This page is where we will assemble the main points of information about the Portsmouth European Cities 'Building Bridges' arts and cultural projects. An easy to share link to this page is https://tinyurl.com/artectc
Originally published in early March 2020. This page was updated on March 22nd 2020 and then again on April 30th 2020. In March 2021 it was updated to include a line on a Street Art Project that could happen with Duisburg. It has been further updated in November 2021 to reflect some new links forged with artists in Portsmouth.
Introduction
We will begin with some thoughts on twinning from some Friends of Portsmouth Twinning.
The idea for the arts project was already underway, long before Covid-19 came along and cancelled many plans for 2020. At the beginning of the lockdown, a few Friends of Portsmouth Twinning shared some images of things they had collected on their visits to Caen and I added those I have from Duisburg too.
Solent Sky Services in Portsmouth and Septième Ciel Images in Caen have been filming their respective cities in lockdown and I have shared some of their footage.
You can see the Covid-19 Lockdown news here.
Portsmouth Artists' International Outreach Project
The information on the Portsmouth Artists 'Building Bridges' Project will appear here.
I have been in contact with artists in Portsmouth, some of whom would like to reach out to a wider audience including our twin, sister and partnership cities around the world.
When information has been received by these artists I will create a specific blog page for them which I will link in the section below this post.
Lizzie Cornelius (I can see the sea)
Hotwalls Studios
Aspex Gallery
Schools' Art Project
The information on the Schools' 'Building Bridges' Art Project will appear here.
Ann Brazier is going to supply a write up of the school's project idea here.
Further Art Projects in Portsmouth
In the city of Portsmouth, one of the local artists Angus Day has set up a virtual art gallery called 'Artsmouth' which can be seen here This has been achieved with much help from David Kemp at Tiny Engines Web Design, Hosting & Maintenance.
Here is a downloadable 'print at home' colouring book produced by artists in Portsmouth for Portsmouth Creates.
We hope to work with some artists from Hotwalls Studios. I am in contact with Chrissie McQueen from Portsmouth City Council about this project and other local artists have been approached to share some of their work via our blog too.
The City of Duisburg street art project funded project by North-Rhine Westphalia.
The city of Duisburg is launching a project to embellish their dull grey concrete bridges along their A59 Autobahn. The theme is 'Heimat' which means 'home' or 'home town' or 'homeland'
For the project, home town is the best fit translation.
I have put out feelers for interest from Portsmouth based artists and have received interest from 'My Dog Sighs' and been in discussion with Portsmouth Creates to spread the word and see if we can get interested parties talking to one another.
Further Information on the project in Duisburg to be added here...
Further information on the Portsmouth Lights Festival in November to be added here...
The city of Caen is aware of this page and hopes to garner interest on their side. We are attempting to inform Duisburg of this too.
