There’s a lot of exciting things happening across the conurbation. I don’t know about you, but my diary is looking pretty full for the coming weeks. Please read on for information about upcoming events, including some big things for the Cultural Compact –
From The Cultural Compact –
Our next Culture Network event is happening at Lighthouse Poole on Thursday 22nd October. This time, we’re teaming up with Your Shout to facilitate an an evening of inspiring talks on ‘Journeys’ from Global Majority creative leaders, with time for attendees to meet new people, hear different perspectives and be part of the conversation shaping our creative community.
Join us at Lighthouse from 5.30-8.00pm on Thursday 22nd October. As with previous Culture Network events, tickets are free and bookable via THIS LINK. We are offering our £30 freelancer fee through the ballot here.
From Arts by the Sea Festival –
Arts by the Sea Festival returns to Bournemouth later this month, running from 25-26th September. There are lots of fantastic performances, workshops, and other events taking place. It’s always the place to be!
From BEAF –
We are excited to invite you to the launch of Bournemouth Education Arts Foundation! Thursday 8 October, 5.30pm-7.30pm | All free, all welcome
Wickham Works, Wickham Road, Pokesdown, Bournemouth BH7 6JX
Join us at one of Boscombe’s hidden gems, opening specially for our launch event. This is the very space where our story began, and we now welcome you to enjoy a showcase of our incredible journey with a premiere screening featuring our groundbreaking Outsiders Project.
Come and explore the Boscombe Arts Trail! Sat 10 and Sun 11 October, 12pm-5pm | All free, all welcome
Various sites across Boscombe
Explore our artist studios, get to know resident artists, and discover incredible artwork created from our Access BEAF project across two exhibitions.
From Wimborne Town of Culture –
Wimborne Community Theatre in association with Wimborne Town of Culture presents Belonging: Our Search for Home, directed by Rohan Gotobed.
A powerful new play, made by and for the local community, which guides the audience on a magical and immersive journey through the Kingston Lacy landscape, asking, is home a place or a feeling?
Performing at Kingston Lacy from Tuesday 22nd September – Sunday 27th September. The performance starts at 7pm, but we invite you to explore our interactive fair from 6.30pm.
From Pavilion Dance –
Meet the Hatter is a magical, cinematic dance and multimedia spectacle. Combining powerful dance with captivating storytelling and mesmerising visuals, complemented by an emotionally charged original score, the show is an epic retelling of the iconic Hatter from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – but with a twist. For audiences aged 5 – 105, Meet the Hatter takes you on a journey through a new world that celebrates the importance of play, whilst highlighting how self-belief can create opportunities you’ve only ever dreamed of.
The production is also accompanied by a high-quality Audio Description, which is synced via a transmitter, ensuring that the description keeps time with the production alongside the music, making it accessible for visually impaired audiences.
Coming to PDSW on Saturday 24th October!
From The Script’s the Thing –
Save the date for this year’s Script’s the Thing Festival, hosted at Dorchester Arts on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th October. With over eighty short plays, as well as talks and workshops, this will be a fantastic opportunity for writers and performing artists to meet and connect with others from across the UK.
From Coda –
Does your child love drawing, painting, making or getting creative?
Coda is inviting children and young people aged 4–18 across Dorset and the New Forest to create an artwork inspired by PLAY and share it as part of our Young Artists Open 2026 this November.
You don’t need to think of yourself as an artist to take part – we want to see young people’s ideas, imagination and creativity in all kinds of forms!
Theme: PLAY
Submission deadline: Thursday 1 October 2026
Showcase: 7 November – 20 December 2026
Coda, near Christchurch
Find out more and take part:
www.coda.org.uk/open-call-
That’s all folks! We’ll be launching the next newsletter in a couple of weeks, so please email the Cultural Compact anything you’d like to be included by Friday 2nd October, with NEWSLETTER marked in the subject header. You can contact us at info@culturalcompact.org.uk.
(image supplied by Ayesha Ballen)