18/03/2026
Downtown Pompey is delighted to welcome Fabio Santos as our new Executive Director, marking an exciting new chapter for our q***r led, community powered arts organisation at the heart of the city.
Fabio brings a wealth of experience in arts leadership, from organisational development and governance to fundraising and socially engaged practice. His work spans London, the Isle of Wight, across the UK and internationally. He joins us after seven years with StoneCrabs Theatre Company, where he helped shape strategic growth, strengthen partnerships and build a resilient, community rooted organisation.
Our Artistic Director Josh shared
“Fabio brings a rare combination of strategic clarity and human warmth. He understands how to build structures that hold creative risk safely, and how to support artists and teams to do their best work. As we grow into our next phase, his leadership will help us turn big vision into practical reality.”
Downtown Pompey is known for bold, place based theatre and heritage work rooted in Portsmouth’s real lives and real stories. As we move towards charitable status and our Destination 2030 ambitions, Fabio’s appointment signals both stability and ambition for what comes next.
Fabio said
“Downtown Pompey has built something truly special rooted in community, creativity and care. Portsmouth deserves ambitious, high quality, community led artistic work, and Downtown Pompey is leading the way with joy at its heart. I’m excited to work with the team, Board, partners and our communities to strengthen the structures that will hold this bold, joyful work as it grows.”
Fabio begins with us this March.
