Multi-Stories Returns for Its Third Year at Westquay’s Multi-Storey Car Park

Multi-Stories Returns for Its Third Year at Westquay’s Multi-Storey Car Park

The highly anticipated Multi-Stories event is set to return for its third year, transforming Westquay’s multi-storey car park into a vibrant urban street art gallery on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May 2025. This year’s theme, ‘Connections’, celebrates not only the physical link between the different levels of artwork previously created in years one and two but also the deeper connections between people, communities, and creativity.

Building on the success of the past two years, Multi-Stories 2025 will further cement Southampton’s reputation as home to one of the most comprehensive public collections of street art in the UK, featuring permanent works from over 60 of the country’s most notable artists. 2025 will see murals spread across nine levels and visitors can expect to encounter something new and unexpected, with additional surprises yet to be announced.

Andy Jackson, Destination Director at Westquay, is delighted to see the event return in 2025: “We are thrilled to welcome Multi-Stories back for its third year at Westquay. This event has transformed our multi-storey car park into a dynamic and unexpected creative space, celebrating the incredible artistic talent within Southampton and beyond. We look forward to seeing how the theme of ‘Connections’ brings artists and communities together this year.”

The theme of ‘Connections’ will play a central role not only in the murals themselves but also in how the event is structured, promoting collaborations between international and local artists.

Rick Walker from Paintshop, the creative studio leading on curation and artist selection, said: “Our vision is to create a world-class mural gallery in Southampton, bringing in top-level artists from far and wide while also inspiring and involving the local community. This year, with the theme of ‘Connections’, we are actively encouraging artists to collaborate, reflecting the unique and collective spirit of street art.”

Beyond the striking visuals, Multi-Stories is also a catalyst for bringing people together. Claire Whitaker CBE, CEO of Southampton Forward, added: “Multi-Stories is a shining example of how public spaces can be reimagined to bring communities together through creativity. The event not only showcases incredible artistic talent but also creates lasting connections within our city.”

Engagement is at the heart of Multi-Stories, promoting creativity as accessible to all. As part of the team producing the event, creative consultant and artist Joe Ross from Good Idea Today, is leading on community workshops and emerging artist commissions. Emphasising the importance of inclusivity, she said: “From badge-making to life drawing, we want to ensure that everyone, regardless of age or experience, can take part in this celebration of street art and creativity”.

The 2025 edition of Multi-Stories will feature live mural painting from leading street artists, who will be collaborating in real-time to create large-scale murals. A dedicated community workshop area on Level 5 will provide interactive activities, including graffiti canvas painting, badge making, sticker art, chalk & tape art, and life drawing.

The ‘Design Your Own Mural’ competition will invite local schools to submit mural designs, with the winning entry recreated as a permanent mural by a professional artist during the event. Visitors can also experience the return of South Coast Makers Market, skateboarding and breakdancing displays and lessons, sets by local DJs and sample some tasty street food.

Since its inception in 2023, Multi-Stories has become one of the most significant street art initiatives in the UK, transforming the car park into an evolving permanent public art gallery. This year, artists will be encouraged to collaborate, creating murals that reflect the event’s overarching theme and the interwoven nature of art, culture, and community.

With even more to be revealed in the coming months, 2025 is set to be Multi-Stories’ most exciting year yet, cementing its place as a must-see event on Southampton’s cultural calendar.

The event will take place on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May, 12 – 6 pm on multiple levels of the Westquay Multi-Storey Car Park. The car park will remain open to vehicles as usual.