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Purbeck Arts Weeks – How Did It All Happen?

Purbeck Arts Weeks Festival has come a long way since it began twelve years ago. It started almost as an after-thought. I was chairman of Dorset Art Weeks at the time when, as now, it ran every other year. It seemed a pity to lose so much hard-won expertise and public awareness by closing down, only to re-open two years later with a new team and new ideas. However, many people felt that neither the artists, or the public, or the local Authority funders would want an open studio event every year. One possible way to find out was to initiate an art week in the intervening year in Purbeck and see what reaction we got.

The response was not at first encouraging, but as the weeks went on, more people joined and by the declared deadline we had twenty artists, enough to print a modest brochure and stage our first main taster exhibition at Eastington Barn. We could not have done it without the generosity of the James family, who let us use their barn for nothing and our growing team of unpaid helpers, who like ourselves had become enthused by the excitement of the new venture.

I had assumed this PAW might well be the first and only one, because once the principle of operating every year had been proved, it might well be adopted by the larger Dorset organisation and PAW would become superfluous. However, there was no desire to follow our foolhardy example, so rather than disband we decided to continue and see where the future took us.

Immediately this posed a problem, for it meant that every other year Purbeck Art Week and Dorset Art Week would be held at the same time and even during the same month, for otherwise the public and the artists would have two art events close together which would certainly be overkill. It was also possible that the artists themselves would not want to exhibit or the public to visit the studios if there were two organisations vying for their attention at the same time. Once again, we could only take the plunge and find out. However, during the second and third years the number of artists exhibiting and people visiting the studios steadily increased, so we were on our way.

Soon we were having to turn away artists who wanted to be part of the new Art Week although they neither live nor had a studio Purbeck. We thought it important not to lose our local identity. Purbeck Art Week has always been a community organisation run and paid for by artists who have a strong link with the area, which is often reflected in their work. It has never been driven by the necessity to please outside funders. For instance, it has never received, nor requested, local or central Government help. Nevertheless, the art week finances have grown stronger every year giving us the freedom to improve and expand.

In 2009 we decided to enhance the reputation and effectiveness of the Festival by bolting on some evening events, timed to start after the art exhibitions had closed. It was a new development in more ways than one, for the criteria for performance are different from those of the exhibitions. For instance, the perception of what is good visual artis not set in stone. A new style slated in year one can become favourite in year two. The public often unashamedly like work which the so-called art experts do not. Performance is different. Everyone knows when the amateur is below standard and sings or plays out of tune. So while PAW opens its art exhibition doors to all and sundry in the Purbeck scene, its rules are different when it comes to performance. Here we are selective regarding quality but welcome performers from the world over. However once again Purbeck surprised us, for it proved to have an astonishing wealth of home-grown talent. Apart from the many professional performers who live in Purbeck, there are others who if they don’t live here have an affection for the area and are willing to contribute to the art weeks’ success. Thus we found authors happy to talk about their books, actors to introduce their films and musicians like Natalie Clein willing to take time off from a punishing international schedule to come down with a group of musician friends and give a series of memorable concerts.

As a bit of light relief we even started a Purbeck Fringe, which informally opened its doors to comedians and poets and actors, many of whom were starting out on their careers. I think I enjoyed the fringe almost as much as the grander events in the brochure. I remember one performer having sung his songs and read his poems announced that he had some copies of his books for sale. When only a few audience members queued up to buy them, he said he was giving them away free as he did not want the bother of lugging them back to London on the train.

The addition of the evening entertainments enhanced our reputation, and I hope brought more people to the art exhibitions during the day, as well as to the lectures and music during the evening. They seemed to make no dent in our finances, so we were able to continue to improve. Nowadays we offer educational workshops where established artists take classes in the local Purbeck schools. We also hold an annual art competition where children submit artwork on a chosen theme and the winners are awarded prizes. We have also started a bursary which gives grants to deserving local artists to help them buy much needed art equipment.

It seems to me we have come a long way in a relatively short time and I am sure that the new team who are now in the driving seat will speed up the journey and think of many new ways of doing things. The best I can wish for them is that they get as much fun out of their journey as I did.

Tony Viney 2014