Special flags will be flying across Portsmouth and the Spinnaker Tower lit up to mark Pivot Fest, Portsmouth’s first learning disability-led arts festival which is being presented by a powerhouse of 13 of our incredible TNG artists.

The flag, which features the wording ‘I Am A Portsmouth Thing’, has been designed by This New Ground associate artist Orlando Richardson, to help celebrate the creativity, connection, community and inclusivity Pivot Fest, which runs from Friday, 8 May to Sunday, 10 May, aims to inspire in the city.

Iconic city venues to fly flags

Venues that will be flying the festival flag, which have been donated by the Hampshire Flag Company, include Portsmouth City Council, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth Guildhall, Square Tower, Portsmouth Cathedral, Portsmouth Central Library, Southsea Library and Make at Aldingbourne Enterprise. Flags will also feature in the windows of retailers including Lucy & Yak at Gunwharf Quays and Lush at the Cascades Shopping Centre.

Spinnaker Tower Light Up

In support of the festival and learning disability awareness, the city’s iconic Spinnaker Tower will be lit up in yellow at dusk on the opening day of our festival next Friday (8 May).

‘I’m A Portsmouth Thing’ inclusivity message

To celebrate this landmark moment for Portsmouth, with the city’s first arts festival led by and featuring people with a learning disability, our This New Ground’s artists wanted Pivot Fest to have its own festival flag as a bold and uplifting expression of visibility and pride.

The ‘I Am A Portsmouth Thing’ artwork featured on the flag, created by artist and University of Portsmouth alumni Orlando Richardson was inspired by a quote from Ray, a man we interviewed by our TNG artists about his experiences growing up in Portsmouth as someone with a learning disability. It was chosen as our artists felt his words carry a strong sense of inclusivity and are a fitting way to celebrate Pivot Fest.

Aiming to inspire others

Emma Stallard, a member of our This New Ground Inclusive Arts Committee who are presenting Pivot Fest, said:

“Pivot Fest is a chance for us to celebrate who we are and what we love. We’re so excited to share our amazing flag and festival with the city and for people to see what people with a learning disability are capable of and how talented we are. We hope to inspire more people with a learning disability that they can do it too.”

Return of our ‘We Rise’ sculpture

Our colourful, inflatable sculpture called ‘We Rise’, created by This New Ground artists in collaboration with acclaimed digital artist Jason Wilsher-Mills, will also be on display at Gunwharf Quays next weekend. It’s inspired by Portsmouth’s historic coat of arms and decorated in digital drawings, self-portraits and words celebrating the power and talents of people with a learning disability.

Yvonne Clay, centre director at Gunwharf Quays, said:

“We’re delighted to be supporting this ground-breaking festival and celebrating the talents of people in Portsmouth with a learning disability by proudly flying the festival flag and displaying this wonderful sculpture.”