CREATE! 2026 is a FREE course being delivered in Spring 2026 for those who are based in Dorset and BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) with less than 2 years experience in the arts sector.
Applications are welcome until 5pm on Monday 27 October 2025.
You will learn how artistic events are created from start to finish and take part in workshops led by experienced professionals.
Topics include:
- What makes a great event?
- Building a network
- How do community-led projects work?
- Financing a creative idea
- Where can events happen?
- Marketing and audience identification
- What is risk management?
What do you get from the course?
The FREE course includes:
- Your travel expenses whilst attending the course
- Lunch, drinks and snacks during the course
- A professionally developed programme designed to give you a clearer understanding of how artistic events can be made
- An opportunity to pitch for a pot of money to help make your creative idea a reality
- Networking sessions during and after the course
- Direct access to arts professionals
- Useful resources signposted directly to you
- Direct engagement with art/performance in your region
Interested?
Download an Application Pack in pdf format or Word format.
CREATE! is for people of any age (18+) who may have some experience in creating their own creative events, those who want to step into the artistic industry but don’t know how, and also those who have no idea how any of the creative world works but think they have a great idea they’d like to make a reality.
More information and how to apply by can be found on our CREATE! Project Page.
Header image (l-r): b-side Festival Launch, photo Paul Box; Inside Out Dorset 2022 presents Peixos by Sarruga, photo Jayne Jackson; Arts by the Sea 2023, photo James Bridle.
Film footage by Callum Lindsay.
Access
The CREATE! courses are designed to be accessible. We encourage applications from people who have access requirements.