Art-Speak is the City of Portsmouth’s Cultural Commission, created as a quasi-public agency in 2002 in response to the City’s Cultural Plan. Art-Speak’s mission is to promote public appreciation, participation, dialogue and support for the invaluable contribution that arts, culture and history make to our City’s economic vitality and quality of life. Art-Speak performs its mission by:

• Creating new resources to support local artists and cultural organizations
• Marketing and promoting Portsmouth as a cultural destination
• Partnering the local cultural and business communities on a variety of issues and projects
• Introducing new businesses to expectations of supporting the cultural community
• Collaborating with regional and state arts and cultural organizations
• Convening workshops and conferences