And just like that, UPLIFT 2026 has come to a close. From the first handmade puppet appearing in a shop window to the final whistle of the Sports Festival, Wimborne has spent the last couple of weeks buzzing with a new kind of energy. We set out with a simple mission: to give the next generation a stage, a platform, and a canvas. Looking back at the bustling squares and vibrant galleries, it’s clear they didn’t just take the stage—they owned it.
A Programme Built by Young Voices
The success of UPLIFT 2026 was rooted in collaboration. Rather than a top-down approach, the programme was curated through deep consultation with our community. We worked alongside dedicated teachers, headteachers, and the brilliant children at Wimborne First School and Wimborne Town Council’s Youth Council. These partnerships ensured that every performance, workshop, and installation resonated with the people it was built for.
From High Streets to Green Spaces
The transformation of our town was total. Shop windows became professional galleries; the Town Square became a high-octane music stage; and our parks were reclaimed as spaces for exploration.
One of our Young Makers who exhibited at Walford Mill, Eliana, reflected on the participation with her mother, capturing the spirit of the weekend perfectly. She said she really appreciated being part of a professional event where she was treated as an equal among peers. Rather than a “trial run,” UPLIFT offered a hands-on experience in the “real thing.” This sentiment was echoed by attendees, with one resident remarking, “It was brilliant to see the town bustling with so many kids enjoying themselves in the sunshine.”
The Art Trail & Live Stage
The UPLIFT Art Trail turned the town into a living museum. We saw powerful work like Being a Boy—a collaboration with Arts University Bournemouth—split between Semley’s Auctioneers and Wimborne Library. Local businesses like Cloisters, Woodsies in Wimborne, and Bartletts Schoolwear opened their doors to youth poetry and sculpture, while the Museum of East Dorset showcased “everyday heroes” through the eyes of St John’s First School students.
At UPLIFT Live, the Square became a pop-up stage for our next generation of sound. Delivered in partnership by Dorset Music Service, artists like Jordan Doherty, Swing Squad, and Room 18 proved that the future of the Dorset music scene is in very capable hands.
Creativity in Motion
Our workshop programme brought a hands-on dimension to the festival. From the ancient curiosity of archaeology with Cranborne Ancient Technology Centre and Butser Ancient Farm, to the digital beats of Shawn Keys, the town was a hive of skill-sharing. Whether it was the aerial dance of Lizzy Riley, the filmmaking of Bryony Gordon, or the “Mega Makes” with Emma Kerr, the emphasis was on learning through doing.
The weekend was punctuated by moments of pure spectacle—most notably from Jasmin Circus, whose giant bubbles and hula-hoop performances enthralled crowds at the Minster Green.
The energy carried right through to Sunday’s Festival of Sports & Active Leisure. From the climbing wall to kayaking, the Sunday programme highlighted the vital link between creativity, movement, community and wellbeing.
Our Sincerest Thanks
UPLIFT 2026 was a collaborative feat. To our workshop hosts at Wimborne Community Centre, the Minster, and the Library; to the venues and businesses who hosted the art trail: Cloisters, Woodsies in Wimborne and Museum of East Dorset; to Walford Mill for hosting young makers within their professional market; to every teacher who went the extra mile; and every young person who trusted us with their vision—thank you. For the full list of our thanks, please visit www.wimborne2026.com
Wimborne has long been called the “Centre of the Universe.” This weekend, our children and young people proved exactly why.
Wimborne is Dorset Town of Culture 2026. Town of Culture is an Arts Development Company initiative with funding from Dorset Council, matched by Wimborne Minster Town Council and supported by partners Canford School and Wimborne BID.
Photo Credit Eliza Naden
