Groundwork Project

Amplifying voices and transforming heritage for people with a learning disability in Portsmouth

About Groundwork

Groundwork is a pioneering project reimagining Portsmouth’s heritage by amplifying the voices of people with a learning disability, voices that have historically been excluded from cultural and historical narratives.

“We want to turn a negative past into a positive future for people with disabilities. When we can do this, it will be a weight off our shoulders.” - Olivia, Groundwork participant

Through storytelling, creative practice, and community collaboration, Groundwork has worked alongside people with a learning disability to explore their lived experiences and their connection to the city. The project challenges traditional ideas of whose stories are remembered, placing lived experience at the centre of Portsmouth’s evolving cultural identity.

A key outcome of the project is the creation of the Groundwork Archive, a dedicated digital platform featuring 50 oral histories from people with a learning disability in Portsmouth. These stories, shared through audio and creative documentation, form the city’s first archive of its kind-preserving personal histories that have long been overlooked and ensuring they are accessible for future generations.

Groundwork has been led by people with a learning disability through TNG’s Inclusive Arts Committee, who have co-designed and shaped every aspect of the project. Their leadership has ensured authenticity, challenged stigma, and redefined how heritage can be created and shared.

Transforming Stories into Change

Through powerful first-hand accounts, Groundwork not only fills gaps in Portsmouth’s heritage but also confronts ongoing inequality and exclusion.

“People need to listen to us and be educated. Treat us like human beings. Hearing our stories will make people feel more relaxed around us. Back in the day, people like us would have been locked up. This is still happening today. It’s terrible. Telling our stories will help stop this from happening in the future.” - Inclusive Arts Committee

Exhibition: Inside

The project is currently culminating in Inside, a major exhibition at Aspex Portsmouth, open until 7 June 2026.

Inspired by the oral histories collected through Groundwork, the exhibition brings these stories to life through artwork, sound, and creative expression, exploring themes of home, identity, and belonging.

Blending immersive and participatory elements, Inside invites audiences to engage with Portsmouth’s heritage through the lived experiences of people with a learning disability, offering new perspectives on the city’s past and present.

Legacy and Impact

Groundwork is more than a project, it is creating a lasting legacy.

Through its archive, exhibition, and public programme, Groundwork ensures that the voices of people with a learning disability are not only heard, but recognised as an essential part of Portsmouth’s cultural history.

By preserving these stories and sharing them widely, the project challenges perceptions, builds understanding, and contributes to a more inclusive future for the city.

Support and Partnerships

Funded by Arts Council England, the National Lottery Community Fund, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and delivered in partnership with Aspex Portsmouth and Portsmouth Creates, Groundwork is helping to establish Portsmouth as a vibrant hub for creativity, inclusion, and cultural leadership.

“This funding is enabling us to create a dynamic and inclusive cultural landscape in Portsmouth, where people with learning disabilities can not only participate but lead. Groundwork represents a crucial step in our journey towards artistic leadership and community-driven innovation. We look forward to sharing this exciting evolution with our community and beyond.”
— Nathalie Russell-Clarke, Co-Director, This New Ground