Welcome

Dorset Museum Building

Welcome to Dorset Museum, a place to connect with
250 million years of Dorset’s history.

We invite people from everywhere to discover and enjoy the richness of our county’s natural, historical and cultural heritage through our world-class collections.

We believe everybody will find something here to interest, fascinate, or inspire them. We hope it will ignite you with an appreciation of our county and a desire to explore it.

About the Museum

Dorset Museum is cared for by the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, an educational charity and custodians of four million objects in the Museum’s collection.

Kids Go Free

  • Opening hours:

    Daily: 9.00am - 4.30pm
    Sunday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
    Bank Holidays: 10.00am - 4.00pm

  • Admissions:

    10% discount for Annual Pass or Day Entry booked online using discount code DM01

    Book now
  • Dorset Museum

    High West Street
    Dorchester DT1 1XA

    View Map


https://www.dorsetmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Under-26s-Go-Free.jpg

Under 26-year-olds FREE Museum entry at weekends during the ARTIST ROOMS Louise Bourgeois exhibition from 22 March – 25 June 2023.

Exhibitions

Community Exhibition

18 February - 22 June 2023

The Art of Seeing: An exhibition of photographs by Dorchester Camera Club

The Club is delighted to have this opportunity to exhibit some of their members’ prints in the Dorset Museum together with an audio-visual presentation.

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Special Exhibition

22 March - 25 June 2023

ARTIST ROOMS Louise Bourgeois

Explore the work of Louise Bourgeois (1911–2010), one of the most important figures of modern and contemporary art. This spring Dorset Museum will show a major presentation of her work in this ARTIST ROOMS touring exhibition featuring works jointly owned by Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland.

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Special Display

29 March - 9 July 2023

PJ Harvey – Orlam

Dorset Museum is now displaying an archive of material relating to PJ Harvey’s verse novel Orlam.

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Family Activity

30 May 2023, 10:00am-12:00noon

Louise Bourgeois’ Weaving | ArtyFacts

Help us to create a wonderful woven installation in our Sculpture Courtyard inspired by spider's webs and the artworks of Louise Bourgeois.

Find out more

After-hours relaxed opening

30 May 2023, 4:30pm - 6:00pm

FREE | After hours relaxed opening

Visitors can explore Dorset Museum during this relaxed opening for children with neurodiverse conditions and other sensory processing difficulties. Explore the exhibition and galleries with sound levels at a minimum and screens turned off. There will also be light-touch activities in the Learning Centre.

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ArtyFacts Workshop

1 June 2023, 10:00am-12:00noon

Louise Bourgeois’ Weaving | ArtyFacts

Help us to create a wonderful woven installation in our Sculpture Courtyard inspired by spider's webs and the artworks of Louise Bourgeois.

Find out more

Adult Workshop

3 June 2023, 10:00am - 1:00pm

Louise Bourgeois | Drawing and Printmaking Workshop

Explore some of the themes and techniques in the Artist Rooms: Louise Bourgeois exhibition with fine art practitioners from Dorset Museum

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ArtyFacts Workshop

4 June 2023, 10:00am-12:00noon

Louise Bourgeois’ Weaving | ArtyFacts

Help us to create a wonderful woven installation in our Sculpture Courtyard inspired by spider's webs and the artworks of Louise Bourgeois.

Find out more

FULLY BOOKED

4 June 2023, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Dorchester Through the Lens of Thomas Hardy | Mark Chutter

Join Mark Chutter, Chairman and Academic Director of the Thomas Hardy Society, to explore how Hardy presents the town of Dorchester in his writing.

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Galleries

Venue Hire

Victorian-Hall-Wedding

Dorset Museum is the perfect venue to hold any corporate or private events. Offering exclusive hire the wonderful spaces and facilities we can create the perfect setting tailored directly to your needs.

The committed bookings and events team are highly experienced in managing and holding a variety of events, from small conferences to evening parties, and are available to assist with any queries you may have.

News

April 13, 2023

Dorset Museum appoints new Executive Director

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society are delighted to announce it has appointed Claire Dixon as its new Executive Director. Claire is currently Director of…

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Literature

March 28, 2023

Items gifted by singer-songwriter PJ Harvey go on display at Dorset Museum

An archive of items gifted to Dorset Museum by PJ Harvey on the publication of her Dorset dialect poem Orlam, has gone on display.

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News

March 20, 2023

Dorset Museum to take part in Athelhampton Attic and Charity sale this Saturday

Dorset Museum is one of two charities taking part in an ‘Attic and Charity auction’ at Athelhampton House this coming Saturday 25 March from 2:00pm.

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News

March 16, 2023

Dorset Museum acquires rare gold and rock crystal pendant dating to the 6th or 7th century

Dorset Museum is delighted to announce that it has acquired a rare gold and rock crystal pendant dating to the 6th or 7th century…

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Projects

March 6, 2023

This is Now!

Working in partnership with Weymouth College and The Friendly Society of Artistic Labourers,’ This is Now’ explores Dorset Museum’s collection and looks at how creative…

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News

February 8, 2023

Free Wedding Fair at Dorset Museum this March

To help couples plan their forthcoming nuptials, the Museum is holding its Spring Wedding Fair on Sunday 5 March 2023, from 11:00…

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News

February 7, 2023

The Art of Seeing: An exhibition of photographs by Dorchester Camera Club

One Step Closer to Heaven by Tony Gill Dorchester Camera Club is presenting its The Art of Seeing exhibition at the Dorset Museum in Dorchester from…

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News

February 6, 2023

Dorset Museum to reunite Gainsborough husband and wife portraits

Portraits of Elizabeth and John Bragge by Thomas Gainsborough Dorset Museum is delighted to announce that it has taken guardianship of A Portrait of Elizabeth Bragge by…

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News

January 30, 2023

Dorset Museum celebrates winning four awards at Dorset Tourism Awards, including Gold for Accessible tourism

Staff and volunteers are celebrating after picking up four trophies at the 10th Dorset Tourism Awards held at the Tank Museum in Bovington last…

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