Art exhibition
The 2026 Art exhibition will take place from Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 August
15 -23 August
Weekdays: 10am-7pm
Weekends: 10am-5pm
Last day Sunday 10am-12 Noon
Free Entry
Also open during concert intervals
The Art Exhibition
In the heart of Burton Bradstock is the Village Hall by the green. During the Festival week, the Village Hall is transformed into a vibrant, colourful art gallery. Original paintings, ceramics, glass and wood crafts are exhibited by West Country artists and are on sale at affordable prices.The exhibition is run by volunteers and the revenue from the sale of the art and crafts goes towards funding the Festival and also to art education workshops in the local area. Email us
The Art Committee
The art exhibition is put together by a small committee who meet several times throughout the year to prepare for this annual event. It involves visiting art and craft fairs, painter’s studios, art galleries and then inviting artists to show and sell their work at the exhibition.
Leading up to and during the exhibition our level of activity gradually increases. There is the distribution and placing of posters to publicise the festival, the preparation of the village hall and then the stewarding of the exhibition to be carried out. The committee would welcome help in these rewarding tasks. It is an opportunity to meet musicians, artists and take part in this renowned Dorset festival and in the village life of Burton Bradstock.
The sale of artwork contributes to the costs of Festival and supports art educational projects in the local area. Email us
All images shown above are works by artists that have exhibited or will exhibit at the Festival.
The Village Hall
Burton Bradstock
Having steered the Art Exhibition to ever increasing success and popularity, Chairman Wendy Hart has decided that it is time to retire. While she will be missed for her meticulous management of the Exhibition, we have all wished her fewer sleepless nights, and more relaxed leisurely days, to enjoy that freedom from responsibility.
The role has now been taken on by Liz Orza, previous treasurer, and long term committee member.
Wendy Hart presents Gill Howard. Headteacher with the donation.
Donation to Mountjoy School
The Art Exhibition Committee selected Mountjoy school to receive a donation of £500 from the proceeds of the Art Exhibition 2023. The headteacher, Gill Howard was presented with the cheque by Wendy Hart and Meg Tebbs, to be used for arts and crafts in the school.
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Mountjoy School only takes pupils with special educational needs, and covers the spectrum of abilities. Arts and crafts are an important part of the curriculum at the school, enabling pupils to express themselves and engage with other children in the class.
Wendy and Meg were given a guided tour of the classes by headteacher Gill Howard, and were deeply impressed by the dedication and patience of the staff. Children from primary age up to16 years are taught the 3 R’s, and there is a 90% success rate in reading. They take part in dramatics, and special occasions such as Christmas are celebrated. They are helped to prepare for life outside the school, in order to be able to engage socially and live as normally as possible. Many students will go on to one of several colleges in Dorset, where they can continue their education.
The modern school is now bursting at the seams, as it is so popular. Gill is hoping to expand the school into nearby farm buildings, which will need to be adapted. The school is very expensive to run, with a high ratio of staff to pupils, and is always fund-raising. This is such a worthwhile charity, helping many of these children to live a normal life. Many of them will be able to contribute to society thanks to the vital education they are getting
Liz Orza, Val Ellis and Debbie Elsmere
Donation to Weldmar Hospice
Val Ellis and Liz Orza made the trip to Dorchester to give art equipment vouchers to the value of £500 to the Hospice Wellbeing department. This money being some of the proceeds of the Art Exhibition held during August of 2023, raised through the sale of artists’ work during the Festival.
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This money being some of the proceeds of the Art Exhibition held during August of 2023, raised through the sale of artists’ work during the Festival.
The Hospice is well known in Dorset, and the care and the support offered to families and individuals at every stage of their diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes is highly valued. We were welcomed by the head of Wellbeing, Debbie Elsmere, and were able to see participants enjoying constructing Christmas wreaths with greenery cut from the Hospice garden.
Many of us have reason to be so very grateful to the Hospice for the care and support which they give, and the Art Committee were very pleased to be able to support them in this way.
44th FESTIVAL
15-23 AUGUST 2026
Classical, jazz, folk and world music with internationally acclaimed performers and a nine-day exhibition featuring some of the finest art and ceramics in the South West