Arts Development Company

Arts Development Company Working together for Creative Change in Dorset and beyond.

✨🎨 Activities to Explore This Summer! 🎶✨We are excited to share some of the Culture Quest activities coming up this summ...
15/06/2026

✨🎨 Activities to Explore This Summer! 🎶✨

We are excited to share some of the Culture Quest activities coming up this summer with you!

Our first feature is who have four exciting activities happening at Coopers Field in Bridport in July and August.

Culture Quest explorers can get their passports stamped and enjoy some creative fun at:

🎨🌱 Art in Nature - 28/07 and 05/08 - 10am to 12pm.

🥁✨ Make Music with the Jurassic Pantastic Steel Band - 11/08 - 10am to 12pm.

🌸🌻 Head Garlands & Wreaths from Foraged Materials - 19/08 - 10am to 12pm.

Go to the Culture Quest website via the link in our bio to find out more about these activities and how to book a space. You can also find the Culture Quest map and details on lots more fun things to explore this summer.

Watch this space for more exciting events happening this summer!

🌟 Applications are now open for Dorset Town of Culture 2027! 🌟Could your town be the next to take the spotlight?Dorset T...
11/06/2026

🌟 Applications are now open for Dorset Town of Culture 2027! 🌟

Could your town be the next to take the spotlight?

Dorset Town of Culture supports one town each year to deliver an exciting programme of creative events, bringing communities together and celebrating local identity. The selected town will receive £30,000 from Dorset Council (match-funded locally) to make it happen.

We’re looking for towns with bold ideas, strong community involvement, and a vision for lasting cultural impact.

📝 How to apply:

✔️ Complete the application form on the Arts Development Company website
✔️ Submit a short 3-minute video

⏰ Deadline: 10am, Monday 13th July

Here's a reminder of the fantastic Portland and Weymouth Town of Culture year in 2025... 👏
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Vut_K_uSeY

Image: Ramshacklicious and Hijinx, Weymouth town centre, Portland and Weymouth Towns of Culture launch weekend, produced by Activate Performing Arts, photo by Si Jubb.

Weymouth Town Council Portland Town Council Dorset Council b-side

Has being creative made a difference to your health or wellbeing? We want to hear from you! It could be singing, paintin...
11/06/2026

Has being creative made a difference to your health or wellbeing? We want to hear from you!

It could be singing, painting, dancing, gardening, writing, or anything creative that has helped you feel better, cope with something difficult, or supported your recovery.

Message us here or email [email protected].

Your story may feature on our channels (anonymously if you prefer) to help others discover what creative activity can do.


Take a Culture Quest around Dorset this summer! Starting soon! 🧭🗺️Culture Quest is a Dorset-wide initiative designed to ...
09/06/2026

Take a Culture Quest around Dorset this summer! Starting soon! 🧭🗺️

Culture Quest is a Dorset-wide initiative designed to inspire children aged 5 -11 and their families to engage with a range of creative and cultural opportunities on their doorstep. ✨

To Take Part:

📚 Pick up a Culture Quest Passport from your local library.

🎨 Visit some of Dorset’s exciting arts and culture venues, take part in fun activities or do something creative at home.

👍 Collect 5 passport stamps to complete your Culture Quest (available from cultural venues, activity providers and libraries)

💫 When you’ve finished, take your passport back to the library to receive your Culture Quest Certificate and sign up to the prize draw.

Find out more about how you can get involved and all about exciting cultural activities for children taking place across Dorset this summer via the Culture Quest website. https://culturequest.co.uk/ 🌞

Culture Quest is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England 🌱

 - British Association for Performing Arts Medicine are running 4 free, online workshops to support Creative Health Prac...
02/06/2026

- British Association for Performing Arts Medicine are running 4 free, online workshops to support Creative Health Practitioners.

June 4th - Safe Practice: Undertaking Risk Assessments

June 8th - Managing Challenging Situations

June 17th - Relationships and Boundaries

June 23rd Identifying Individual Need for Support

The workshops are a great way for the people delivering Creative Health to take a bit of time and be supported so they can support themselves and others.

This series for performing artists working in creative health settings gives practical and empathetic support to ensure that they are able to deliver their work in a way that protects their own health and wellbeing. The sessions are facilitated by Dr Amal Lad who is a GP and a musician.

Go to the instagram to find booking links in their bio!

Opportunity to be involved in a new, interactive dance performance with Neon Dance 💫Neon Dance is currently developing a...
01/06/2026

Opportunity to be involved in a new, interactive dance performance with Neon Dance 💫

Neon Dance is currently developing a new interactive performance installation, Sonic Body, supported by Arts Council England.

Created by Adrienne Hart in collaboration with artist and research scientist Dr Ana Rajcevic and composer Sebastian Reynolds, Sonic Body invites participants to move through a responsive environment of sculptural threads that generate sound. As audiences interact with the work, they actively shape a live and evolving soundscape.

The project explores embodied experience, participation and co-creation, asking what changes when audiences are not simply observing a work but actively forming it.

Neon Dance are seeking:

💫 Organisations across the South West interested in hosting development activity or previews.

💫 Participants for workshops, co-creation and audience testing.

💫 Collaborators interested in interdisciplinary exchange.

💫 Partners interested in supporting future presentation opportunities.

The project is designed to be adaptable across a range of contexts including galleries, arts centres, museums and non-traditional spaces.

If you are interested, please get in touch with Maeve at [email protected].

Octagon Music Hub is now inviting applications for its 2026/27 Grant Programme, supporting inclusive music education acr...
26/05/2026

Octagon Music Hub is now inviting applications for its 2026/27 Grant Programme, supporting inclusive music education across Dorset & Somerset.

Octagon Music Hub are looking to fund projects and partnerships that:
✨ Improve access to music education
✨ Support inclusion and equity
✨ Strengthen progression pathways
✨ Expand early years opportunities
✨ Develop creative career pathways
✨ Build local music education capacity

This programme is shaped by the recent needs analysis and focuses on activity that responds to local priorities, creates meaningful opportunities for young people and builds strong, sustainable partnerships.

🗓 Deadline: 11th June 2026

📄 Full guidance and application details are available on the Octagon Music Hub website --> https://octagonmusichub.org.uk/grants/

💬 Got an idea? You can book a conversation with the team via the Grants page before applying.

There are lots of exciting opportunities across Dorset right now for arts professionals and cultural organisations. A co...
26/05/2026

There are lots of exciting opportunities across Dorset right now for arts professionals and cultural organisations. A couple below...

Project Manager Role – Emerald Ant
Paid opportunity to lead Bubbles & Squeaks – a major community arts & environment project in West Dorset.
🗓 Deadline: 5 June (12 noon)
👉 Details: Emerald Ant website

Octogon Music Hub Grant Programme 26/27 – Open
Funding for inclusive music education projects across Dorset & Somerset.
🗓 Deadline: 11 June
👉 Details: OMH website

Fantastic for Families Awards 2026
Celebrating brilliant creative work with families & older people.
🗓 Deadline: 15 July
👉 Details: Family Arts Campaign website

Emerald Ant

Hope everyone is having a brilliant time exploring Dorset Art Weeks! Dorset Art Weeks If you’re out and about, make sure...
26/05/2026

Hope everyone is having a brilliant time exploring Dorset Art Weeks!

Dorset Art Weeks

If you’re out and about, make sure you visit The Little Keep (venue 160) and see Kevin’s beautiful paintings.

There’s so much to explore across the county, so check out what’s happening near you: www.dorsetartweeks.co.uk

Address

Little Keep, Barrack Road
Dorchester
DT11SQ

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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