Culture bosses hail ‘brilliant’ new city arts scheme
CULTURE chiefs have thrown their weight behind a radical plan to create new arts events in Portsmouth.
Jo Bushnell, chief executive of Aspex Gallery, was among those to give their feedback on the planned Portsmouth Creates scheme.
She said: ‘This is a brilliant idea. It’s muchneeded in the city. An organisation which could help to bring the cultural community together could be the key to unlocking the city’s potential.’
She said austerity measures had been ‘difficult’ for cultural organisations ‘large and small’ and led to groups becoming more insular as they ‘focused on survival’.
‘It’s meant we have not been able to embrace all the opportunities to get things moving again,’ she said.
Andy Grays, chief executive of the Portsmouth Cultural Trust which runs the Guildhall, said the project could give smaller community arts groups a ‘better voice’.
He added: ‘I’m really excited about what this could mean for the city. It speaks volumes for the city that the Arts Council, Victorious and the council have got behind us.
‘This could be a big step forward for Portsmouth.’
John Rawlinson, director of visitor experience at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, added: ‘It’s a fabulous opportunity and reflects the rich cultural landscape of Portsmouth.’