Multi-Stories: a street art, music, dance and skate car park takeover

Southampton Forward were thrilled to partner with Westquay on Multi-Stories, a project designed to celebrate Southampton’s communities, their vibrant culture, and the power of creative expression.

Culminating in a two-day creative takeover of levels 7, 8 and 9 of Westquay’s Multi-Storey Car Park on Saturday 9^th and Sunday 10^th September, the car park was turned into an interactive urban street art gallery, with a soundtrack of ecclectic hiphop rhythms supplied by musicians and DJs from the local music scene. Lots of families, young people and adults also took part in the skateboarding, breakdancing and grafitti workshops on offer over the weekend.

More than 40 artists poured their hearts into this project, producing more than 30 permanent large and small-scale murals that bring Southampton’s stories to life in a range of creative and colourful ways.

Acclaimed artists Ricky Also and Bonzai – both from Southampton – teamed up with Squirl to create the breathtaking external mural

In amongst it were a fantastic lineup of new and up-and-coming Southampton-based talent with art frames on Level 7 and various walls and boards across Levels 8, 9 & 10.

There were 6 commissions specifically for new and up-and-coming Southampton-based artists. Joanna Rose Tidey, Olivia Crawley, Tom Hewitt, Mural 23, Edgar Lushaju and Hilton Kazingizi created beautiful art frame pieces on Level 7.

Southampton-based artists Flukez, Flash, Nathan, Raeos, Aron, Ralf, Kushty and Ayem created murals across levels 8, 9 and 10, showcasing a huge range of artistic styles and techniques.

A ‘pillars of the community’ installation by Carleen de Sozer represents a collection of stories put together by Black History consultant Don John and celebrates Black Stories from Southampton.