Portsmouth’s street art scene has exploded in recent years. In fact, it’s now considered the street art capital of the UK. That’s in part thanks to LOOK UP Portsmouth – a street art festival returning on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September in which local residents have had a say in what the art looks like and where it goes.
This year it’s bringing with it 100 new street art murals, appearances from world-class artists, and loads of ways for the public to get stuck in.
The bonus? It’s all free. Free to enjoy, free to take part in – thanks to it being funded by Arts Council England, Network Rail, Cosham councillors through the Community Infrastructure Levy, and Portsmouth Creates.
Portsmouth City Council continues to support LOOK UP with artwork locations and helping gather public input. And that’s what makes this festival so special: it’s shaped by the people who live here.
Many of the artworks you’ll see are painted on council-owned housing or buildings, and every year residents will have helped choose where it goes and what it looks like. Here’s a few of the locations getting a mural this year, all influenced by public ideas and feedback.
- Southampton Road (Cosham)
- Central Street (Landport)
- Old Edinburgh House hoardings (Cosham)
- Hilsea Lido cafe
Plus, on-street cycle hangers in various locations across the city.
Want to plan a route to see the artists at work? Check out LOOK UP’s 2025 map (you can plan a walking route, use ‘LOOKUP2025’ for a discount on Voi bikes and scooters, and remember – it’s free buses every weekend in September!)
Cllr Darren Sanders, Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness, said:
“It’s great to see so many great pieces of art around the city that local people helped create. Art has been too often seen as something for the elite. This shows that is not true. Instead it does what good culture should do: gives people pride in where they live.”
Angela Parks, one of the directors of LOOK UP Portsmouth, added:
“We’ve always believed that street art should be for everyone – and that’s why we work so closely with the community. It’s their ideas, their spaces, and their response that make LOOK UP what it is.”
What else does LOOK UP offer?
The festival is once again putting on free creative workshops for kids and young people (which you’ll need to pre-book here).
They’re taking place across both days of the festival at Ark Charter Academy in Landport, PO5 4HL, and involve activities like DJing, spray painting, smartphone filmmaking, and more.
You can also find a free, drop-in, creative corner at the academy which will have a wide range of arts materials for people of all ages to use.
LOOKUP Portsmouth is organised by Art Up Portsmouth CIC. Don’t miss out – visit LOOK UP Portsmouth for the latest updates and information.