Small and packs a punch - Bridport Arts Centre’s new season brochure is out and it’s a smaller redesigned one, packed with great entertainment.  This cultural hub has live theatre and music plus dance, films and exhibitions.
 
Launching with a film night about African music, Beats Of The Heart, on Tuesday 15 January, it includes two documentaries, one of which features music by Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

There’s more world music with the Askew & Avis concert on Saturday 26 January.   Described as vocal loop gurus, vocalists Rebecca Askew and Jeremy Avis are joining forces with Gambian kora player and percussionist Sura Susso of the Sekou Keita Quartet. 

Throughout February, the Arts Centre is hosting an exhibition of art celebrating the ancient Yoruba culture, curated by Olalekan Babalola. Sixteen Pieces includes work by artists from Africa, Europe, North and South America.  On Sunday 10 February there is a chance for all the family to join Olalekan for a tour of this unusual and vibrant exhibition.
 
Another important exhibition later in the season is A Dorset Trail, which is the hub of a countywide celebration of Fra H Newbery’s life and work. Arts Centre Director, Lindsay Brooks said, “Francis, known as Fra, Newbery helped bring Charles Rennie Mackintosh and many other well-known artists to public recognition.  He was also a talented painter in his own right.”
 
As well as the high-profile performances and exhibitions each season, the Arts Centre also organises a range of workshops both at the venue and in the local community.  This spring there are some exciting projects taking place.
 
Lindsay said, “We are very pleased to be supporting The Sir John Colfox School in the teaching of their new BTEC Performing Arts course. In February we will be organising a Behind The Scenes Day for over seventy students, including talks by staff members and backstage tours.  The students will also attend a music workshop led by Boka Halat before attending (and maybe performing in) their evening concert on Thursday 7 February.
 
And in March we are organising a residency with integrated theatre company No Limits, who are performing their new piece The Winged State at 2pm on Thursday 13 March. 
 
The company includes actors with physical disabilities and learning difficulties and will be leading workshops prior to the performance with groups including Mountjoy School in Bridport.”
 
Towards the end of the season, classical music gets a look in with a concert by Kokoro, the contemporary music ensemble of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.  Lindsay added, “The programme includes ‘Duo’ by Bridport resident Francis Silkstone.”
 
For full details of the new season, bookings and to order the new season’s brochure, call the arts centre on 01308 424204 and also by going online at www.bridport-arts.com.