The Mary Rose is embedded in the cultural fabric of Portsmouth. Built in the city, launched from its harbour, and sunk just off its coast, the ship lay hidden for centuries beneath the Solent. Rediscovered and raised just a few hundred metres from where she was lost, the Mary Rose has since been conserved, studied, and reimagined.

This exhibition is a creative response to that reimagining. Anchored in the Community brings together artists, community groups, and cultural organisations to explore how we connect with the ship and its story today – through memory, movement, material, sound, and mark-making.

The Mary Rose developed and delivered six commissions across the city in partnership with cultural and community partners, with a curated selection of works featured in this exhibition.

Internationally acclaimed street artist My Dog Sighs is a celebrated figure in Portsmouth’s cultural landscape. This work was inspired by the marks left by the crew of the Mary Rose over five centuries ago – personal signs and symbols carved into their belongings. In a poignant tribute, the artist incorporates into the eye’s reflection the images of Alexander McKee and Margaret Rule, whose pioneering efforts were crucial in the discovery and raising of the Mary Rose.

Aspex Portsmouth’s Generate group – a decade-long programme designed to support people living with dementia through artistic activity – explored memory and personal responses to the Mary Rose. Sessions took place weekly at the gallery, with volunteers from the museum bringing replica and real artefacts to spark conversation and rekindle memories.

Artist Clarke Reynolds, a.k.a. Mr Dot, worked with Craneswater School, Mary Rose Academy, visually impaired support groups, and museum staff and volunteers. Clarke invited participants to go beyond the visual, using tactile Braille wordsearches to express how the Mary Rose made them feel.

The Anchored in the Community project was made possible by a National Heritage Lottery grant, helping to build a sense of local ownership of both the ship and the museum – encouraging new ways of thinking about heritage, place, and participation.