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Welcome to The Windbreaks
THE POPULAR SEAFRONT ART DISPLAY
The Windbreaks is a Portsmouth City Council project providing new opportunities for the local arts community to exhibit their work in the public realm. Five double sided windbreak panels offer space to display ten large-scale artworks, creating an outdoor gallery on the promenade, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The Windbreaks typically displays three exhibitions per year, running December-March, April-July and August-November.
The Windbreaks is proudly sponsored by VolkerStevin and Boskalis Westminster.
Open Calls for Art
We’re proud to support and lift up local artists, and are excited to extend this opportunity to display art in this prominent new location and infrastructure on the popular Portsmouth seafront.
Each year there are 3 exhibition windows that feature up to 10 works of art throughout each 4 month period.
Regular Open Calls encourage applications from visual artists, photographers, printmakers and others who are looking to display their art.
Artist selection is managed by Portsmouth City Council, and reviewed by a panel three times a year.
The Displays
- 5 large double-sided windbreak panels
- 10 x A0 sized Vinyl on Aluminium
- Professionally printed & installed
- weatherproof, secure boards
- paid artist exhibition opportunity: £1,000 USAGE FEE (Split between artists)
Overview for applicants
- 10 panels featuring art from 1 or more selected artists
- Artwork can be scaled up to a0 print size
- preference for portrait orientation artworks
- A signed copy of the Terms and Conditions
Previous Exhibitions
- Dec '24 - Mar '25: Emily Faludy
- Apr - July '25: Maria de la o Garrido / Olana light
- Aug - Nov '25: Elena Gliebute / foursandeights
- Dec '25 - Mar '26: Joseph Loughborough
- Apr - jul '26: Sarah Muwanga / Hollie Foskett
Apply to Exhibit
The 2026/2027 Open Call is now OPEN!
Applications from this open call are being considered for the December 2026 to March 2027 exhibition period and for further exhibitions later in the year.
This round is open to artists of all mediums. Previous applicants are also encouraged to apply.
Applications close on Sunday 15th November at 5pm.
FAQs
The Windbreaks displays art is a very public setting and the work on display will be seen by audiences of all ages and backgrounds, many of whom won’t regularly engage with art or attend exhibitions. When selecting which images to submit with your application, you should consider what images will have the widest appeal. Images with the potential to offend audiences will not be considered.
There are 3 exhibitions a year – each lasting 4 months. Provisional dates are April – July, August – November, December – March.