A quaint gallery, located in an authentic courthouse which dates back to 1846, the Courthouse Galleries aim to provide the residents of Portsmouth an opportunity to view art of the finest caliber, while also educating them with an array of workshops and activities.
The galleries house an exhaustive range of artwork, whose scope spans Eastern, Western, multicultural and traditional art, while also delving in the ever-expanding arena of contemporary art forms. With rotating exhibits, the galleries aim to present as divers an array of artwork as possible, while keeping their collections fresh and regularly updated. Recent exhibitions have included the Coleman collection, which boasts of over a hundred animated figures, while also Native American Baskets, which as the name suggests, feature over 60 handmade creations from the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art.
The Courthouse Galleries display exhibits at three exhibition spaces, namely the Entrance Galleries, the Courtyard and the Main Gallery. Of special interest is the Outdoor Sculpture Competition, which is hosted in the Galleries every year and allows local artisans a unique opportunity to display their skills.
Educational opportunities include workshops like Wooden Toys and Joys, courtesy Mr. William Spoonhoward who enthralls children of all ages with old-world reminiscent wooden toys. The Courthouse Galleries also conduct a series of SOL-based programs aimed at children of different age-groups collectively titled Seeing-the-Art where they can learn more about art and its various representations by participating in engaging activities.
The Courthouse Galleries are open to visitors from 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday though Saturday and 1 pm to 5 pm on Sunday in the winter months. Summer Hours are from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Saturday and 12 pm to 5 pm on Sunday.
For further information, you can refer to the website http://www.courthousegalleries.com or call the Courthouse Galleries at 757-393-8393.
The Courthouse Galleries
420 High Street
Portsmouth, VA 23704-3622
