News & Views

BRIDPORT

Arts Centre funded

Bridport Arts Centre is one of just 10 organisations in Dorset who will receive a share of over £5 million (a year), ensuring that more people in more places can find fulfilling art and culture on their doorsteps. Arts Council England, the national development agency for creativity and culture has set out a strategic vision to give everyone access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. Bridport Arts Centre is a multi-arts venue presenting a year-round programme of visual arts, theatre, dance, comedy, music, spoken word and film screenings. It caters to the whole community, young and old, and have a dedicated familyfriendly programme of events.

ABBOTSBURY

Book of kneelers

For over twenty years, Abbotsbury people have been stitching kneelers for their parish church to mark the millennium, celebrating village organisations and businesses, and commemorating the kneeler-makers’ cottages in the village and Abbotsbury’s long and colourful history. Now that all 108 kneelers— each one with a unique half-cross stitch design—have been dedicated, a book about them has been published. 36 full-colour pages tell the story of each kneeler, as well as relating the history of the twenty-year project. The book also includes a guide for any other congregation thinking of making kneelers for their own church. The book is available at many of the Abbotsbury shops and galleries.

SHERBORNE

‘Multi-purpose’ venue

Michael Cannon, a successful businessman, and head of the Cannon Foundation has been unveiled as ‘the name behind The Sherborne’. Renovation of The Sherborne, formally known as Sherborne House, has been underway for some time and the multi-purpose venue is due to open in late October next year. In partnership with Dorset Visual Arts, Sherborne House Trust will bring an events and arts space, with six historic rooms and a stunning contemporary extension at the rear. Complete with a café, bar, and restaurant as well as co-working offices on the top floor, there will be something for everyone. The Sherborne will be run by the charity’s trading arm.

BRIDPORT

Free service for housebound

The Bridport branch of the Home Library Service are keen to help get books to people in isolated areas. If you love reading, but struggle to get to the library, the library can come to you. The Home Library Service offers regular deliveries of library books for those who are housebound or are otherwise unable to travel to the library. The Home Library Service is delivered by volunteers from the Royal Voluntary Service. Books are selected based on people’s reading preferences and delivered personally to their home. For more information, just ring the Royal Voluntary Service on 01305 236666.

DORSET

Kites promote Jurassic Coast

A new kite being sold all over the UK, Europe, Australia and North America is flying the flag for the Jurassic Coast. Based on pterodactyls, a flying reptile that flew over the Jurassic Coast millions of years ago, the kites are an idea from Sibyl Fine King of the Fine Family Foundation. She thought it would be wonderful for pterodactyls to fly once more over the famous Dorset and Devon coastline and so worked with designers to create and patent the unique design. Jurassic Kites has subsequently heard of ‘pterodactyl sightings’ in the Seychelles, USA and even in Egypt.