The Portsmouth Arts Guild was founded in January 2003 to provide an opportunity for Portsmouth artists, and those of surrounding towns, to exhibit their work and to learn from one another. Its members are painters and printmakers, photographers and sculptors, fiber artists and wood carvers, jewelers and craftspeople. Membership is open to all artists of any medium and to all supporters of the arts.

In 2006, the Arts Guild formed a partnership with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Portsmouth for the use of its parish hall as a gallery, meeting place and arts classroom. Currently, the Guild offers monthly exhibitions of work from both members and non-members, March through December, as well as a varying number of art classes and workshops. In 2008, it expects to provide opportunities in some of the performing arts–music, storytelling, poetry readings, etc.