For over 100 years, The Old Grammar School building at the heart of the high street has been a hub for education and culture.
In 2022, the Grade II listed building underwent a major, £1.4 million refurbishment project, transforming it into Gosport Museum and Art Gallery, a cultural hub for the whole community. The refurbished building blends history, heritage, arts, education and culture all under one roof, with a programme of exhibitions, talks, workshops and events, as well as curriculum-linked science and history sessions for schools. Gosport Museum and Art Gallery is home to an art gallery, displaying major art exhibitions, a museum, which sees Gosport's social heritage take pride of place in the centre of the town, a community gallery, play gallery for under fives, learning rooms and a café, which provides a unique meeting space in and for the community.
A major addition to the building was a new courtyard, which features the results of Tag-A-Tile, a community fundraising campaign. The campaign, which raised over £12,000 towards the costs of the refurbishment, asked for donations in the form of tiles. 264 tiles have been donated by members of the community, from individuals to organisations and groups, each one inscribed with a personal message. Installed in the courtyard, the tiles act as a permanent reminder and celebration of the role played by the community in the refurbishment of the building.
The project was made possible by funding from a number of sources, including Gosport High Street Heritage Action Zone programme led by Historic England, Arts Council England, the Foyle Foundation, Gosport Borough Council, donations from individuals and groups, including the Friends of Gosport Museum, as well as investment by Hampshire Cultural Trust. Hampshire County Council was a key supporter and major funder of the project.
