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Sandy Hill Arts

Tony Viney Open Art Award 2026

The Tony Viney Open Art Award Exhibition 2026 – new deadline!

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Tony Viney
Tony Viney

We are delighted to launch our inaugural Tony Viney Open Art Award with an exhibition and prizes later in the Spring. Tony Viney, as many of you will know, was the inspirational driving force behind much of Purbeck’s art infrastructure, and founded Sandy Hill Arts after saving the site from development.

This Open Call welcomes all Visual Artists who live and work in Dorset. Whether you’re emerging, mid-career, or established, don’t let the deadline pass you by – apply, connect, and put your work out there now as part of Dorset’s thriving artist community. Dorset artists are invited to participate through this, the first of our annual open call competitions dedicated to discovering emerging voices and prompting critical engagement and artistic growth. We aim to create an platform where artists at any stage of their career can showcase their work, share their perspectives, and engage with a supportive art community.

Some 30 artists will be selected to show one piece of work during the exhibition. The judges will award a main prize of £250, and two smaller prizes of £75. Everyone accepted is a finalist, with a final shortlist for prizes.

See link for submission details – applications must be received by 29/3/26.

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A live performance from Youthsayers supported by the Grassroots Music grant

Grassroots Music grant awarded to Sandy Hill Arts

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We are over the moon to announce that the Arts Council England (ACE) have awarded us £29,415 to enable exciting, diverse and sometimes experimental top quality musicians from the UK and beyond to perform at Sandy Hill Arts. This second ACE Grassroots Music funding will provide workshops for schools and young musicians in Dorset by connecting them with talented mentors such as the “Soothsayers” and the “Sound Of Movement”. We will also provide a platform for local musicians to perform their work, and equipment, marquee flooring, lighting and more c/o this grant funding.

SANDY HILL ARTS would like to thank the ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND for its transformative grant funding that will enable us to continue to bring the people of Purbeck new and ground breaking musical acts and workshops. The local community have provided us with some wonderful feedback and we are very pleased to announce the continuation of our diverse and inspirational music programming here.

Past memorable gigs have included: Alabaster DePlume, Sahra, Saied Silbak, Fran and Flora, Skylla, Pete Wareham, The Soothsayers, The Youthsayers, The IyatraQuartet, Alice Zawadski and many more. Some of our performers have gone onto win prestigious national awards after performing at Sandy Hill Arts. You saw them here first! You may have also read about this in the SWANAGE NEWS (click on this link to read the article!)

Keep joining us and please keep your eyes on our socials and website for tickets. Next up: Beth Orton on 20th September, and our wonderful weekend with ACTIVATE’s INSIDE OUT festival LIVE at Sandy Hill Arts on the 20 and 21 September; truly creative and unusual. Read more about Inside Out at Sandy Hill Arts by clicking on this LINK.

The title pic is of the Youthsayers with the Soothsayers on stage (above) in July. We also had Alabaster DePlume, Ruth Goller and Seb Rochford on stage (below) during our POETRY WEEKEND with help from our ACE Grassroots Music grant. Incredible stuff!

We are also tremendously grateful for the grant funding given to us by the highly prestigious T S Eliot Foundation that enabled us to bring some brilliant national poets to Sandy Hill, provide free readings for all, and cut price workshops! Among these were Cecilia Knapp, Ella Frears, Francesca Martinez, Jen Feroze and many more.  The T S Eliot Foundation are providing some grant funding for our POETRY WEEKEND for its first three years. We are aiming high and want you to join us here so please, come visit, take a course, hear a gig, sit on a bench and listen and look and meet us here.

Seb Rochford, Ruth Goller and Alabaster DePlume performing at Sandy Hill Arts - a live performance supported financially by the Grassroots Music grant
Seb Rochford, Ruth Goller and Alabaster DePlume performing at Sandy Hill Arts – a live performance supported financially by the Grassroots Music grant

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Sandy Hill Arts presents a sound and light installation with workshops led by the brilliant sound artist Ezra Gray and film artist Giles Bennett

Culture in Dorset

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Sandy Hill Arts are very proud to be featured in the Arts Development Company’s round up of Culture in Dorset 2024. It’s a lovely profile of us, with some stunning pics and a wonderful short film about Sandy Hill Arts created by film students at the AUB. Not least it is a special tribute to our late founder Tony Viney who is the reason Sandy Hill Arts exists. Thank you Arts Development Company! You can read the piece and see the film here.

Furthermore, Sandy Hill Arts are delighted to announce that we have been awarded £3563 by the Dorset Council Community and Culture Fund 8 for a forthcoming sound and light installation with workshops led by the brilliant sound artist Ezra Gray and  film artist Giles Bennett on the 26th April. Keep an eye on our website for more information about this two day event. In situ, on our stunning site, this will be a truly magical and memorable experience.

Sandy Hill Arts is featured in Culture in Dorset 2024
Sandy Hill Arts is featured in Culture in Dorset 2024
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fran-and-flora-sandy-hill-arts

Sandy Hill acts feature in Guardian Top Ten of the year

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This year two of the music acts we’ve brought to Sandy Hill Arts have made it into The Guardian’s TOP TEN of 2024.

Alice Zawadski who, with Fred Thomas and Misha Mullov-Abbado, played the first gig of their tour here. Her album Za Gorami has been selected as one of The Guardian Top Ten Jazz albums 2024.

In addition, Fran and Flora, who played here in May during the tour for their new album Precious Collection, have been selected for The Guardian Top Ten Folk albums 2024. Fran Ter-berg will also be on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Add to Playlist’ programme (aired three times over Christmas).

Both acts merge the boundaries of folk, jazz and classical and all are top rate musicians. You saw them here first!

We continue to host local and national top quality poets, musicians, artists and more at Sandy Hill Arts. We always try to bring you something creative and unique, as you will have come to expect. We want to nourish and inspire our audiences. In 2025 we have some truly exciting national and international talent in store. Keep an eye open, and please come and see us!

Warm festive wishes to you from us all at Sandy Hill Arts,

(Melissa Viney)

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Sayoko Takahata at Sandy Hill Arts

Sayoko Takahata at Sandy Hill Arts

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Sandy Hill Arts hosted a fascinating talk by AUB PhD Painting student Sayoko Takahata on 23rd October.

Sayoko held her audience rapt while she explained the Japanese concept of ‘Ma,’ or the space in between things, and how this has informed her work. The talk was the culmination of a month long residency that Sayoko held at Sandy Hill Arts where she worked outside, among the natural environment on site and in nearby countryside.

Of her studies Sayoko who is a part of the AUB Drawing Research Group writes:

“My PhD research investigates how contemporary painting practice informed by the Post-Impressionist movement of Pointillism can represent the presence of absence: the Japanese cultural concept of “Ma (間)”. “Ma” means gaps, intervals and void between something in terms of time and space… This research purposes to bridge the Western and Eastern perspectives on the presence of absence.”

She gave extremely positive feedback with regard to her experiences at Sandy Hill Arts :

“I found Sandy Hill Arts very supportive for my art residency as part of my painting practice-based research in a PhD at Art University Bournemouth. Because of their arrangement of my residency and their understanding of artists’ perspectives, I was able to focus on my field practice based on the studio space in Sandy Hill. Conversations with the artist members in various disciplines were also inspiring and encouraging to conduct my practice. Their assistance significantly prompted me to develop my practice and investigations of the research theme, the Japanese concept of “Ma”. I shared the residency outcomes, collected information of my sensory experiences through drawing in nature of Purbeck, with the members and local artists in my exhibition and talk hosted by Sandy Hill Arts. It was an amazing opportunity for me to consider my research, interact with the local artist community and exchange ideas. I hope that my research helps their creative practice. Thank you very much to Sandy Hill Arts for your wonderful assistance.”

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Luke Wright appears at the Poetry & Comedy weekend at Sandy Hill Arts funded by a grant from the Old Possum’s Practical Trust

T S Eliot Foundation ‘Old Possum’s Practical Trust’ Grant

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Sandy Hill Arts is delighted to announce we have received a £2,000 grant from The T S Eliot Foundation, ‘Old Possum’s Practical Trust’ towards our forthcoming POETRY WEEKEND + COMEDY on Saturday 31st August – Sunday 1st September. This generous grant has enabled us to provide ALL our readings completely FREE of charge.

Please come and dip into a wealth of creativity and opportunity: listen to established, award winning and emerging poets, sign up for a workshop from the masters Caroline Bird and Esther Morgan for only £10 (thanks to our grant), and book tickets for our comedy gold double bill Luke Wright and Elvis McGonagall (book early! £15). Please join us and try something out, even give the poetry open mic a go…  There will be food and a bar all weekend. Click here for Event and Booking details.

With many grateful thanks to Old Possum’s Practical Trust

Melissa Viney

You can book tickets for the Luke Wright/Elvis McGonagall performance, and the poetry workshops here.

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Mark Rylance at Sandy Hill Arts

An Evening with Mark Rylance at Sandy Hill Arts

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Last Thursday 6th June was extraordinary. Sir Mark Rylance entranced our audience for nearly two hours. He told us about the way he works, the way he thinks and he showed us the way he is : brilliant, warm, funny, engaging and most of all generous of spirit. This was a charity fundraiser event and his support for Sandy Hill Arts is hugely appreciated. It was unforgettable.*
Thank you all for coming! Please come on by again soon, drop in for a wander and a pause from life outside in our little green oasis. Meet the artists, savour the site, take part in a class, and attend one of the wonderful events in our beautiful marquee.
Coming up are the Summer Solstice Festival Weekend 20-22 June, that will coincide with the Arts University Bournemouth MA painting exhibition, right here at SHA., a unique improvisation workshop with the hugely creative ‘Sound Of Movement’ collective from London, followed by an evening gig – not to be missed on 27 July.
Look out too for the energy of Thokozile jazz/afro-beat band on 3rd August, and, please, come and hear world class poets and comedians at our Poetry Weekend on 31 August.
Since we began not that long ago Sandy Hill Arts (SHA) has punched above its weight, drawing in extraordinary talent: Fran and Flora, Dylan Moran, Iyatra Quartet, John Hegley, The Soothsayers, Elvis McGonagall and more. You all, as our community are part of this. Sandy Hill Arts as you know has a magic about it,  I don’t want to get too whimsical but you know what I mean.  Sandy Hill Arts is the place to be, the place to create, and is something rather unique and unusual that we hope you’ll become more a part of as the weeks, months and years progress.
Melissa Viney
Chair of the Trustees
Sandy Hill Arts
(* PS: for those lucky enough to attend our Mark Rylance evening, please could we ask that you kindly refrain from posting any videos of the event on social media – thank you very much)

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Tony Viney

Tony Viney

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Toney Viney at work at Sandy Hill Arts
Toney Viney at work at Sandy Hill Arts

We are sad to announce that Tony Viney passed away on Friday 16th February.

Tony was a huge presence in the local arts and music scene and was responsible for setting up, and running, many of the local arts organisations and projects. He was also of course a founder member of the  Boilerhouse Gallery and the reason Sandy Hill Arts exists – his generosity and foresight securing the Sandy Hill Studios site to ensure the arts had a base and a long future in Purbeck.

He will be much missed, and our thoughts are with his family – who continue to support the arts across Purbeck and beyond.

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Sandy Hill Arts Receives Substantial Funding Boost from Dorset Council

Sandy Hill Arts awarded Dorset Council Fund for Culture grant

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Sandy Hill Arts is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a grant from the Dorset Council Organisational Revenue Support Fund for Culture. The fund, designed to support arts and heritage organisations and accredited museums, has allocated a total of £486,000 to 28 organisations over the next three years, including the Mowlem and Artsreach.

Laurel Hart, Artistic Director of Sandy Hill Arts, expressed gratitude for the support, saying,

“The Fund for Culture award is a big step forward for Sandy Hill Arts, helping us to achieve our goals by securing a sustainable employment model that enables us to develop and deliver over the next three years.

With Dorset Council’s financial backing, we’re excited to develop more innovative and inspiring creative experiences and opportunities for people of all ages and needs in Purbeck.

We’ll be working in partnership with other organisations to reach under-engaged audiences and deepen our community engagement, with an aim to combat rural isolation so that our community not only benefits from creative enrichment but also enhanced wellbeing.

We’re excited to kick off this year’s programme with a wellbeing workshop on Saturday 27th January and will be running more wellbeing activities across the year.

We will be hosting more exciting events, exhibitions and workshops too – from macrame to printmaking – as well as free activities for families and young children like our nature trails and art activities as well as our Arty Bazaars. Do keep a lookout on our website for our winter/spring programme.

We are grateful to the council for recognising Sandy Hill Art’s value in developing the arts in Purbeck and look forward to working with creatives and the wider community over the year ahead. Get in touch with us if you’re interested in getting involved!”

You can read more about the grant recipients here and in Swanage News coverage. 

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Performance at the Sandy Hill Arts Marquee

Exploring the Wonders of Sandy Hill Arts

This article about Sandy Hill Arts first appeared in Love it Local’s December publication.

Nestled in the Purbeck Hills in Corfe Castle, Sandy Hill Arts (SHA) is a vibrant hub of artistic exploration and creativity that has been shaping the local art scene – both visual and performing. Home to twenty artist studios and the Boilerhouse Gallery, it’s a place where art lovers, creators and communities can come together to celebrate their passion and thrive.
Earlier in the summer, Sandy Hill Arts secured £28,129 from the Arts Council England National Lottery fund to develop their grassroots music wing, paving the way for a series of exciting music events, showcasing a rich tapestry of sounds and talent – from the mesmerising iyatraQuartet to the reggae-influenced and Afro-beat band Soothsayers. Running alongside these events is a range of community projects designed to support and nurture local talent, giving local people spaces to perform and develop their confidence.
Laurel Hart, the Artistic Director of Sandy Hill Arts, summed up the year: “2023 has been a truly remarkable year for us. We’ve laughed, danced, and been moved by the extraordinary performances and talent we’ve hosted. We’ve begun to generate a real musical presence in Purbeck and attracted an array of performers, with more on the horizon next year. In September, we were delighted to host a sold-out comedy gig with comedian and actor Dylan Moran, entertaining over 170 people. We’ve also hosted more intimate performances like ‘Hopefool’ – a play brought to life by refugees showing audiences a glimpse of what it means to become a refugee. It’s been a privilege being able to give a platform to storytellers, enriching our community with diverse art forms.”
Sandy Hill Arts is best known for its visual arts, workshops and courses, spanning painting, life-drawing, raku, wood carving, and much more. “This year we’ve been fortunate enough to have activities led by talented artists like Royal Drawing School Tutor Charlotte Mann and renowned local artist Heather Gibbons, which left us inspired and eager for more. We also ran a transformative wellbeing project using art, creativity and our serene, natural setting to help participants with their mental wellbeing. We plan to do more of this next year.”
“Sandy Hill Arts is a wonderful place to be all year round – we’re on the lookout for new volunteers to support our 2024 programme so if you’re looking for ways to get involved in the arts and your community, do get in touch us with at info@sandyhillarts.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you.”
SHA will be hosting a Christmas event for all the family on the 9 December – keep an eye on their website for more info.
 
Sandy Hill Arts is a collaborative arts organisation dedicated to promoting the arts in Purbeck. Through a diverse range of programming, including music, performing arts, exhibitions, workshops, and outreach initiatives, Sandy Hill Arts strives to enrich the local artistic landscape and engage audiences of all ages and backgrounds. You can find SHA next to the Corfe Railway station, on Sandy Hill Lane. 
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