Dorchester Arts

For over 30 years, Dorchester Arts has engaged tens of thousands of people in a wide variety of arts events – from huge outdoor events to small-scale children’s theatre.

Dorchester Arts is supported by Dorset Council, Dorchester Town Council and our individual donors and corporate sponsors. We are a membership organisation, a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.

Our staff consists of an Artistic Director, an Administrator & Bar Manager, a Finance Manager, a Marketing Manager and a Fundraising & Development Manager. Governance is led by a Board with up to 12 members and we receive a huge amount of support from a dedicated band of volunteers.

Our home is in the Dorchester Corn Exchange, where we have a performance space accommodating up to a maximum audience capacity of 375 and we have a fully licensed bar for all events.

We also programme performances in a variety of venues across Dorchester, including St Mary’s Church and Maumbury Rings, and work with a wide range of community groups, delivering arts activities for all ages.

Our vision, mission and values

Our vision is…

…the arts at the heart of Dorset’s County town.

Our mission is…

…to bring the best of the arts to Dorset’s County town, give our community creative opportunities and nurture local talent, because we believe that where the arts thrive people and places do too.

Our values underpin all we do…

By underpinning all we do with the following core values, we aim to demonstrate the power of the arts to transform the lives of people, places and communities:

• Passion – We are passionate about the arts and how we deliver them
• Involvement – We share our passion for the arts with the people around us
• Excellence – We are committed to quality in everything we do
• Creativity – We fire imaginations, including our own
• Friendliness – We are welcoming, friendly and approachable
• Sustainability – We are prudent custodians of our finances and responsible in our use of resources

Scroll down to see all of our activities and projects below: