Arts Development Company

Arts and Culture is vital for everyone. It shapes our communities, improves our wellbeing and creatively solves some of our most immediate global issues. We at the Arts Development Company strengthen the arts and culture sector and develop innovative, collaborative and creative solutions that transform people, place and community.

We do this by:

• Commissioning new arts events, experiences and public spaces
• Exploring and sharing innovative ways to fund arts and culture in the UK
• Connecting arts and culture with business, tourism, health and environment sectors
• Supporting the development of the arts and culture sector through networks, resources and mentoring
• Sharing our experiences and expertise to develop new arts development companies in the UK
• Advocating for the enormous impact and value of arts and culture, both in Dorset and nationally

We are an independent Community Interest Company which formed in 2015 after staff spun out of Dorset County Council.

We manage a creative hub in Dorchester called the Little Keep which has eight tenants including arts and cultural charities and third sector organisations.

We currently retain a service level agreement with Dorset Council to deliver arts development across Dorset.

We have worked internationally since 2019, partnering with another social enterprise in Bali, Indonesia to promote and support creatives with disabilities.