Residents invited to help shape joint cultural bid

Weymouth is one of two towns that have launched a join County of Culture bid

Weymouth and Portland residents are being invited to help formulate a joint bid to be the County of Culture in 2025.

Winning the accolade gives towns, villages or hamlets in Dorset the opportunity to lead a year of cultural activity in the county, with the help of up to £30,000 from Dorset Council.

Weymouth and Portland have got through to the second stage of the formal bid process.

The town councils have now invited residents to workshops to share their ideas for the bid.

They will host two workshops in the coming weeks to prepare a joint bid which has to be submitted by 24 June.

A pilot event for the Dorset capital of culture tag was launched in 2024 when it was awarded to Bridport.

County of culture is an initiative which was created by the Arts Development Company.

Portland is also part of the bid

Jane Biscombe, town clerk at Weymouth Town Council, and Matt Ryan, town clerk at Portland Town Council, plan to write an "exciting, partnership-based" submission.

They said in a joint statement: "For that reason, our partnership working is even more crucial to secure our success.

"Come along to our open, drop-in workshops and share your experience and expertise.

"Help us expand on key areas of the bid with exciting ideas, hopes, dreams for the future, information, and evidence."

The first workshop will be on 28 May from 17:30 BST at The Council Chamber, Commercial Road, Weymouth.

The second will start at 14:00 on 5 June at Portland Community Venue, Three Yards Close, Portland.