Bridport Arts Centre launches ‘Come Together’ campaign to bring its building into community ownership
The Bridport Arts Centre charity is inviting people across Bridport and beyond to come together to raise £400,000 and secure its historic home for future generations.
Bridport Arts Centre (BAC) is calling on audiences, artists, performers, families, local businesses and supporters to come together behind a campaign to buy its historic home and bring it back into community ownership.
Nearly everyone has their own BAC story. It might be the first artist they saw perform there, the people they shared a special night with or the night they discovered a band or artist they still love. It might be where their child found their confidence, where a friendship started, or simply somewhere they have always felt welcome.
Together, these stories say far more about Bridport Arts Centre than any list of performances or exhibitions ever could. They show why the building, and everything that happens inside it, matters so much to the town.
Claire Tudge, Director of Bridport Arts Centre, said: ‘Since I arrived at Bridport Arts Centre, people have gone out of their way to tell me their BAC story: the first show they saw here, a night they will never forget, or the moment their child stepped onto the stage and discovered what they could do. Those stories are what make this place so special. It brings people together. I am incredibly excited to launch the Come Together campaign and grateful that we have this opportunity to secure the building in community ownership for generations to come.’
The Come Together campaign aims to raise £400,000 by the end of December to buy the building and fund urgent repairs and renovations. Ownership would give the charity long-term security, allow it to improve access, reduce the building’s environmental impact and protect Bridport Arts Centre for future generations.
In 2020, local businessman Alasdair Warren stepped in to help the charity by purchasing the building during a challenging period. He is now supporting its next chapter by agreeing to sell it to Bridport Arts Centre, creating a rare opportunity to bring the building back into community ownership and give the charity a secure home for the future.
Founded more than 50 years ago by the community, for the community, Bridport Arts Centre has always been more than a venue. It is home to Bridport’s From Page to Screen Film festival and the internationally renowned Bridport Prize for creative writing.
Popular local cafe FEAST opened at the Arts Centre in 2025, and the building is also home to BACstage youth theatre, the West Dorset Film Makers Network and Bridport Film Society.
Its stage and gallery bring established artists together with new talent, while young people discover what they can do and audiences of all ages come together through theatre, music, film, comedy and visual art. In recent years, Bridport Arts Centre worked in partnership with PJ Harvey and her team to stage an exclusive concert for the local community at Abbotsbury.
Over the coming months, the Arts Centre will be asking audiences, artists, families, businesses, trusts and everyone with their own connection to BAC and to Bridport to support the campaign. Every donation, introduction and shared story will help take the charity closer to its goal.
Chris Pike, Chairman of Bridport Arts Centre, said: ‘This is an ambitious campaign and we cannot do it alone. We need everyone who values the Arts Centre to get behind us, whether that means donating, introducing us to someone who may be able to help, putting on their own fundraiser or simply sharing their BAC story.’
This is Bridport’s Arts Centre. Now we have the chance to make sure it always will be.
To find out more, donate or support the campaign, visit www.bridport-arts/ cometogether.com.
