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Bridport Arts Centre in
South Street is the cultural hub of the town. Its theatre and gallery
have been running since the 1970s and draw audiences from around
the county. You’ll find a packed programme of drama, music,
dance and visual art throughout the year as well as  workshops
and events for young and old. The Arts Centre has made the town’s
name well known to writers across the world by awarding the annual
Bridport Prize for a short story and poem, attracting thousands
of entries. The Bridport Literary Festival, featuring many well
known writers, is also organised to coincide with the award each
year. The Arts Centre’s newest festival is From Page to Screen:
a film festival celebrating book adaptations. Taking place at Easter
every year, the festival attracts screen writers, film directors
and authors to discuss their craft alongside film screenings. Bridport
Arts Centre’s programme of performances and exhibitions can
be found at www.bridport-arts.com.
The Arts Centre is the venue for the Farmers Market held on the
second Saturday of each month.
Bridport Museum in
South Street was donated to the town in 1931 by Captain Codd. He
stipulated that the building, then known as the Old Castle, should
be used as a museum and art gallery. Captain Codd was a keen amateur
artist and the museum holds a collection of his paintings.
The museum opened to the public in 1932. In 2000 the building was
refurbished and in 2002 after many years of ownership by West Dorset
District Council the building and its collections were transferred
to the Bridport Museum Trust.
The museum tells the story of the town’s history from Saxon
times to the present day. It displays a variety of artefacts with
local connections, including Roman finds from Waddon Hill and items
relating to the town’s unique rope and net industry. Temporary
displays of paintings, photographs, Doctor Robert’s cure-all,
dolls and other thematic displays also reflect Bridport past and
present.
The Museum archives are kept at The Coach House in Gundry Lane,
which also houses the Local History Centre.
The Electric Palace in
South Street was built as a cinema in 1926 decorated proudly with
beautiful hand painted murals and terrazzo flooring. The original
murals, old fashioned ticket booth and ice-cream style lights all
still decorate the building.  After
a period of closure, the Electric Palace reopened in 2008 and has
become a very popular live entertainment venue with its mixed and
broad programme including regular comedy and music events. It has
also been chosen to host Gala screenings and premieres by notable
British Directors and writers.
Art Bridport has a
well-established artistic community. In particular, around St Michael’s
Lane there are many studios and craft workshops, with a wealth of
artists, carpenters, masons, upholsterers, designers, performers
and sign-writers. The distinctive long, redbrick Edwards building,
formerly at the centre of the rope-making industry, is now full
of artists’ studios and holds frequent exhibitions. Artists
in the building and throughout the town open their businesses to
the public for Bridport Open Studios and Dorset Arts Weeks. The
St Michael’s monthly Sunday morning vintage event is popular
with browsers seeking a bargain in the workshops holding a wealth
of antique and retro household goods. The cultural renaissance occurring
here has led to the area being dubbed the Artistic and Vintage Quarter
of Bridport. Artist studios are also to be found in West Bay.
Bridport Leisure
Centre is situated on the
southern outskirts of the town in Brewery Fields off Skilling Hill
Road. It is administered by the Bridport and West Dorset Sports
Trust.
The Centre offers a wide range of recreational facilities and activities
for all ages. There is a multi-purpose sports hall, a 25 metre 6
lane swimming pool and a 12 metre teaching pool.
The fitness suite has a range of cardiovascular and weight resistant
equipment and there is an exercise referral scheme run in consultation
with local medical practices.
Bridport and West Bay
has a number of open spaces maintained by the Town Council such
as Asker Meadows, St Mary’s and Plottingham Playing Fields,
and the “hidden gem” of the Millennium Green (the grounds
of Mountfield) leading to Coneygar Hill. The locations are shown
on the map in this guide. There are also a number of play areas
throughout the area.
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