Partners celebrate Dorset Towns of Culture Award!

Representatives from local councils, and organisations representing the arts, business and communities in Portland and Weymouth are celebrating after learning their bid to become Dorset Towns of Culture 2025 was successful.

The initiative is run by the Arts Development Company which today announced that Portland and Weymouth will take the baton from Bridport in 2025, which will see a year of creative events planned across the two towns. The partners have released the following statements welcoming this fantastic news:

Rocca Holly-Nambi, Director, b-side, said: “We are delighted Portland and Weymouth are Dorset’s Town of Culture 2025. Weymouth and Portland have a diverse, vibrant, and ambitious art scene. We know this venture will be the catalyst to reveal, showcase, and celebrate our many creative people and places. Together we will co-create a year of culture that propels us towards a creative future, for all those that live, love, and visit our unique home.”

Matt Ryan, Town Clerk at Portland Town Council, and Jane Biscombe, Town Clerk at Weymouth Town Council, said: “Both Town Councils are looking forward to working with local residents, artists, and community organisations to help deliver a year of fun and creativity where everyone can have a go at new skills, develop existing ones or just enjoy some new experiences taking place across Portland and Weymouth.”

Kate Wood, Artistic & Executive Director at Activate Performing Arts, said: “Activate are thrilled with this success. We have had the real pleasure of working in Portland and Weymouth for many years – bringing international artists to present extraordinary performances, working with artists based in the county and running workshops with children and community groups. Everyone we have spoken to has a real appetite for more creative activity for the towns. We are looking forward to working with all the partners and the communities and bring our two rules with us: anything’s possible, and everyone’s invited.”

Kim Wilcocks, CEO, Island Community Action, added: “Island Community Action are absolutely thrilled to be part of the winning team selected for Dorset’s County of Culture, 2025. We look forward to working alongside our phenomenal partners and the community to deliver an amazing year of creative, innovative and inspirational events and activities.”

Dawn Rondeau-Irvine, Chief Operations Officer, We Are Weymouth, said: “Working in partnership to achieve this result for Portland & Weymouth is incredible news, for everyone. We are excited about the possibilities for our towns as both the businesses and residents enjoy developing new initiatives to build on the arts and culture scene. We hope this will create positive change for the local economy both in 2025 and beyond as we build on this legacy for future generations.”

Arts Development Agency CEO David Lockwood added: “I’m delighted that Portland and Weymouth will be joint Towns of Culture for 2025. The ambition for culture to transform people and place is inspiring, as is the collaboration between creatives, communities, businesses and civic organisations. I can’t wait to see and experience the extraordinary cultural activity that this opportunity will unleash, and to enjoy the legacy for years to come.”

For more information about Towns of Culture 2025, visit the Arts Development Company website. Further announcements about events and activities and how to get involved will be publicised by the partners in due course.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For the latest information about Weymouth Town Council visit the website, Facebook, and X pages.

For more information about Portland Town Council, visit their website.

For more information about Activate Performing Arts, visit their website.

For more information about Island Community Action, visit their website.

For more information about b-side, visit their website.

For more information about We Are Weymouth, visit their website.