Photo: Tim Sheerman-Chase · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Aspex Portsmouth

Free contemporary art gallery in the historic Vulcan Building at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, with changing exhibitions, a café and a shop.

Opening hoursFree admission Wheelchair accessible Café

Website Directions

About the museum

Aspex was founded by artists in 1981 as the exhibitions arm of Art Space Portsmouth, in a converted chapel on Brougham Road in Southsea. The name comes from Art Space Exhibitions. It became a separate organisation in the early 1990s and is now an independent arts and education charity.

In 2006 the gallery moved to the Vulcan Building at Gunwharf Quays, a Grade II listed former Royal Navy storehouse by the harbour. The building was given a contemporary interior that won a RIBA award, and the gallery has had its home there since.

Aspex presents a changing programme of contemporary art and supports artists, particularly at an early stage of their careers. It launched the Emergency award, an open-submission exhibition held every two years, in 2003. The gallery also runs workshops and projects for families, schools, home-educated children and community groups, and in recent years it has become a Gallery of Sanctuary. The Vulcan Building also houses Port Coffee and the gallery shop.

Highlights

Changing exhibitions of contemporary art, free to enter
Grade II listed former naval storehouse with a RIBA award-winning interior
Port Coffee, an independent café with free WiFi
Shop with artist books, prints and gifts
Workshops for families, schools and home educators

Founded: 1981
Operated by: The Aspex Visual Arts Trust Limited

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free. Some events and workshops need to be booked in advance.

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible
Elevator: no information
Accessible restroom
Accessible parking
Service dogs welcome
Tactile models & exhibits
Sign language tours: no information
Easy-to-read materials: no information
Audio description: no information

The gallery, shop, café, artist studio and communal space are on the ground floor with step-free access. The route to the entrance includes a cobbled path, and visitors who need help can ring the doorbell. An accessible toilet and baby changing are on the ground floor. Two Blue Badge spaces are directly outside the gallery and should be booked by phone; more accessible parking is in the Gunwharf Quays car park. Large-print guides and labels, a magnifier, touch tours where available, dyslexia overlays, ear defenders and sensory resources are offered. Thursday and Sunday mornings are usually the quietest times. British Sign Language interpretation and captioning are provided for events where possible. A Visual Story for first-time visitors is available. Assistance dogs are always welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

Family tours & workshops
Baby changing facilities

Aspex offers creative workshops, events and activities for children and their grown-ups. Port Coffee is family and dog friendly, with highchairs, bottle warming and baby changing.

Getting there & parking

By public transit

Portsmouth Harbour station · 10-min walk

Portsmouth Harbour railway station, The Hard Interchange bus station, the Gosport Ferry terminal and the Wightlink foot passenger terminal for the Isle of Wight are each around a 10-minute walk away.

By car

Parking available

Parking is in the Gunwharf Quays underground car park (PO1 3TZ). Two Blue Badge spaces are directly outside the gallery and should be booked by phone.

Accessible parking

Cycle racks are directly outside the entrance. Drop-off outside the entrance can be arranged by calling the gallery in advance.

Get directions

Amenities & dining

Café
Museum shop
Wi-Fi

Port Coffee is an independent café on the ground floor with free WiFi, highchairs, bottle warming and baby changing. The shop sells artist books, prints, gifts and products by independent makers.