Get ready for another impressive weekend of street art as the LOOK UP Portsmouth festival returns on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September!
With over 100 murals planned and a diverse line-up of international and local talent, the weekend will once again transform Portsmouth into an open-air gallery. Created by local street artist My Dog Sighs, it’s supported by Portsmouth City Council, funded by Arts Council England, and run by Articulate Sage, and it promises to bring new and exciting art into the city. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to see at LOOK UP this weekend:
- Top international and local artists – including a strong female line-up
This year’s LOOK UP Portsmouth brings a gender-balanced line-up of headliners, with Marina, KMG, Mando, and Yessiow leading the charge among the talented female artists featured.
In a special focus on women in street art, the festival is showcasing new opportunities for female artists at all career levels, starting with a women’s development area at Charter School. It’s an initiative, supported by local collective Women in Art, which aims to create lasting career opportunities for female artists in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Head to Alec Rose Lane and you’ll find KMG painting the festival’s tallest mural yet, which will cover an entire multi-storey car park. Or head to the Salvation Army Family Hostel to catch Reka’s much-anticipated work.
- Free buses all weekend!
There’s going to be so many new and exciting artworks going up across the city. Luckily you’ve got a whole weekend of free buses to catch as many of them as possible. That’s right, all buses in Portsmouth will be completely free during the festival, as well as every weekend in September in celebration of it being Catch the Bus Month.
Cllr Darren Sanders, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness, emphasised the festival’s commitment to accessibility: “We’re excited to bring art to new communities, with murals on council-owned properties and spaces where residents have played an active role in shaping the project.”
- Hands-on art experiences for all ages
Like last year, LOOK UP is bringing more opportunities for families and young people to get involved by offering free workshops for doodling and spray painting at Ark Charter Academy school, Hyde Park Road, Portsmouth, PO5 4HL. Although the workshops for this weekend have now been booked up, there’s still a chance to join in! LOOK UP Portsmouth has said they welcome walk-ups for any open spots that become available, and they’ll be adding more people wherever possible.
Creative Corner will also be open throughout the weekend, offering a drop-in space where anyone can experiment with a variety of art materials.
Lastly, you’ll find Hilsea Lido café revealing a brand-new mural created by local children this week.
- A growing community effort
The success of LOOK UP Portsmouth wouldn’t be possible without overwhelming community support. Over 200 volunteers have signed up, local businesses have donated goods and services, and homeowners have offered up their walls for murals. With more than two-thirds of the festival’s funding coming from Arts Council England, and ongoing backing from the council, LOOK UP has grown into a grassroots celebration of the city’s vibrant, artistic spirit.
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: “It’s amazing to see the positive effects that art in public places has on our residents, especially young people who are involved more and more with the festival, whether by going to a free workshop or getting involved in painting a mural themselves. As a council, we are particularly pleased that our support is targeted towards the festival’s community workshops. The message is clear, Portsmouth is a place where art is encouraged.”
“I am really pleased that the housing service is again engaged in the festival. We’ve seen a huge outpouring of support from our tenants and the community, which has been key to the festival’s success,” said Cllr Darren Sanders. “This is what makes LOOK UP unique – not just the art, but the community effort behind it. It’s an incredible thing to witness.”
Don’t miss out – keep up with the latest updates and artist locations on the LOOK UP Portsmouth website.
