Fund an eye-opening octopus art project!

New reward added!

Enjoy a traditional Chinese Gong Fu Cha (tea) ceremony with Dr. Roy Hanney and Pipa (Chinese lute) recital by Pu Yanan. Click here to see excerpts of Yanan's works.

Taste four very different single source, hand-picked Chinese teas and learn about tea culture with Dr, Roy Hanney. Having apprenticed in Seven Stars Tea House, Yangshuo, Guangxi, China under a Chinese tea master. Roy is able to introduce you to the traditional Chinese tea ceremony and together we will be tasting: Duck Sh*t Oolong (Ya Shi Dan Cong), Honey Orchid Oolong (Mi Lan Xiang Dan Cong), Nug Berry (Bulang Lao Cha Tou), and Dragon Well Green Tea (Long Jing 2022).

You will also be entertained with a Pipa solo performance by Yanan. Pipa is a four-stringed Chinese lute with a history that can be traced back to the 2nd century AD. Yanan studied the instrument at the age of 8 and will play a selection of old and modern tunes.

Traditional snacks will be provided at this informal event, and you will get plenty of opportunity to converse with the hosts and other guests. Tea will be served without milk and sugar.

There are maximum of 20 tickets available.

When: 2-4pm Sunday 9th October 2022.

Where: Secret location in central Southsea (participants will be emailed after booking their tickets).

We will accomodate a maximum of 10 people at this particular event and will schedule a second event when the numbers go beyond this limit. Don't worry we will let you know by email.

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Huge thanks to @floramorauk_art (aka Carrie Swinburne) who donated this beautiful painting of an octopus. We are now able to offer a limited edition print for just £25!

Fine Art Giclée Print 30x30 with a white border.⁠ 

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Over the period of nine months, you will see so many creative activities across the city. We are going to bring an enormous octopus puppet to life! There will also be a film, an exhibition, an immersive show at the Cathedral and more!

A team of people from some of the best audio-visual, sound, theatre, and immersive art projects this country has seen will be working together, to tell the story of the octopus and its relationship with the sea. 

It also echoes the relationship between Portsmouth and the sea.

There are many ways for you to get involved in this eye-opening project. 

Start today by getting one of our fantastic crowdfunding rewards!

Any amount of donation is greatly appreciated too! Every penny raised goes towards making this project happen.

Who are we?

We are a highly experienced team who have previously run a range of high profile events across the UK. We are:

Roy Hanney began making audio-visual art in the 1980s, ran The Plunge Club live art platform in London during the 1990s and has been promoting immersive audio-visual arts in Portsmouth since 2004 including HLF funded ‘No Diving’ (2009) and ACE funded ‘Cursed City Dark Tide’ (2019). 

Angela Parks expert in delivering large scale art projects, and co-founder of Cheltenham Paint Festival which annually attracts 120 artists from across the globe. She was project manager for My Dog Sighs’ INSIDE which attracted 10,000 visitors to a derelict ballroom in Portsmouth (2021).

Joe Hufton specialises in immersive, site-specific theatre including work for companies such as Secret Cinema and Les Enfants Terribles. His work for Secret Cinema includes Dead Poets Society and Back to the Future, at the time the largest Immersive show ever produced.

Thomas Buckley is an audio-visual artist working in immersive multi-media installations for events, festivals and fine art exhibitions. Has worked with The Royal Shakespeare Company / Magic leap as a Digital Fellow; using XR to develop emerging ideas in immersive Tech.

Rusty Sheriff is a sonic artist, composer and musician who works experimentally in a number of audio disciplines including podcasting, live performance, sound design, DIY electronics hacking and other mysterious practices.

Roni Edwards is the Director of Pamodzi [meaning ‘together’] with over 12 years of experience delivering creative collaborations, dance-theatre productions, schools projects, and cross-cultural international projects for young people.

Angela McMahon creates art that is inspired by her passion for the natural world, the traces and imprints humans leave on the environment, working with drawing, sculpture and installation, making use of discarded and recycled materials including plastic, cardboard, scrap metal and waste oil.

Clare Jefferson Jones and Paul Jones are the creative team of Splodge Designs. Splodge has been delivering inclusive and accessible creative projects and workshops for over 20 years. Splodge works in many different mediums including carnival, puppetry, lantern making and textiles.

A little bit of sneak peek:

Now let me tell you how you can help…

£5 to put your name on an art installation 

As part of our grand finale at the Portsmouth cathedral in November, we will put up a fishing net highlighting our supporters. For £5, you can get your name on the net!

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£9 for a signed copy of Octopus Medicine by Becci Louise

This is where our journey starts - an inspirational collection of stories, written for young and old alike, to be read at bedtime, to be acted out on playgrounds, to be shared with grandparents. In its mysterious way, the octopus has much to teach us. Get a signed copy from the author Becci Louise here on our Crowdfunder page.

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£15 for a pre-ordered tote bag

Exclusively designed by local artist @mimicdesign, and printed by Sea Dog in Portsmouth, this eco-friendly bag shows your love for the sea. Carry this trusty bag for the many years to come. 

Orders will be put into production and shipped in the first week of August.

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£25 for a pre-ordered T-shirt

Available in a wide range of sizes!

Let this T-shirt be your conversation starter. Tell your friends, "Hey, I supported this local team for an amazing art project!" 

This cotton T-shirt is exclusively designed by local artist @mimicdesign and printed by Sea Dog in Portsmouth. We have a wide range of sizes available as well!

Orders will be put into production and shipped in the first week of August.

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£20 to a key artist talk - Joe Hufton

One of the key artists involved in this project, theatre director Joe Hufton, will talk to our crowdfunding supporters. Join this talk to learn behind-the-scene stories, gain insights and more!

Joe has a significant portfolio of immersive, site-specific works. This includes work for Secret Cinema, Immersive Cult and Les Enfants Terribles. He now runs November Club, a site-specific company based in the North East. www.novemberclub.org.uk

This will take place in Portsmouth around 19th November.

Be sure to grab a ticket while you still can!

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£20 to a key artist talk - Thomas Buckley 

One of the key artists involved in this project, Thomas Buckley, will give a talk to our crowdfunding supporters. Join this talk to learn the artist’s insights, behind-the-scene stories and more!

Thomas is an artist and a storyteller using digital media, often working in projection, immersive technologies (VR, AR, XR) and interactive installations. His works evoke wondrous adventures in our childhood memories and our imaginations. Check out more of Thomas’ work here: https://www.thomas-buckley.com/.

This will take place in Portsmouth around 19th November.

Be sure to grab a ticket while you still can!

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£20 to a key artist talk - Roy Hanney 

The mastermind behind this project, Dr Roy Hanney, invites you, our crowdfunding supporters, to a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. Enjoy an afternoon of delicious single-origin teas, friendly chats and a live Pipa (Chinese lute) performance.

Since arriving in the city in 2003, Roy has thrown himself into the arts scene creating immersive shows and experiences across the city. From the early days of the VisionClash AV jams at The India Arms, through No Diving at Hilsea Lido to a cross arts happenings at Coastguard Studio and Southsea Castle, he has been pushing the boundaries of experiential arts in the city. A founder of DVMISSION 48 Hour Film Challenge and the director of Making Waves Film Festival he has an equal passion for theatre and cinema that manifests in a desire to meld the two into a new unique form of experience – live cinema.

This will take place in Portsmouth around 19th November.

Be sure to grab a ticket while you still can!

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£50 for an octopus supporter package – Limited availability 

Become an octopus supporter and get a preview of our final show at the Cathedral in November, as well as a package full of secret goodies, curated just for you!

Grab this one quick! Only 50 packages available.

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£100 to get a piece of artwork from Octopuses & other Sea Creatures

Limited availability! You can be among the 10 people to receive a random artwork created as part of this project. We have some of the country’s best creatives working on this project, so we know great things will be produced. 

The artists are still working on this - it might be something made for the scene dressing at the Cathedral or part of the opening ceremony. We will share more details with you soon!

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£200 to name a character in the show at the Cathedral

A play will be devised, performed and filmed for the immersive theatre at the Cathedral as a grand finale. There is a unique chance to name one character in the play after you or someone your love.

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£200 to name a soundtrack after you or your loved one

Portsmouth's very own Rusty Sheriff will produce soundtracks for the flagship event at the Cathedral, one of which can be named after you or someone you love. You will receive a copy of the soundtrack on a CD, so you’ll always have your own tune.

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Sponsorship packages:

£2000 to be our Headline Sponsor 

We will create a bespoke high-level sponsorship package for you which promotes your business and showcases you as a supporter of the arts. 

Contact us for details.

£1000 to be our Premium Sponsor 

We will work with you to develop a comprehensive mid-level sponsorship package for you which promotes your business and showcases you as a supporter of the arts.

Contact us for details.

£500 to be our Believer 

We will work with you to develop an affordable sponsorship package for you which promotes your business and showcases you as a supporter of the arts.

Contact us for details.