Portland and Weymouth Towns of Culture Updates
2025 has been a year to celebrate for Portland and Weymouth as Towns of Culture. Alongside a packed programme of performances, exhibitions and festivals, the REVEAL Launchpad Fund has helped spark even more creativity.
The Fund was launched in early 2025 receiving 69 proposals, 13 projects were chosen to deliver unique cultural activities across both towns over spring and summer, bringing people together through film, poetry, art, heritage, food and performance. Find out about some of the events that have been taking place below!
Underground Gallery
An exhibition of photographs featuring artists from Portland and around the globe. This exhibition delved into themes of the overlooked, the unseen, and aspects of otherness.
Co-curated by guest curator Gil Mualem-Doron and b-side’s LGBT+ side group, following an international open call for submissions.
The exhibition showcased Gil Mualem-Doron’s photographic series, “No Man’s Land,” within the dark chambers and tunnels of Portland’s historic High Angle Battery. This visual art experience invited you to discover and illuminate what is often hidden from view.
Portland Poets Festival
A collaboration between Portland Museum and writer, Sarah Acton invited people to create a poem or piece of writing inspired by Portland Poets about their favourite places and stories on Portland. Successful submissions were given the chance to read their piece as part of the Portland Poet Festival held in Portland Museum’s garden.
Free Art Friday
Local artist Charlotte Pascoe will bring creativity, community, and a sense of adventure to Portland & Weymouth with Free Art Friday - a free weekly art treasure hunt designed to celebrate the area’s culture as a seaside holiday destination.
It ran throughout July and August 2025, the project saw unique pieces of artwork hidden in 13 iconic beauty spots and play areas, including Portland Bill, Greenhill Gardens, Tout Quarry, and Radipole Nature Reserve. Each week, clues were released on social media channels inviting families and individuals to search for the hidden treasures.
King George’s Big Dip
King George was very important to Weymouth with his dipping in the sea – and it was celebrated in style with a dipping day! From creative crafts to fun activities inspired by his legacy, the town came alive with history and imagination.
This fantastic event was brought to life by Weymouth Museum
OmniVerse
Peter Roe and Naomi Wilcox-Lee, the compères of the Weymouth and Portland Spoken Words nights and facilitators of the OmniVerse Poetry workshops.
OmniVerse, a literary project from the Jawbone Collective brought verse and voice into public spaces across Portland and Weymouth. The project centred marginalised voices and reframed how poetry is experienced in everyday life.
OmniVerse invited audiences to encounter new perspectives through:
Two free workshops, supporting poets whose voices have historically been underrepresented:
Spoken Word Nights, celebrating poetic expression and community:
A public poetry trail, featuring fragments of poetry placed across both towns in shopfronts, beaches, harbours, and public walkways. Audio recordings accessible via QR codes invite passers-by to listen in on local voices.
Naomi Wilcox-Lee of the Jawbone Collective said: “This project is about visibility - not just of poetry, but of people. We’re inviting residents and visitors to encounter the diverse voices that shape these towns, in the places we all share.”
SongFest
SongFest was hosted by The Quangle Wangle Choir, an inclusive harmony singing workshop . It was led by acclaimed workshop leader Dan Pate of the Bristol Riff Raff Choir and Juliet Harwood (choir leader from of many groups in Weymouth). People from different choirs – and many brand-new voices – came together.
Monoprinting Workshops
Sarah Owen has been leading therapeutic monoprinting workshops at Hope House in Weymouth, offering children, young people, and families the chance to explore natural forms, textures, and creativity in a safe and supportive space.
These sessions focus on artistic freedom, self-expression, and wellbeing — especially for those who wouldn’t usually have access to creative opportunities due to cost.
Upcoming Events
There are still more events to come! Here are some of the upcoming events:
b-side BIG Weekend Sept 11 -14th 2025
Isle of Portland, Dorset
One amazing island, 1000 stories.
b-side’s Big Weekend honours the spirit of Portland and Weymouth as Towns of Culture 2025, revealing untold stories from our island.
Whether you’re joining a mass stitching workshop to complete the Portland Dress, or dancing in a boxing ring, come celebrate the extraordinary people, captivating stories, and creative spirit that make Portland truly unique.
FREE + TICKETED EVENTS
b-side FRINGE Sept 11 -14th
Isle of Portland, Dorset
A fantastic way to explore Portland!
Art, craft, installations, from open studios, live music to window and garden displays, there is bound to be something you like the look of, and there are definitely some wonderful artists and makers to meet!
Look out for FRINGE signs all over the island and discover some hidden and not-so-hidden creative gems on your travels.
FREE
Woolly Wanderland 26th Aug - 14 Sept
Easton Gardens, Portland DT5 2JT
The event showcases knitted, crochet, felted, sewn, wrapped and tied decorations and community art pieces, including mermaids, a giant lighthouse, umbrellas, hot air balloons, hedgehogs, giant wings, seascapes, pompoms, tassels and bunting. The pieces brighten trees, fence panels, gates and benches throughout the gardens.
Created by 1,500 people from across Portland, Weymouth and beyond.
FREE
Eric Ricketts Exhibition Sept 13-19th 10.30am - 3.30 pm
Holy Trinity Church, Weymouth DT4 8TJ
Eric Ricketts was an architect who wrote the ‘Buildings of Old Weymouth’. Come and see Ricketts’ paintings and drawings of local buildings, plus his original notes.
Discover the history of Weymouth’s wonderful buildings and find out what we saved (largely thanks to Eric himself) and what we lost.
Sonnet of Samsara 19-20th Sept
locations across Weymouth
See Weymouth’s streets come alive with hundreds of silk pennants, local dance groups and international dance artists. You’ll witness an amazing fusion of contemporary dance, martial arts and live soundscapes coming from boom bikes.
The performance starts at Weymouth Town Bridge and weaves through the streets to the beach.
FREE
The second cohort of the Launchpad Fund will be delivering their activities from October to December. The projects are yet to be announced so make sure to keep a look out for them!