ARTPORT MISSION STATEMENT |
ArtPort’s driving ethos is three-fold:
1. To create opportunities for open-access, egalitarian, community engagement with art and creativity for every part of the community, removing perceived barriers to art in traditional settings and making art truly accessible to all.
We seek to connect creativity with community in the heart of out rapidly growing town of Portishead. We will do this by creating opportunities for creative engagement with all sections of the community by providing a range of multi-arts creative experiences and opportunities. Our aim is to make art accessible to people who would never visit a traditional art gallery; and to put art into the everyday centre of our community.
We understand that traditional art spaces can appear elitist or off-limits to many in our community. By bringing art directly into the heart of the town, we seek to reach every section of our community. By bringing art out of traditional art spaces and utilising a network of community public spaces (which are well recognised and understood as such) we remove the perceived psychological barriers to entry that can prevent people from accessing art and engaging in enriching creative experiences.
Each year we will seek to bring our community and visitors to our festival together to provide new creative activities, experiences and events to stimulate engagement and creativity.
2. To support and promote the creative practitioners of Portishead, Portbury and environs
Portishead and it’s environs are a hub for creative practitioners, attracted by the light and unique environment of the Severn estuary. ArtPort seeks to support and promote its thriving community of artists and makers. We will do this by providing platforms for them to exhibit their work and to actively engage with the community. In addition to the festival, we will provide year-round support and promotion via other channels including but not limited to social media; web; community events and connections between local businesses, residents, and visitors.
3. To preserve, promote and build on Portishead’s heritage and public art programme
Portishead is an ancient place with a long and diverse history. For many years a site of heavy industry, in 2005 its brownfield industrial sites on the coast were redeveloped into the thriving marina area and housing we see today.
As part of this redevelopment, a significant and thoughtful investment was made in a programme of important public art. This sculpture trail of over 30 site-specific public artworks is open to all and has helped to shape the community of Portishead and how residents and visitors alike interact with and experience the place. The sculptures are an important draw for visitors to come and experience our unique environment of post industrial heritage, coastline, estuary, nature reserve and thriving marina area of housing, shops and restaurants.
Now nearly 30 years old, the future of the sculptures and the publicisation of the trail needs to be reenergised and preserved. ArtPort seeks to take on, or assist in this task, by providing specialist expertise in the areas of art, local history knowledge, and marketing expertise.
ArtPort also seeks to build on this art heritage with a commitment to provide new sculptural art experiences each year.
ArtPort’s driving ethos is three-fold:
1. To create opportunities for open-access, egalitarian, community engagement with art and creativity for every part of the community, removing perceived barriers to art in traditional settings and making art truly accessible to all.
We seek to connect creativity with community in the heart of out rapidly growing town of Portishead. We will do this by creating opportunities for creative engagement with all sections of the community by providing a range of multi-arts creative experiences and opportunities. Our aim is to make art accessible to people who would never visit a traditional art gallery; and to put art into the everyday centre of our community.
We understand that traditional art spaces can appear elitist or off-limits to many in our community. By bringing art directly into the heart of the town, we seek to reach every section of our community. By bringing art out of traditional art spaces and utilising a network of community public spaces (which are well recognised and understood as such) we remove the perceived psychological barriers to entry that can prevent people from accessing art and engaging in enriching creative experiences.
Each year we will seek to bring our community and visitors to our festival together to provide new creative activities, experiences and events to stimulate engagement and creativity.
2. To support and promote the creative practitioners of Portishead, Portbury and environs
Portishead and it’s environs are a hub for creative practitioners, attracted by the light and unique environment of the Severn estuary. ArtPort seeks to support and promote its thriving community of artists and makers. We will do this by providing platforms for them to exhibit their work and to actively engage with the community. In addition to the festival, we will provide year-round support and promotion via other channels including but not limited to social media; web; community events and connections between local businesses, residents, and visitors.
3. To preserve, promote and build on Portishead’s heritage and public art programme
Portishead is an ancient place with a long and diverse history. For many years a site of heavy industry, in 2005 its brownfield industrial sites on the coast were redeveloped into the thriving marina area and housing we see today.
As part of this redevelopment, a significant and thoughtful investment was made in a programme of important public art. This sculpture trail of over 30 site-specific public artworks is open to all and has helped to shape the community of Portishead and how residents and visitors alike interact with and experience the place. The sculptures are an important draw for visitors to come and experience our unique environment of post industrial heritage, coastline, estuary, nature reserve and thriving marina area of housing, shops and restaurants.
Now nearly 30 years old, the future of the sculptures and the publicisation of the trail needs to be reenergised and preserved. ArtPort seeks to take on, or assist in this task, by providing specialist expertise in the areas of art, local history knowledge, and marketing expertise.
ArtPort also seeks to build on this art heritage with a commitment to provide new sculptural art experiences each year.
