Head of Fundraising for the Gosport District Scouts.

Francis Brown – Assistant

Francis went to Cranbrook School in Kent before going up to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, to read music. There, he sang in Trinity Hall Chapel Choir and then Selwyn Chapel Choir, as well as holding the Gilbey Bass Choral Scholarship at Fisher House, the Cambridge University Catholic Chaplaincy. Alongside his degree, he wrote for an edited a student newspaper, The TitBit, and was a committee member of both Trinity Hall Arts Society and Trinity Hall Music Society, before taking on the position of Recitals Coordinator of the latter in his final year. He graduated with a first class honours in 2020. Beyond his musical activities, Francis is a keen walker, cyclist, and poetry lover; he is keen to bring all these interests to bear in his role as Festival Assistant for Ports Fest, which he performs alongside his choral scholarship at Portsmouth Cathedral.

Ports Fest Governance

Chair – Dr Anne Cotton

Company Secretary – Ann-Marie Phillips

Trustees

Louise Chantal

Max Craft

David Hampshire

Dr Adrian Hull

Drusilla Moody

Creative Partners

The Portsmouth Grammar School

Portsmouth Guildhall

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Portsmouth Music Festival

Portsmouth Music Hub

Portsmouth Poetry

University of Portsmouth

Wedgewood Rooms

COVID-19 ANNOUNCEMENT

This year, Ports Fest will be held from the 2nd-4th July; many events will take place outside, and all will be run in accordance with government COVID-19 safety measures. Needless to say, the safety of our audience members, participants and artists is our number one priority.