Pivot Fest
8 – 10 May 2026
Aspex Portsmouth
Pivot Fest
8 May – 10 May 2026
Pivot is Portsmouth’s first-ever Learning Disability Arts Festival, delivered by This New Ground, a bold, joyful and boundary-pushing celebration of creativity, inclusion and connection.
Over three inspiring days, Aspex Portsmouth will be transformed in a full-gallery takeover curated by the TNG’s Inclusive Arts Committee, a powerhouse group of 13 learning disabled artists. Artists from across the UK will share music, dance, theatre and visual art that challenges assumptions, explores new ideas and brings joy, visibility and resistance to the stage. The festival showcases a vibrant mix of performances, participatory workshops, exhibitions and silent discos, all designed with accessibility at their core.
This is a festival for everyone: all ages, all abilities, all welcome. Whether you want to dance, create, watch, or simply rest and soak up the atmosphere, Pivot is your space. Celebrate the talents and voices of learning disabled artists, connect with others, and rise together from the ground up.
Festival Programme
Friday 8 May
This New Ground Digital Drawing: Self-Portrait Session 11am – 12.30pm
A relaxed, artist-led workshop exploring digital drawing using iPads and Procreate. Participants will create a self-portrait at their own pace with support from This New Ground artists. No previous experience is needed. Everyone is welcome. The session is inclusive and accessible, with clear guidance and flexible ways to take part. You will have a self-portrait to take away at the end.
Booking coming soon.
Disco Neurotico (under 25s) 2pm – 3.30pm
Bop along to a silent disco, relax in the sensory area, and enjoy a club-style experience in a safe, relaxed, and welcoming space. Disco Neurotico offers a sensory-friendly take on club culture, with space to dance, chill out, or simply soak up the atmosphere in your own way. The event focuses on inclusivity, individuality, and choice. Alongside the silent disco, there is a calm chill-out space and a range of activities including gaming and creative options. You can move, rest, join in, or step back whenever you need to.
Booking coming soon.
Disco Neurotico (over 25s) 6pm – 7.30pm
A sensory-friendly club experience offering silent disco dancing, chill-out spaces, and creative activities in a calmer, more inclusive environment. Designed to reduce sensory overload while keeping the joy, energy, and connection of a great shared experience.
Booking coming soon.
Saturday 9 May
Movement workshop with Head Over Wheels 11am – 12.30pm
As part of Pivot Fest, Head Over Wheels will lead a fun, inclusive movement and circus workshop. The workshop is open to everyone. You will try simple, accessible movement in a friendly and relaxed session that builds confidence, creativity, and connection.
Booking coming soon.
Best of Oska Bright Film Festival screening 2pm – 3.30pm
Certification 12/12A
The screening packs a punch and offers a brilliant way to experience a wide range of films while celebrating Oska Bright Film Festival. With fewer than 5% of disabled people working in the UK film industry, Oska Bright Film Festival works to change this by creating opportunities, removing barriers, and supporting disabled, learning disabled, and autistic filmmakers. Working with partners in the UK and internationally, and funded by the British Film Institute, the festival presents the BAFTA- and BIFA-qualifying Oska Bright Film Festival, delivers accessible screenings, offers training for venues, and supports filmmakers to build skills and confidence. Oska Bright Film Festival centres disabled, learning disabled, and autistic people on screen and behind the camera, celebrating their stories, creativity, and voices.
Booking coming soon.
Carousel 6.00pm – 7.30pm
An evening of acoustic music and comedy from artists connected to Carousel. Expect surreal stand-up, catchy pop-rock, psychedelic folk, sharp character comedy, and raucous alt-rock in an energetic, playful, and welcoming celebration of distinctive creative voices.
Booking coming soon.
Sunday 10 May
Guided Tours of the Inside Exhibition 11am – 1.15pm (3 x 45 minute tours)
Relaxed, guided tours exploring the Inside exhibition at a gentle pace. Led by artists who curated the show, the tours are friendly and accessible, with time for questions, conversation, and quiet reflection.The exhibition is an immersive, participatory experience exploring what home means, sharing stories and histories of people with a learning disability in Portsmouth through sound, images, artwork, and installations.
Booking coming soon.
Performance by Robyn Rocket 2pm – 3pm
Robyn Rocket performs live with her band, creating an improvised and playful music set using space trumpet — trumpet played through guitar pedals and loopers. The performance is made in the moment, valuing connection, experimentation, and joy over perfection.
Booking coming soon.
Celebration party 6pm – 8pm
The festival closes with a celebratory evening bringing artists, audiences, and partners together. The event features a performance by dancer Andrew Self, alongside a live soundscaping performance by This New Ground. The soundscaping piece spotlights voices from the local learning disabled community, creating an immersive and joyful atmosphere. The celebration is both a social gathering and a creative moment, marking the achievements of the festival and the artists involved.