The PAW Festival | 2026 Brochure | Open Studios | Rollington Barn Exhibiton | Rollington Pop-Up Studio | Rollington Installations | PYA Exhibition | Castle View Exhibition | Concerts & Events
The PAW Festival
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.
2026 BROCHURE FOREWORD by the Festival President
Philip Jackson CVO DL MA FRBS
Welcome to Purbeck Art Weeks 2026.
This year, Purbeck Art Weeks spreads its wings with the theme of Birds – inspired by the nightingale and by the rich wildlife that shapes the beautiful Purbeck landscape. Birds connect land, sea and sky; they also remind us of the beauty, fragility and resilience of the natural world we share.
Central to PAW 2026 is a vibrant mini music festival over the middle weekend, offering a wonderful mix of music from medieval and renaissance treasures to the unexpected
pairing of Coco Chanel and Stravinsky. We hope visitors will come to Purbeck for the weekend and discover not only exceptional performances but also the magic that happens when music, art and landscape meet.
Music and the visual arts in all its forms matter deeply in these uncertain times. They bring people together across generations and cultures, offer solace and celebration and help us listen and see more carefully – to one another and to the world around us.
We are delighted to welcome many new artists this year and are excited by the number of Open Studios offering opportunities to meet artists and experience creativity at first hand. Dr Gill Clarke will explore the many artists who have lived in and been inspired by Purbeck while the Whispering Dome community project traces the migration of nightingales from Europe to Africa, drawing on the cultures of the countries they cross. The Parnassus Ensemble joins artist Jérémie Queyras in an exploration of an artist’s response to music.
Thanks to our founders and sponsors all 21 of Purbeck’s schools will take part in a Purbeck Young Artists Workshop – nurturing the next generation of creative voices.
My heartfelt thanks go to everyone whose imagination, dedication and hard work have combined to make PAW 2026 so wonderfully exciting.
Philip, PAW President
Past Brochures
The free PAW brochure contains everything a visitor needs to know about the Festival fortnight: exhibitions, Open Studios, events, and community projects. Every participating artist will have their contact details included in the brochure and most will also have an illustration of their work too. Click on the covers to have a look at some of our recent past brochures to see what we were doing.
Past Events Programmes
Every year we strive to bring you the most comprehensive Events programme possible. Please click on the covers to have a look at some of our recent past programmes and if you would like to receive information about our Festivals in advance please click here. If you would like to become a Friend and enjoy priority booking for our Events and for our winter series of Chamber Music in Purbeck Houses, please click here.
Past Brochure Covers
