Purbeck Art Weeks 2025
The Purbeck Art Weeks Festival is a celebration of creativity, culture, and community set against the stunning backdrop of the Purbeck landscape. Each year, the Festival brings together an inspiring mix of visual and performing arts, featuring open studios, exhibitions, world-class concerts, thought-provoking talks, inspiring performances, and engaging workshops. It’s a unique opportunity to discover local talent, experience international excellence, and connect with others through the joy of the arts. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, music lover, or simply curious, the PAW Festival offers something for everyone to enjoy.
This years festival includes a large line-up of exciting and unique festivals, including a mini-festival weekend.
The festival line-up is as follows –
Saturday 24 May, 6pm – Priory Church of Lady St Mary, Wareham
Concert: Apollo’s Cabinet – a fascinating exploration of 18th-century baroque theatre music.
Sunday 25 May, 12 noon – Church of St Peter, Church Knowle
Concert: Ayres Extemporae & Hannah Ely, ‘Bach and His Roots’ – a journey through the influences that shaped Bach, featuring music by Schein, Buxtehude, and Erlebach.
Wednesday 28 May, 10.30am – 11.30am – The Mowlem, Swanage
Storytelling workshop for children (4 – 8 years) with travel writer Nick Jubber.
Mini-Festival Weekend
Friday 30 May, 6pm – Priory Church of Lady St Mary, Wareham
Concert: Stile Antico, ‘The Prince of Music’ – a tribute to Renaissance composer Palestrina, marking 500 years since his birth.
Saturday 31 May, 10:30am-12:30pm – United Reform Church, Wareham
Workshop for Singers – a fantastic opportunity for singers of all levels, led by members of Stile Antico.
Saturday 31 May, 2pm – Priory Church of Lady St Mary, Wareham
Concert and Talk: a talk on Handel’s Art Collection followed by a 2:30pm concert with Augelletti Ensemble (BBC New Generation Baroque Ensemble) & Alexander Chance.
Saturday 31 May, 5:30pm – Priory Church of Lady St Mary, Wareham
Concert: Saraband & The Opera Company (Samuel Boden, Hilary Cronin & Emily Gray), ‘Love After the Storm’ – French cantatas from the salons of Rameau and his contemporaries.
Saturday 31 May, 9:30pm – Priory Church of Lady St Mary, Wareham
Concert: Ensemble Gamut & Aino Peltomaa – a musical exploration of Finnish mythology mixing medieval sounds with electronics.
Sunday 1 June, 2pm – St Edward, King & Martyr, Corfe Castle
Concert: Toby Carr, Elizabeth Kenny & Nicholas Mulroy, ‘Cubaroque’ – a fusion of early English and modern South-American sounds.
Further events-
Monday 2 June, 7.30pm – Royal British Legion, Swanage
Poetry open mic night with Martin Hobdell.
Wednesday 4 June, 6pm – 7pm – The Mowlem, Swanage
Writing workshop for adults with travel writer Nick Jubber.
Friday 6 June, 7pm – The Mowlem, Swanage
Talk: An atmospheric feast of magical tales with travel writer Nick Jubber and folk musician, actor, and storyteller Tim Laycock.
Saturday 7 June, 4pm – Careys Secret Garden, Wareham
Concert: The Echoing Air & Music for Awhile – ‘The Fairy Queen’ – a picnic performance of Henry Purcell’s semi-opera featuring local primary school students.
