Now Every Year!

Since its inception in 1992, Dorset Art Weeks (DAW) has traditionally run as a biennial event. After careful consideration Dorset Visual Arts (DVA) are very excited to announce that DAW will now run as an annual event!

Every other year requires re-energising the event and re-introducing artists and visitors to the two week festival. By making DAW yearly we can build on our already popular event and create more opportunities for artists and makers to show their work to the public. We also recognise that surrounding counties have yearly countywide ‘open studios’ ‘art weeks’ and it can be confusing for visitors and artists when Dorset doesn't offer this.

Our aim is to empower Dorset's creatives by offering more opportunities for participation. This includes encouraging them to open their studios, form new group exhibitions, discover novel locations to display their work, and much more. We want to encourage more visitors, fostering engagement with our diverse and talented creative community. By holding Dorset Art Weeks annually, we anticipate a consistent increase in awareness year after year.

Paul Newman, Dorset Visual Arts Creative Director says, “After listening to feedback, we are thrilled to announce that Dorset Art Weeks will now become an annual event. It will be an important part of a developing programme of opportunities, support and networking for Dorset Creatives. Along with our DVAtions programme, we're pleased to provide an increasingly diverse and ambitious range of initiatives for artists and makers across the county.”

Our next Dorset Art Weeks will take place 23 May - 7 June 2026.

Explore the website with more details for artists and visitors.