Rawkus City is an annual outdoor festival transforming Portsmouth Guildhall Square into a vibrant hub of hip hop culture. Led by artist and producer Sasha Biloshisky of Funk Format, it features professional performances, artist collaborations, and an electrifying Breaking battle competition judged by legendary pioneers and experts. More than just a competition, Rawkus City is a movement – championing creativity, community, and the future of hip hop arts.

We are collaborating with Sasha in shaping the evolution of Rawkus City. In 2024, its pilot year, we co-programmed Company Chameleon’s Umbra, a fast-paced yet delicate dance-theatre work, and facilitated a professional masterclass with the company to engage local artists.

In addition to performances and battles, the first iteration of Rawkus City launched the Movement Artists Network, a platform for physical movement artists across the Solent and Southern England. This network, supported by Arts Council England, Portsmouth Creates and Crying Out Loud, provides a space for connection, collaboration and discussion, welcoming artists from dance, circus, parkour, physical theatre and more.

This project forms part of Crying Out Loud’s Solent Cultural Collaborations and Creative Development programmes.