About Us
Dorset Visual Arts is a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity (1113249), established in 2006.
We recognise that artists and makers have different interests and needs in developing their work and careers, particularly in a mainly rural county. We are here to support visual artists, designers and makers at all stages of their career, through a variety of activity.
What we do:
Dorset Visual Arts champions the advancement and appreciation of arts, design, and craft for public benefit by empowering Dorset's artists and makers to fully realise the potential of their creative practices
This is achieved through:
- Creative Development: Supporting the growth and quality of visual arts through bursaries, commissions, and other opportunities for Dorset's creative community
- Public Programming: Producing Art Weeks events and other curated public programmes that educate in, and promote awareness of, the visual arts, crafts, and making
- Community Building: Providing opportunities for members of Dorset’s creative community to connect, share knowledge and experience, showcase their work, and to develop their creative practice and promotional skills
How we do this:
- facilitates networking and interaction between members to help build a sense of connection and community
- creates and curates events, exhibitions, projects and other opportunities to raise creators’ profiles and enable them to showcase their work
- provides a range of support to enable members to find inspiration, build confidence, and develop their practice and their promotional skills
- provides members with opportunities to share the skills and knowledge they have acquired
- provides a broad platform of exposure by collaborating and interacting with other organisations in Dorset and beyond
- encourages the growth of Dorset’s visual arts community by providing routes for new and emerging artists
- works to grow the visual arts audience and to make visual arts more accessible to a broader range of participants
2025 saw DVA launch an exciting new programme, DVAtions, with projects running in each region of the county including Open calls, curated exhibitions, Artist bursaries, socials and support. This is now an ongoing programme.
DVA is well known for its flagship event, Dorset Art Weeks, open to all artists, makers and designers practicing in Dorset, and one of the oldest Open Studios Events in the country. The next Dorset Art Weeks runs from 23 May - 7 June 2026. As of 2026, DAW is now an annual event.
Join DVA today for exclusive opportunities, support and networking
Dorset Visual Arts receives funding from:
Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants
Organisation Support Revenue Funding from Dorset Council
Dorset Visual Arts have declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency with Culture Declares