Activate Performing Arts

22/10/2026

The summer 2026 touring season is just about coming to a close and what a season it’s been! Activate are Producers for three touring companies – Tilly Ingram Theatre, The Working Boys Club and Lorna Rees Company – and since May this year they have featured at a staggering 21 festivals.

Audiences have been moved by Tilly Ingram Theatre's The Hide, listened in wonder at Lorna Rees’ Canopy and made music at the Serving Sounds bar and the Noisy Noise Noise bookcase from The Working Boys Club.

Tilly says, “As a disabled artist, Activate’s support has made a huge impact on how my show goes out and allows me to focus on being an artist.”

Activate manages the booking and production of these tours, overseeing contracts, fee negotiations, travel and logistics, while ensuring artists and crew are well supported throughout. By taking these shows on the road, thousands more people have been able to access high-quality performing arts experiences, while Dorset creatives have showcased their talent across the UK and internationally.

The Working Boys Club have got one last gig at Books Alive Festival in Southport on 29 and 30 October. And we’re already fielding enquiries for festivals in 2027.

Read the full story here: https://activateperformingarts.org.uk/2026/10/15/touring-2026/

📸Canopy at Harvest Festival, Croydon, photo by Vipul Sangoi / Tilly Ingram at Careys Secret Garden / Serving Sounds by The Working Boys Club, photo by Jayne Jackson

21/10/2026

We're one of the partners on this fantastic programme for early career creatives. Check out all the info and apply via the Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival website 👇

Got a creative idea you've been sitting on? This is your sign to go for it! ✨

As one of our previous CREATE! participants discovered, the right connections and support can help get your creative ideas flowing.

Now it's your turn! Applications for CREATE! 2027 are OPEN!

This FREE training programme for early-career creatives (18+) across Dorset and BCP is your chance to learn how to bring your own artistic events to life.

Ready to give it a go? Find out more and apply here: https://artsbythesea.co.uk/create-2027/

19/10/2026

Over 11,000 visits were made to Wave by squidsoup on Westham Bridge in Weymouth as part of this year's Dusk til Dark from We Are Weymouth UK.

Across three days in September there was drawing, dance and yoga, people lying on the floor to get a better view, visitors crying because they were so moved by the artwork and excited children enjoying it too. The immersive artwork brought people together, many of whom travelled for miles to experience the event.

Take a look at our film (made by Pageant Productions) and read the full story here: https://activateperformingarts.org.uk/2026/10/19/over-11000-visits-to-wave-by-squidsoup/

Wave by Squidsoup was produced by Activate as part of Dusk til Dark 2026 from We Are Weymouth.

15/10/2026

Welcome Maisy! 🎉

A few months ago we advertised for a Projects Assistant to join our team through the Breakthrough Programme from Artswork. The programme provides entry routes into the creative industry for 18-25 year olds who are struggling to find meaningful employment.

Fast forward to September and we welcomed Maisy, a recent French and Russian graduate and former EFL teacher to our team. Maisy will work with Activate until March 2027.

Maisy says, “My friend told me about this position at Activate Performing Arts as a Projects Assistant through the Breakthrough Programme with Artswork. It was exactly the kind of thing I had wanted to do and all on my doorstep as a Dorset native, helping to bring amazing events to the landscape I was raised in.

I am looking forward to getting immersed in what it takes to produce large-scale creative events and to be able to better understand the functioning of an industry that has felt, at times, quite elusive to me... I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be in such close proximity to great contemporary art and carry the inspiration I take from this work into my future endeavours as well as my own creative practices.”

This opportunity is supported by Jane Rigler, Michael Noonan and Artswork, and our core funders Arts Council England and Dorset Council.

Maisy Hicks joins the Activate team as Projects Assistant, through the Artswork Breakthrough programme.

15/10/2026

One Flavours participant found something unexpected in rural Dorset: a sense of home.

She brought her auntie along to share in it and told us it felt comfortable, warm, like being surrounded by people who feel like family. In a moment of joy and celebration, she started singing 🎶

This is what Flavours is about. Connection, belonging, and finding belonging in Dorset's landscape.

The Flavours project was led by Dorset National Landscape in partnership with Dorset Race Equality Council, Activate Performing Arts and Dorset Food & Drink, with support from Grace The Space Project, the BPC INDIAN COMMUNITY and the Dorset Ukrainian Community, and made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

08/10/2026

If you're heading to The Script's The Thing in Dorchester this weekend, check out the Activate table in the Corn Exchange and say hello to our Producer Maheen!

The Scripts The Thing! is back on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th October 2026 and as before events will be happening across 5 different venues – The Corn Exchange, Dorset Museum and Art Gallery, Tom Browns, The Kings Arms and The Sleeping Bear Hotel.

The exciting festival programme for The Script’s The Thing 3 is now available as a download from our website! Check out the what's on section

08/10/2026

We're Hiring | Venue Supervisor ✨

Are you a people person who thrives in a busy environment, stays calm under pressure and loves working as part of a team? We’re looking for a Venue Supervisor to help create a warm welcome for everyone who walks through our doors, support our front-of-house team and play a key role in the day-to-day running of the building.

🕒 Part-time (average 30 hours per week)
📍 Bournemouth
📅 Applications close: 9am, Monday 2 November 2026

Join a friendly, passionate team committed to being kind, inclusive, innovative and empowering.

More info on our website

07/10/2026

Another week, another awards shortlist! 😉

We've been shortlisted for the DMB Tourism Awards in the Event of the Year category (sponsored by Festival Buses), for our Inside Out Dorset festival 2025 🎉

Congratulations to our fellow category finalists: Armed Forces Weekender (Shake & Stir Fest), Poole Harbour Festival, and Bourne Free (Bournemouth Pride).

We'll find out who the winner is on 12 November 🤞

05/10/2026

CREATE! 2027 applications are now open 🎉
The programme is delivered in partnership by Activate, Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival and b-side.

This year, the programme is led by Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival so check out all the details on how to apply over on their website. https://artsbythesea.co.uk/create-2027/

05/10/2026

For many families, a countryside picnic is more than fresh air. It's watching a child light up over leaves, sticks and drawing in nature. It's a bowl of spicy soup that tastes like connection. In one parent's words, it's "the cherry on the cake."

This is what the Flavours project is all about: giving Dorset's communities space to enjoy nature, food and each other, away from the noise of everyday life.

Learn more about the project 👇
https://dorset-nl.org.uk/project/flavours/

The Flavours project was led by Dorset National Landscape in partnership with Dorset Race Equality Council, Activate Performing Arts and Dorset Food & Drink, with support from Grace The Space Project, the BPC INDIAN COMMUNITY and the Dorset Ukrainian Community, and made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.