Aspex Gallery's new look nears completion

The Aspex Gallery at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, has been undergoing a radical refurbishment since last month, thanks to a £158,504 grant from Arts Council England’s National Lottery-funded capital programme.

It also received support from the Foyle Foundation and the Garfield Weston Foundation. The project has seen the gallery remodelled to create a new artist’s studio and makes better use of the existing space.

The gallery building, except for the cafe, has remained open throughout the work.

And on June 11 the revamped cafe will also be reopening to the public. It will be operated by the gallery alongside award-winning social enterprise Lily and Lime LD, which helps get young people with learning disabilities into the workplace.

This week has also seen the start of the gallery’s new artistic residency by Alison Carlier.

Alison was chosen earlier this year to undertake the 2016 Alexandra Reinhardt Memorial Award Artist Residency at Aspex.

Over the next 10 weeks she will carry out education and participatory work alongside Aspex’s youth, family and schools programmes.

These workshops will inform the development of a new semi-permanent commissioned artwork, which will be launched at the end of the year.

The artwork will be situated above the entrance to Aspex’s new artist studio, in the main foyer of the building.

Alison said: ‘I welcome the opportunity to create a dialogue with the community, culminating in a commissioned work that resonates with those involved and a wider audience.’

Vicky Chapter, participation and learning manager at Aspex added: ‘I am incredibly delighted that Alison has been selected as our first artist in residence at Aspex.’