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Art events in Dorset

Are you looking to find the best arts events in Dorset?

Dorset is a hotbed of creativity and expression and hosts a vibrant programme of productions in theatre, music, comedy, dance and film alongside an exciting mix of exhibitions and visual arts.

Dorset is also proud to promote a well supported network of Art Centres and organisations that promotes cultural development in the county.

Enjoy a live performance

The atmosphere of watching a play or live music in a village hall environment is much more intimate and engaging than in a large theatre and it stimulates a special connection between the performers and the audience that you don’t get elsewhere.

Wherever you are based in Dorset, you’ll have the opportunity to see some amazing productions from professional touring companies.

Be astounded at the exquisite talents of ballet dancers as they pirouette before your eyes or marvel at one-man plays; feel your spirit soar as your venue becomes filled with the sounds of samba and giggle until your sides split at a local comedy night.

Extraordinary festivals

Each year Dorset wows the crowds with some of the zaniest events around.

Be surprised, moved, entertained or contemplative, or maybe them all, as you make your way round Dorset as part of the Inside Out Festival.

From circus acts in Gillingham, sculpture at Hengistbury Head, a big wild sleepout with the RSPB and an outdoor performance to celebrate the Autumn Equinox, these are extraordinary events in extraordinary places.

Feast your eyes

As well as performance, Dorset has a varied programme of touring visual art exhibitions which circulate to rural galleries and other venues throughout the area.

You can visit contemporary craft shows, thematic exhibitions and displays from both national and regional artists.

Find out more

For a more comprehensive view of all the great arts events going on in Dorset, visit:

Highlightedart events

Airship Orchestra Oct 06

Airship Orchestra

Come and meet this mystical tribe of otherworldly characters beamed from the night stars, hear their voices like stardust and bathe in their sound and rhythmic light. The Airship Orchestra is an...

GIANT Oct 06

GIANT

GIANT is the home of contemporary art in Bournemouth. It is the largest art centre of its kind on the central south coast and presents a comprehensive program of curated exhibitions and projects...

Hand Embroidery Exhibition Oct 06

Hand Embroidery Exhibition

We are hosting Bridport textile artist, Deborah Tiltmans 1st solo hand embroidery exhibition. She works with a selection of backgrounds from painted,chiffon, ink or wet felted then creates her...

Hardy's Wessex: Coastal Wessex - love and war Oct 06

Hardy's Wessex: Coastal Wessex - love and war

Hardy's Wessex: The landscapes that inspired a writer This major exhibition will be across four venues – Poole Museum, Dorset Museum, The Salisbury Museum and Wiltshire...

In Our Hands Oct 06

In Our Hands

Inspired by folk-art, the optimistic watercolour and pastel paintings in Caroline Ireland's up-coming exhibition abound in colour and pattern and feature the shapes of the artist's own hands...

Rituals As And When Art Exhibition Oct 08

Rituals As And When Art Exhibition

Georgie Bell is a self-taught intuitive painter from the Highlands of Scotland. Bell swapped the pebbled beaches of Loch Ness for the sandy shores of Bournemouth, where she now lives with her...

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