Purbeck Art Weeks Festival MAY/JUNE 2025

🗓️ Saturday 24th May – Sunday 8th June 2025

Purbeck Art Weeks (PAW) is back for another year this spring.

Renowned as the Isle of Purbeck’s premier community art event, it’s a chance for local artists to show their work at exhibitions and by opening their studios to the public.

  • Purbeck Art Weeks Festival Rollington exhibition
  • Artwork at Rollington Barn
  • Children's art in barn for Purbeck Art Weeks Festival

The festival has an additional programme of events, which includes concerts, workshops and more.

Purbeck Art Weeks typically runs for a fortnight each spring, and sees around 40 artists open their studios to visitors, where members of the public can browse works and meet the artists.

In addition there is a collective exhibition at Rollington Barn, near Corfe Castle, as well as various family-friendly events, with local schools getting involved in creative projects for the festival, too.

PAW has grown year-on-year since its inception in 2001 and now includes musical and performing arts events – the combined creative offer drawing a large number of visitors each year.

Don’t forget to check out the various local galleries throughout Swanage and Purbeck during PAW too, as they all get involved in supporting our talented local artists.

Visit the PAW website to see who’s exhibiting this year: www.purbeckartweeksfestival.co.uk

Rollington Barn PAW art exhibition
Colourful children's art in the barn for PAW Festival
The Renewal Tree artwork in memory of Jay Goulding
Interactive art piece at PAW's Rollington space
Millionaire's shortbread and cakes by Love Cake
Food and refreshments table
PAW Open Studio signage in Corfe Castle
Studio 6 gallery space open
Pottery Open sign outside the Boilerhouse Gallery in Corfe Castle
Boilerhouse Gallery studio walls
Open art studio at the Boilerhouse Gallery in Corfe Castle
Refreshments van at Sandy Hill Lane art studios

Programme of Events & Concerts for 2024

Here’s the programme for last year, to give you a taste of what to expect:

Saturday 25th May

In The Summertime

Gawain Glenton, who previously performed here with the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble and with I Fagiolini, this year brings 16th and 17th Century music ensemble In Echo.

The ensemble will kick off 2024’s Purbeck Arts Festival with a celebration of summertime, featuring a special rendition of the much-loved Pachelbel’s Canon in D.

In Echo is composed of cornettos, violins, viola, violone and organ.

Monday 27th May

From Venice (to Rome) With Love

Previous visitors to PAW, I Fagiolini, will be playing a Mass for four choirs by Benevoli at Lady St. Mary’s Church in Wareham on Bank Holiday Monday, along with some Monteverdi and Carissimi’s Jephte.

  • Venue: Lady St Mary Church, Wareham
  • Start time: 6.30pm
  • Find out more about I Fagiolini and listen to their music via their website: www.ifagiolini.com

Wednesday 29th May

The Changing Face of Beauty

Join sculptor Philip Jackson in an illustrated discussion on how concepts of beauty, both male and female, have evolved over the centuries.

Friday 31st May

Dawn Chorus

Vocal ensemble Fieri Consort are returning to PAW with a series of pieces inspired by birdsong in this concert entitled Dawn Chorus.

They’ll be performing songs from Monteverdi, Marenzio and de Wert, as well as 20th Century works by Vaughan Williams and Stanford.

  • Venue: St James’ Church, Kingston
  • Start time: 6pm
  • Find more information and tour dates online: www.fiericonsort.co.uk/

Monday 3th June

Poetry Open Mic Night

Enjoy an open mic night in Swanage with The Purbeck Poets.

  • Venue: The Globe Inn
  • Start time: 7.30pm

Wednesday 5th June

‘A coffee concert’

Enjoy a morning coffee and musical concert at Encombe, with the music of JC Bach, Haydn and Quantz.

The trio performing comprises Joanna Shaw (flute), Miranda Fulleylove (violin) and Sebastian Comberti (cello).

  • Venue: Encombe Estate
  • Timings: 10.15am for 11.30am start

Friday 7th June

Lend us your Ears

A concert of English songs from the 16th and 17th Centuries from regular collaborators Helen Charlston (mezzo soprano) and Toby Carr (lute).

They will also be premiering a selection of songs by contemporary composers, Anna Semple and Ben Rowarth.

  • Venue: St Edward’s Church, Corfe Castle
  • Start time: 6pm

Saturday 8th June

Fading

Vocal ensemble The Gesualdo Six will close the 2024 PAW Festival with a concert inspired by the ancient service of Compline (or prayers at the end of the day), with music from the Renaissance to the present day.

  • Venue: Lady St Mary’s Church, Wareham
  • Start time: 6.30pm
  • Listen to samples of the Gesualdo Six on their website: www.thegesualdosix.co.uk

Further information and tickets will be released soon – keep an eye on the PAW website, pick up a brochure, or follow the festival on social media: www.facebook.com/PurbeckArtWeeks/

Information for artists

If you’re an artist and would like to exhibit for Purbeck Art Weeks or open your studio, you can find all the information you need online: members.purbeckartweeksfestival.co.uk

You don’t have to be a professional, working artist – many members are hobby artists, and PAW is a very friendly and welcoming way to dip your toe in the water at exhibiting. You just need to live, work or study in Purbeck to be eligible to become a member.

The main exhibition at Rollington is ideal for new artists who want to show a limited amount of work, as well as for established artists to showcase their art as a taster before viewers visit your studio.

Studios are often shared between artists, meaning there’s a greater variety of work at one location for your audience, and great mutual support amongst your fellow exhibitors.

Contact details

The team at PAW are happy to answer any queries via email:

  • General enquiries: info@purbeckartweeks.co.uk
  • Events enquiries: events@purbeckartweeks.co.uk
  • Become a member: membership@purbeckartweeks.co.uk

Follow festival updates on social media: https://www.facebook.com/PurbeckArtWeeks/