WE RISE

September 2022 - December 2023

We Rise is a participatory project creating a platform for people with a learning disability in Portsmouth to make and share large-scale artwork and develop leadership skills, empowering a generation of disabled leaders.

We Rise is This New Ground’s flagship project in Portsmouth and is an opportunity for TNG to launch a new hub and establish roots in the city.

We Rise comprises of 2 strands:

Digital Art Workshops

As part of this project our participants worked alongside renowned digital artist Jason Wilsher-Mills to create a giant, colourful, inflatable sculpture loudly celebrating the power and talents of people with a learning disability. We are joining forces with leading, place-based organisations & arts providers in Portsmouth, including Aspex Gallery, Victorious Festival and Portsmouth Creates to create visible platforms to exhibit the sculpture throughout the city. We Rise sculpture will next be exhibited the weekend of the 31st of March 2023 at Gunwharf Quays.

Here are some animations created by participants during the digital art workshops as part of We Rise.

A leadership training programme & work opportunities

In partnership with Victorious Festival we will work alongside participants to create Portsmouth city's first ever inclusive arts committee. By establishing our inclusive arts committee, we hope to develop models of inclusive leadership and create new career pathways for people with a learning disability as leaders in our community. Through this project we aim to promote and enable arts and community organisations in Portsmouth to incorporate people with a learning disability in their decision-making, creative leadership & strategic governance.