Chaptr
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Chaptr to create website for Southampton’s UK City of Culture bid 2025

Southampton’s UK City of Culture 2025 bid was a huge boost to Chaptr’s collective sense of self. We’re from Southampton and we’re all pretty culture-centric, be it via music, art, design – or whatever other avenues you care to mention. But this bid was a nice official stamp of approval from our city that said: “you’re in the right place”.

So, it feels like fate that Chaptr has been chosen to design and build the official website in support of the bid – we were born for this!

Photo credit: Rhona Byrne, Huddlehood, commissioned by John Hansard Gallery for Summer in the Square, Guildhall Square, 2017. Courtesy the artist. Photo: Thierry Bal

Talking about this never gets old for us. We really are ‘honoured to announce’ this one and become part of an ambitious team excited to educate the world about Southampton’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. 

“I love Southampton’s history and how you can find so many examples of historical architecture dotted around the modern buildings.” Connor Ghosh – Designer, Chaptr.

It feels serendipitous

Last year, our new brand proposition was born. It outlines what we believe, what we do and why we do it and includes the following statements: 

  • We connect the past and the present so that we inspire the future.
  • The world would be a better place if people were inspired to do better things.
  • We love what we do because we’re strengthening and expanding culture and the creative arts.
  • We are happiest when we are inspiring the inspirational.

Why are we bringing this up now? –  because this project ticks these boxes and you’d be forgiven for thinking we made them up just for this project (we didn’t, for the record!). 

Committed to success 

We are committed to producing a website that showcases the history of the culture our city is built upon. 

We are committed to creating a website that fosters creativity within our community. 

We are committed to building a website that brings attention to the amazing things happening in Southampton.

And, finally, we are committed to producing a website that inspires the inspirational talent we see every day and feel privileged to be a part of.

Working with Chaptr to create Southampton’s bid website is a microcosm of what this bid is all about; partnering with local creatives to showcase the inspiration, culture and artistry that Southampton has to offer. We can’t wait to see how the team brings the content to life.” – Gemma Nichols, Commercial & Marketing Director, Southampton 2025 UK City of Culture bid team.

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Photo credit: Gerhard Richter, 4900 Farben (Version I), ARTIST ROOMS: Gerhard Richter, John Hansard Gallery, 2018. Courtesy the artist. Photo: Steve Shrimpton

We’re so proud to be part of the team bringing the Southampton City of Culture 2025 bid together. At a time where people need culture and the creative arts more than ever, we hope this campaign will help us highlight what it brings to the world.

“I’m proud to be a part of an established web agency, at the heart of Southampton, with a unique proposition – creating impactful websites for brands engaged in culture and the creative arts. I feel personally passionate about this project; it’s the embodiment of why we exist.” – Joe Perkins, Managing Director, Chaptr.

To keep up to date with the bid, be sure to follow the campaign here.

For now, here’s to Southampton.

Blog hero image credit from Art Asia.