Festival 2016

Portland

"We've been entertained, welcomed, challenged. I love being assaulted by things out of the ordinary..."

b-side returned to the Isle of Portland in September 2016 showcasing the very best in contemporary art made in response to this beautiful and intriguing island. Extraordinary, playful, witty and challenging our programme emerges from conversations between artists, producers and the residents of Portland.

Thousands of visitors enjoyed a generous mix of free and ticketed events that included brand new work in film, visual art, sound and live art created especially for the festival, artist talks, workshops, bus tours, a pop up outdoor cinema, a Reliant Robin parade, underground goings-on and intriguing bending of truths at The Portland Office for Imaginary History plus much more.

See all the wonderful images from b-side Festival 2016 HERE

“Really appreciated everything I saw. The whole experience pushed the borders of what I considered to be art last week! Thank you.”

2016 Festival Visitor

Project events

Dr John Cooper Clark
Event

Dr John Cooper Clarke

Weymouth Pavilion
Weymouth

John Cooper Clarke shot to prominence in the 1970s as the original ‘people’s poet’. Since then his career has spanned cultures, audiences, art

Event

The Fortress Tour

Outside Portland Castle,
Portland

Portland’s geological structure makes it a natural fortress - a quality exploited over the years for defensive purposes and giving rise to many

Fortress Tour
Event

The Fortress Tour (II)

Outside Portland Castle,

Portland’s geological structure makes it a natural fortress - a quality exploited over the years for defensive purposes and giving rise to many

Event

Viewpoints (walk)

Quiddles Café,
Portland

Join local Artist Sammy Polley on a walk from Chiswell to Castletown to Bridgette Ashton's Ruin Gazer in the grounds of Portland Hospital. Bring

Event

Wild Portland (Walk)

Easton Gardens,
Portland

Walk with Herbalist Andrew Cowling and the Portland Office for Imaginary History's Alistair Gentry and discover the friendly, fanciful,

Event

The Crucible - a gathering for artists, curators & producers

The Drill Hall
Portland

The Crucible , is an opportunity for creative practitioners to come together for a day of art, food and conversation.

The day starts with

Want to see what we programmed for 2016 Festival?

The 2018 Guide can be viewed online, you can also download a PDF copy using the link below. 

Download festival guide