Support Us

b-side is more than just an arts festival.

Help us to keep wowing you with new art in Dorset all year round.

Donate and support our work

Bringing new art to Dorset since 2008

Since our first festival we have worked with artists to support the creation of over a hundred brand new artworks enjoyed by thousands of residents and visitors. Our artists have helped to tell the stories of Portland in new ways, in places you would least expect to find art and have enabled new voices to be heard.

Your support means we can continue to create new art, support artists, young people and share incredible stories about the Isle of Portland with the rest of the world.

“A warm and friendly atmosphere at all the events. None of them were too big to feel impersonal, which made for a strong sense of community.”

Festival visitor

“With excellent promotional material, sensitivity to our brand, and superb communications the b-side team ticked all the boxes… our funding was a great investment.”

Chris Holleyoak, Director at The Penn

But there’s still lots more to do…

We want to grow and create an internationally recognised arts organisation providing exciting and progressive creative opportunities for artists and communities in our county. We want to spotlight our local talent and bring internationally recognised artists to audiences in Dorset.

We are on our way and you can can be part of this too.

How we spend our money

Together, we can...

Commission new art

Be part of an exciting and vibrant organisation that allows artists the freedom to create.

Celebrate Portland’s unique beauty & history

Help us celebrate this unique place through art that explores it’s culture, history and future place in the world.

Develop new artistic talent

Support a young artist to develop ideas or try something new - be part of their creative journey.

Grow the creative economy

Dorset has some remarkable creative talent, let’s make Dorset the hub of artistic excellence we know it can be.

Bring visitors to Portland

Develop sustainable tourism that respects and benefits the island and those who live and work on Portland.

Involve the local community

We can create more opportunities for people to take part in art as participants, co-creators or audience.

“This project has had a positive impact on me and my mental health due to the people I have met and the friendships formed along with the realisation that I am not alone in what I feel.”

b-side project participant 2018

“I’ve been really struck by how the Festival manages to combine a wonderful sense of play and experimentation with the sort of organisation that makes it a serious event to be involved with and to visit.”

Artist Lucy Large