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 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 said that they are delighted by this “fantastic news”.
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 collab-oration 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.”
As the b-side festival kicks off, Rocca Holly-Nambi, Director, 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.”
We will follow the development and delivery of events in future editions and look forward to a Cultural Year 2025.
Top Photo by Jayne Jackson shows the Peixos by Sarruga street performance which came to Weymouth’s streets in 2022
