Gosport Now: Young Voices, Future Heritage
A free, youth-led mural project for 10–18 year olds in Gosport – exploring heritage, creativity and the future of our town.
Youth Mural Project Gosport gives young people the chance to collaborate with local artist Tom Roberts (ThirteenEight) from January to May 2026, creating a large-scale spray-painted mural that reflects their connection to the town and their vision for its future. This project is made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery via the Gosport Generator programme.
Thank you for supporting the Gosport Now project.
We’d really appreciate a few minutes of your time to complete this feedback form about your child’s experience taking part in the project and final event day. Your feedback helps us understand the impact of creative community projects like this and supports future youth arts opportunities in Gosport.
All responses will be treated confidentially, and anonymous quotes may be used in future reports, funding applications, and promotional material where permission is given.
Thank you again for being part of Gosport Now.
What is the Gosport Now project?
Gosport Now: Young Voices, Future Heritage is a creative project putting young people at the centre of how we tell Gosport’s story.
Over a series of workshops, participants will:
Explore Gosport’s heritage and what the town means to them today
Develop their own ideas, symbols and designs
Learn spray-paint techniques in a safe, supported environment
Work together to create a large-scale mural in a public space
The project will end with a community spray-paint festival in May 2026, where the young people will help paint the final mural and celebrate their work with family, friends and the wider community.
Who can take part?
We’re looking for young people aged 10–18 who:
Live in or have a strong connection to Gosport
Have an interest in art, drawing, design or creativity
Are happy to try new things and work as part of a group
Can commit to attending a full run of workshops from January–May 2026
You don’t need to have used spray paint before – they will learn everything in a safe and supportive way.
Workshop schedule
The workshops will run between January and May 2026.
Because of the number of young people involved, each of the 6 sessions will be repeated across 5 different groups, but your child will only attend one full run of the 6 workshops.
You’ll find the full workshop schedule on this page so you can see all the dates before confirming. Your child will attend one full run of the 6 workshops (not all 5 repeated groups). Each young person will be placed into a single group and will stay with that group for all 6 sessions. I will email all selected participants in early January with their assigned group and full schedule.
The final mural painting day and mini spray-paint festival will take place on either the first or second weekend of May 2026 (exact date to be confirmed).
Session 1 – Introduction & Heritage Exploration
Overview:
An introduction to the project, exploring Gosport’s heritage, themes, ideas and creative starting points.
Session 2 – Ideas, Mood Boards & Early Sketches
Overview:
Young people develop early sketches, symbols and concepts while building visual mood boards around identity and heritage.
Session 3 – Concept Development & Composition
Overview:
Turning rough ideas into more refined compositions, exploring layout, balance and storytelling through imagery.
Session 4 – Spray-Paint Techniques & Safe Practice
Overview:
Hands-on learning with spray paint — caps, lines, fades, shading, control and safe working methods.
Session 5 – Final Design Preparation
Overview:
Participants finalise their mural designs, choose colours, and prepare everything needed for the final painting day.
Final Mural Painting Day – Spray-Paint Festival
Date:
Sat 9 May (TBC) – All Groups
Overview:
A full community spray-paint festival at Leesland Park, where all young people come together to paint the final mural.
Please note: All dates and locations are subject to change. If your child would like extra time to work on their ideas or designs, they’re welcome to come into the studio outside of their workshop sessions.
What young people will gain?
Creativity
Confidence
Development
What young people will gain
Build confidence in their own creative ideas
Learn practical art and spray-paint skills
Work as part of a team on a real public mural
See their work displayed in the community
Contribute to how Gosport is seen now and in the future
What young people will do
Explore ideas around identity and heritage
Create sketches, symbols and concepts
Develop their own mural designs
Build mood boards and visual ideas
Learn how to plan a large artwork
Practice spray-paint techniques safely
Prepare for and paint the final mural
Celebrate their work with the community
Register your child’s interest
Please use the form below to register your child’s interest in taking part.
A parent or guardian must complete this form.
This is an expression of interest, not a guaranteed place. We will review all submissions and aim to select 30–40 young people based on commitment, motivation and availability.
I will email all selected participants in early January with their group allocation, full workshop schedule and final project details.
Does it cost anything to take part?
No. Gosport Now: Young Voices, Future Heritage is fully funded, so there is no cost to take part. All materials are provided.
Does my child need previous spray-paint experience?
Not at all. We will teach everything from the basics in a safe and supported way.
Where will the workshops take place?
Workshops will take place at The Studio @ ThirteenEight on Stoke Road, Gosport.
What if my child cannot make all 6 sessions?
Because the project builds Session by Session, we’re prioritising young people who can commit to all 6 sessions and the final painting day. There is a box on the form to let us know about any dates your child definitely cannot do, and we’ll do our best to allocate them to the most suitable group.
Project Funding
Gosport Now: Young Voices, Future Heritage is made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery through the Gosport Generator programme, delivered by the Hampshire Cultural Trust.
This support allows us to offer the project completely free for young people and to bring new, high-quality public art to the Gosport community.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund – https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/
Hampshire Cultural Trust – https://www.hampshireculture.org.uk/
