Hotwalls studios praised for thriving as cultural hub in Portsmouth
Portsmouth City Council has praised Hotwalls Studios for its growth as a "cultural hub" offering valuable opportunities to local artists.
A recent council meeting reviewed a report highlighting key achievements at the council-owned art hub, which provides affordable studio space for a wide range of creatives.
Located within Old Portsmouth’s historic coastal defences, Hotwalls Studios allows visitors to meet artists, watch them at work, and buy or commission pieces directly.
Matt Humphrey, the artist studios development manager, said Hotwalls has continued to grow, hosting "three big seasonal markets" and monthly open studio events where visitors can "explore the artistic talent."
He added that more artists are now running regular workshops, both in the studios and the Round Tower, and some have partnered with other venues such as Portsmouth Art Museum and Victoria Park.
“Hotwalls teams” have also helped organise open calls and off-site exhibitions, including those in the Windbreaks along the seafront, as well as a Ukrainian photography exhibition.
Councillor Steve Pitt, leader of the council, said he was invited to the UK’s Real Estate, Investment, and Infrastructure Forum in May because of his involvement on the Hotwalls redevelopment in 2016.
Hotwalls recently hosted a workshop with Arts Council England South West, which helped local artist Hollie Thornley secure Develop Your Creative Practice funding. She was the only artist in Portsmouth to receive the grant last November.
Hollie, a ceramic artist based in Studio 3, described winning the funding as "amazing" and said it was rewarding to feel that "someone saw potential" in her work. She will use the grant to learn new skills, including traditional firing techniques, by shadowing some of the UK’s leading artists.
She also praised the support from Hotwalls, saying they arranged a meeting with the Arts Council to guide applicants. “Matt, who runs Hotwalls, has been really supportive," she said, adding that while she completed the application herself, Hotwalls "encouraged me loads and pushed me to actually do it”.
The council purchased the derelict Point Battery and Barracks in the 1960s, and in 2014, funding was secured to transform the site into a creative hub. Completed in 2016, the project turned the disused arches into 13 artists' studios, alongside a gallery, café, and retail space. The nearby Round Tower, a 15th-century landmark, now serves as an exhibition space where artists can display their work.
For details on workshops, exhibitions, and other updates, visit their website at: www.hotwallsstudios.co.uk