Portsmouth100: Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery to close temporarily as major exhibition is installed

A major new exhibition is coming to Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery to mark 100 years of Portsmouth as a city - and requires so much preparation that the museum will close for almost two months.

The creators of “Your museum. Your stories. Your city” - which will take centre stage in the Museum Road building for five years - say the display will look at Portsmouth’s first century “through the people, places and events that have shaped it”.

The museum will be closed from Tuesday (September 1) until Monday, October 26 - in time for the autumn school half-term.

The project has been given cash from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and will transform three gallery spaces. More than 20 themed displays will explore life in Portsmouth over the past 100 years, covering subjects including transport, music, theatre, football, literature, the dockyard and the city's changing landscape.

The exhibition has been shaped by local people and organisations through a co-curation process. Residents, community groups and partners have contributed stories, ideas, expertise and objects, helping to tell a richer and more inclusive story of the city. By uncovering lesser-known stories alongside well-known moments in Portsmouth's history, the exhibition aims to help people from across the city see themselves reflected in its heritage.

Contributors include local history groups, cultural organisations, schools and colleges, and community representatives from across Portsmouth.

Councillor Steve Pitt, leader of Portsmouth City Council and cabinet member for culture, said: "'Your museum. Your stories. Your city' will be one of the most significant exhibitions ever created at Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery.

"Local people have been at the heart of shaping this exhibition, helping us tell Portsmouth's story through the memories, experiences and achievements that have defined our city over the past century. By sharing these stories, we're helping people connect with Portsmouth's past and see their place in its future.

"While we're sorry the museum will need to close for a short time while the exhibition is installed, we're looking forward to welcoming visitors back in October to experience something truly special."

During the closure, museum teams will transform the galleries ready for the new exhibition, which will remain in place for five years as a legacy of Portsmouth100 and the city's centenary celebrations.

The council has pointed out that residents and visitors can continue exploring Portsmouth's heritage at the city's other museum sites, including Charles Dickens' Birthplace Museum, Portsmouth Natural History Museum, Southsea Castle, Eastney Engine Houses and The D-Day Story.

For opening times and more information, visit portsmouthmuseums.co.uk