Personal memory and shared heritage
Memory Library explores the relationship between personal memory and shared heritage. It is interested in the everyday experiences that traditional heritage systems often overlook — local places, nightlife, shops, technology, music, domestic objects, routines, photographs, personal stories.
When individual experiences are placed alongside one another, they begin to reveal a broader shared history. Memory Library explores this through contemporary art, participation, immersive technology, digital culture and artist development — bringing new commissions, workshops, talks and international exchange to Boathouse 5.
Boathouse 5, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
13–21 Nov 2026
10-day public pop-up
Play Office
We Shine, Portsmouth's light festival
Play Office
Play Office works across immersive technology, digital art, participation, heritage and artist development. Memory Library builds on Play Office's existing programmes — bringing years of artist development, public engagement and international exchange into one visible, ambitious public programme at Boathouse 5.
Through Resonate, Play Office's artist development programme, new commissions are supported from research through to public presentation — several of which are shown for the first time at Memory Library.
Memory Library connects Portsmouth to a wider network of places through artist exchange and collaboration.
Portsmouth
Bangladesh
Cairo
Lebanon
Malta
Jersey
Audience & access
Memory Library is for a broad public — residents, families, young people, artists and people who may not usually engage with digital art. It aims to make emerging technology tactile, social and accessible.
This website targets WCAG 2.2 AA. If you need information in a different format, or have an access question about visiting Boathouse 5, contact the Memory Library team via Play Office.
Have a memory, object or photograph connected to Portsmouth?
Memory Library is built from contributions from the public — a photograph, a recording, an object, a story. We'd like to hear from you.