Gosport Museum and Art Gallery has opened its doors to the public following a major £1.4 million refurbishment project.
Located on the High Street in the heart of the town, Gosport Museum and Art Gallery’s home is in the former Old Grammar School, which has been a centre for education and culture for more than 100 years. This legacy now continues, and Gosport Museum and Art Gallery, which is managed by Hampshire Cultural Trust, was officially opened on Saturday 26 November.
The refurbishment project has transformed the Grade II listed building into a cultural hub for the whole community in the centre of Gosport, blending history, heritage, arts, education and culture all under one roof. A key objective of the project was to restore a museum for the town. Created by the community for the community, members of groups from across Gosport came together over a number of months in facilitated sessions to choose objects and stories to feature in the museum, which is now a place where the community can enjoy remembering their shared past as well as learning something new.
The revitalised building is also home to Gosport Gallery, which has a rolling programme of exhibitions throughout the year. The gallery opened with a specially commissioned new video artwork installation, Alien Native, which was created by Portsmouth-based artists, Heinrich & Palmer. Inspired by plants growing locally and Hampshire Cultural Trust’s botany, or herbarium, collection, the film installation explores so-called alien plants, introduced by human activity, and their native counterparts. The exhibition was visited by Gosport MP Dame Caroline Dinenage at a pre-opening event and it will be on display until 19 March 2023.
Paul Sapwell, Chief Executive at Hampshire Cultural Trust, commented: ‘We could not be more proud of the end result of this project. The spirit of the magnificent Old Grammar School has been beautifully preserved, while modern, open spaces have been introduced that make this a building that really can be used by the whole community.’
Alongside the museum and gallery, Gosport Museum and Art Gallery also now offers the new Display Space, a gallery that is dedicated to exhibitions that celebrate local art and history, the Play Gallery for under fives and their parents or carers, a research room, new café and refurbished learning rooms that host the venue’s extensive learning programme for schools.
Councillor Peter Chegwyn, the Leader of Gosport Borough Council, said: ‘It's wonderful to see Gosport Museum and Art Gallery reopened and ready to start its next chapter as a centre of culture and education for the whole community. It's a fantastic asset for the high street and the whole town, celebrating Gosport's story. I look forward to visiting regularly and seeing this brilliant space being enjoyed by local people and visitors.’
The refurbishment project was made possible by funding from a number of sources, including Gosport High Street Heritage Action Zone programme led by Historic England, Arts Council England, the Foyle Foundation, Gosport Borough Council, donations from individuals and groups, including the Friends of Gosport Museum, as well as investment by Hampshire Cultural Trust. Hampshire County Council was a key supporter and major funder of the project.
Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Rob Humby, said: ‘Hampshire County Council is delighted to have supported the creation of this fantastic cultural attraction. The historic site has been given a new lease of life to create a vibrant hub in the centre of the town, which, together with Gosport Discovery Centre, will form a key focus for culture and community in the heart of the High Street.’
Emily Gee, Historic England Regional Director, said: ‘We’re really pleased to have helped to deliver the new-look museum and art gallery – with a grant of over £500,000 – so that Gosport’s rich history and new exhibitions can be better experienced. The museum and gallery are key to the Gosport High Street Heritage Action Zone, which is making positive changes for people and places around Stoke Road and the High Street.’
A further source of funding was Tag-A-Tile, a community fundraising campaign, which raised over £12,000 by asking individuals, organisations and groups to make a donation towards the cost of the refurbishment in the form of an engraved tile. Nearly 300 tiles were donated by members of the community, each one inscribed with a personal message. These have been installed in a new courtyard and act as a permanent reminder and celebration of the role played by the community in the refurbishment of the building.
To find out more about Gosport Museum and Art Gallery and Alien Native, please visit https://www.gosportmuseumandgallery.org.uk/.