This weekend sees Art Space Portsmouth celebrate 40 years of life as a place for local artists. The former church started out with just 13 studios and has over time developed into a perfect location with 31 studio art spaces now.
A young group of artists from the Art College needed studio space and they managed to secure an Arts Council grant. Getting the local council on board who secured the methodist chapel on Brougham Road along with cheap rent and a long lease made this old building a well-established location in no time.
Holding many exhibitions there over the years has allowed for makers, sculptors, printmakers as well as film makers, photographers, ceramists, mixed media and textile artists. Each studio has a different media and with the open studios happening this weekend, it is a perfect chance to explore each one, meet and greet the artist or maker and see what the building is all about.
The church is now 145 years old and has stood the test of time as well as embracing wonderful artists that have had great careers based there. We are lucky to be able to say we have such a strong artistic community here in Portsmouth and it is exciting to see that grow even more as years pass by.
Hunter-Gatherer from Albert Road is there all weekend supplying food and drink and there is a talk planned on Saturday 3rd July at 2pm called Past & Present: Where Jo Bushnell the curator of Aspex Gallery will be in conversation with Les Buckingham who was appointed the first director in 1984.
Open studios on Sat 3rd July 11am – 5pm & Sunday 4th July 11am – 5pm
