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. 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 was born in Kent before going up to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, to read music. There, he sang in several choirs, wrote for and edited a student newspaper, and was a heavily involved with both Trinity Hall Arts Society and Trinity Hall Music Society, before graduating with a first class honours in 2020. This year, he is working for Ports Fest 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
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.
Headline
Launch of Ports Fest 2021
Something new is coming to Portsmouth
News from Ports Fest
Launch of Ports Fest 2021
Something new is coming to Portsmouth

Aspex (life begins) at 40!
Portsmouth’s contemporary art gallery announces exciting plans to celebrate its milestone anniversary

BAFA Conference 2021
BAFA announces conference, 24 - 26 February 2021: Rewind, Play, Forward.