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Dorset Town of Culture

Dorset Town of Culture was established in 2024 by Arts Development Company and Dorset Council. It allows a town, village or hamlet to come together and deliver an ambitious year-long programme of cultural activities.

Building on both existing and new creative events and projects, the initiative:
  • enables communities to celebrate local identity
  • increases participation in culture
  •  creates memorable experiences for residents and visitors alike
Through programmes such as Dorset Town of Culture, we are helping to realise the ambitions of the Cultural Strategy by:
  • supporting more people to take part in cultural activity
  • enabling communities to shape their own cultural future
  • ensuring that culture plays a central role in creating vibrant places and healthy communities
  • supporting sustainable economic growth across Dorset
Successful towns receive £30,000 from us. This is matched by the local town council, creating financial and social investment that:
  • leverages additional opportunities
  •  delivers lasting cultural, social and economic benefits for the area

2027 Sherborne

Sherborne was announced as Dorset's Town of Culture 2027 in August 2026.

Sherborne Town of Culture 2027 plans to use culture to:
  • strengthen coordination and collaboration
  • reach all parts of the community, including:
    • elderly communities
    • young people
    • farmers and rural communities
    • local communities
    • neighbouring parishes
  • build international links and exchanges with partner towns in France, the Douzelage network and Massachusetts, USA
Crowd gathered around a live music performance at an outdoor bandstand

2026 Wimborne

Wimborne Town of Culture 2026 uses culture to:
  • encourage community engagement
  • inspire creativity
  • support the town's development
The Bridging the Past and the Future programme celebrates Wimborne's heritage while embracing innovation and new technology. It creates inclusive and accessible cultural opportunities for residents and visitors.

Recent developments include:
  • establishment of new cross-sector partnerships
  • plans for a youth-led arts festival
  • an eco-heritage sculpture trail
  • a dedicated platform to promote cultural activity across the town
Together, these initiatives are helping to strengthen community connections, increase participation and support a vibrant and sustainable cultural future for Wimborne.

Watch this video to learn more about Wimborne Folk Festival and Wimborne Town of Culture 2026

 

 

Children watching a street performance in a town square during a community event.
Children and families making giant bubbles at an outdoor community event

2025 Portland and Weymouth

Portland and Weymouth were jointly awarded Dorset Town of Culture 2025. The programme delivered cultural activities between April and December 2025.

Building on the success of the pilot year, the programme brought together:
  • artists
  • cultural organisations
  • community groups
  • residents
Together, they delivered projects that celebrated local identity, creativity and place.

Launchpad projects, Reveal Commissions and community-led activities supported 24 cultural projects and events.

The programme:
  • provided opportunities for 137 artists to develop and showcase their work
  • strengthened the local cultural sector
  • supported creative talent across both communities
The programme achieved significant reach and participation, with more than:
  • 15,800 attendances at Town of Culture-funded events
  • 3,000 people taking part in projects and activities
Ceremonial handover event taking place in a town centre with people in civic dress.
People in historical costume walking with a child along a town street.
These figures show how culture can engage diverse audiences, increase participation and help residents and visitors connect with their communities through shared experiences.

Portland and Weymouth Town of Culture strengthened partnerships across the cultural, community and civic sectors. It helped build local capacity and support future cultural development.

The programme showed how cultural investment can contribute to community wellbeing, encourage civic pride and help create vibrant and resilient places.

Watch this video to learn more about Portland and Weymouth Towns of Culture 2025
 

2024 Bridport

Bridport was the first Dorset Town of Culture. The pilot programme ran from July to December 2024. Bridport Town Council and Bridport Arts Centre worked in partnership to shape and deliver the programme.

This delivered 35 new events, engaged more than 10,000 people, and brought together:
  • artists
  • cultural organisations
  • festivals
  • community groups
  • residents
The programme:
  • celebrated the cultural assets of Bridport and its surrounding communities
  • encouraged wider participation in cultural activity
  • explored what culture means to local communities
  • supported communities to reflect on what culture means to them
  • supported communities to reflect on how culture contributes to local identity and wellbeing
Bridport Town of Culture created new partnerships and strengthened relationships across the cultural, community and civic sectors.

These collaborations have continued beyond the programme itself, helping to:
  • increase local cultural capacity
  • support future cultural development
  • further establish Bridport's reputation as a creative and culturally ambitious place

Watch this video to learn more about Bridport Town of Culture 2024
 
Outdoor arts event at dusk with people gathered around an illuminated installation.
Community food event with people serving and sharing food outdoors.