b-side
Portland
This island is the beating heart that inspires b-side’s work, but our projects
and opportunities extend all over Dorset and beyond. We work with and commission
artists who are as excited by the bigger picture as the smallest detail. Our
current ‘Common Lands’ programme regards Portland as a microcosm to explore
relationships to and with land. We invite artists, residents, and researchers to
create unique and inventive projects inspired by the themes of ‘people’ and
‘place’. We host big discussions on topics that affect us both locally and
globally and create art that exists in unusual and unexpected places.
Underpinning our approach is the recognition of the need for sustainable
tourism. We want everyone to be able to experience everything we love about
Portland in a way that respects and benefits the island and those who live and
work there. Every two years, we produce the b-side festival, which brings new,
unique art to local audiences and visitors alike, sharing incredible stories
about and with the Isle of Portland, as well as the rest of the world. b-side is
run by a collaborative team of artists, producers and curators with experience
in visual arts, live art, performance, social practice, heritage, environment
and arts education. In 2012, we were awarded funding from Arts Council England
to become a National Portfolio Organisation.