A fantastic programme of exhibitions, events, gigs and courses lined up for 2026 at Sandy Hill Arts
Tony Viney Open Arts Award
2026 sees several exciting new visual arts initiatives, reflecting our vibrant artist community on site. We are delighted to have launched our inaugural Tony Viney Open Art Award with an exhibition and prizes later in the Spring.
Tony Viney, as many of you will know, was the inspirational driving force behind much of Purbeck’s art infrastructure, and founded Sandy Hill Arts after saving the site from development. See website for submission details – you may still have time to apply, by 29/3/26.
Accredited Arts Award Centre
We are proud to have become an accredited Arts Award Centre which Clare Winterbottom will offer local young people from April. The Arts Award gets young people actively engaged in creativity, gaining a recognised qualification along the way.
A year of exhibitions
In the summer, we are organising a Community Art Postcard Exhibition – ‘Messages and Memories’ with artists and community groups from across Purbeck.
Our exciting year of exhibitions starts in March with Sayoko Takahata followed by Shannon Ribbons and Benji Lowsley-Williams in April, as well as a packed programme of open studios, events and art exhibitions as part of PAWF and DAW.
Top Musical Talent!
Spring brings the best local and national musical talent with EMILY MAGUIRE in Room 14 followed by a brilliant line up of top musical talent in our marquee, supported by our Arts Council Grassroots Music grant.
Look out for some extraordinary performers such as ME AND MY FRIENDS, the unique MOMOKO GILL, Brighton based ATTICOMATIC and the spellbinding contemporary/Indian classical duo BALLADESTE.
Check our website to see full details, our latest listings – and book early to avoid disappointment!
Festivals & showcasing local talent
Our Poetry Festival returns on the 5/6th September with some truly gifted poets thanks to our TS Eliot Foundation grant. We host a unique Festival of Purbeck Stone in conjunction with Burngate Purbeck Stone Centre from 10th October – and watch out for an exciting new showcase of the work of talented local playwrights on 12th September and a pilot Photography Festival in October.
Courses & workshops
We continue our broad range of courses and workshops: Easter sees the return of our ever popular blacksmithing for young people workshop, along with a new art club for young people run by Zara Saganic – check out our ‘Zartclub’ webpages.
Charlotte Fereday will be offering her textiles Still Life workshop in March and Terry Smith will be returning with his ever-popular signwriting course in April.
Our regular two day Raku ceramics workshop returns on 29th March/12th April with Jayne Cunliffe and Richard Jeffery – other dates throughout 2026 to follow.
Heather Gibbons will be offering her popular ‘From the Drawing to the Painting’ 6 week course and Jenny Green has a new range of glass fusion workshops. We welcome Pia Elliot for the first time this year with her Mandala Drawing workshops and Rohan Gotobed with his 2 day playwriting course in July.
Boilerhouse Gallery
The Boilerhouse Gallery will be open on Saturdays and Sundays until Easter – then full time Tuesday to Sunday for the rest of the year,with works by this co-operative of studio artists working across a huge range of media.
We hope Sandy Hill Arts is making life more colourful and exciting for you. Keep your eyes on our website and socials for further updates and the details of all our events, exhibitions and courses. Please come and be a part of it, or come and help and why not let us know what you would like to see. We know we would like to see you!
Find out more at: sandyhillarts.co.uk
