Hundreds of people came to see the transformation of Westquay’s multi-storey car park into an urban street art gallery over the weekend 

Once again, hundreds of people flocked to Westquay’s Multi-Storey Car Park as it burst into life for this year’s “Multi Stories” event, which took place over the weekend.  

The free event returned to the retail and leisure destination’s car park on Saturday 18^th and Sunday 19^th of May, and saw people travel down from as far as Basingstoke and Brighton to see the bringing together of art, skateboarding and music which transformed the well-known landmark into an urban art gallery.  

New to this year was the Maker’s Market where visitors where able to pick up a one-off creation from local small businesses and crafters. The free art workshops also proved popular, as attendees were given the chance to try a spot of graffiti, life drawing, chalk and tape floor drawing, as well as take part in a community wall design competition.  

Organised by Westquay, in association with Southampton Forward, visitors watched live as more than thirty artists created a series of large and small-scale permanent murals that resonate with the stories of the city and local communities. 

Multi-Stories brought together a huge number of artists with a range of experience and styles, from street artists with international reputations including EPOD, Mr Cenz, Captain Kris, established street artists from Southampton such as Slam, Pogo, Ralf and Ayem, through to new and emerging local artists. 6 art frame commissions were again given to local artists keen to experience live painting at a street art event for the first time, and most of the art frame artists from last year were back, this time painting larger murals in the car park, including Joanna Rose Tidey, Chewy, Olivia Crawley and Edgar Lushaju.  

“Multi-Stories” embraced the spirit of skateboarding and rollerblading with a section of the car park acting as a skate park. We Skate Southampton wowed onlookers with their skills but also offered the opportunity on how to learn new tricks, conquer ramps, and feel the thrill of riding alongside like-minded individuals who share a passion for the board.   

This was all set against a soundtrack curated by Southampton musicians and DJs with a programme spanning genres across 60 years since Southampton became a city and reflecting the overarching theme for 2024 of ‘city life’. Artists included well-known Southampton street artist Slam and other established artists Epod, Mr Cenz and Vane MG. Breakdancers also took full advantage of the fantastic music.  

Sarah Tinsley, Director of Marketing & Placemaking at Hammerson (owner of Westquay) said: ‘It’s been a complete hit. We were incredibly excited to bring back ‘Multi-Stories’ to Westquay following its huge success last year. Collaborating with local artists is just one of the innovative ways we are evolving Westquay from a place where people come only to shop, to a ‘destination’ offering an exciting mix of entertainment, leisure and social experiences. Southampton is bustling with creativity and we’re looking forward to once again championing and providing a platform for local talent”. 

Claire Whitaker CBE, CEO of Southampton Forward, said “It was fantastic to see so many people enjoy the event, both local to the city and people visiting. Collaborating with Westquay is always a pleasure and the art that was produced is a fantastic legacy of the weekend  - we are excited to start planning for next year.” 

Paintshop, a local Creative Studio who blend graffiti art with graphic design, were back for a second year curating the artwork and free art workshops alongside local creative producer Joe Ross. Ricky Also, who is also a born and bred Sotonian, is the Creative Director behind Paintshop and a renowned mural artist.  

Ricky Also said: “The Live painting event was again so well received by the public. It’s a unique opportunity for people to connect with street art, getting under the skin and witness the creative process firsthand.  

“Not only are we transforming ordinary grey urban spaces into vibrant artworks, we also hope to play a part in inspiring the next generation of artists. Growing up in Southampton I know how just much creative potential there is in the city and events like Multi-Stories are exactly what we need’. 

For more details contact Frankie Peck on 07545962356 or email frankie@leepeckmedia.com