Lecture

Real Dorset | Jon Woolcot

19 October 2023, 7:00pm - 8:30pm

In this lecture, let Jon Woolcot take you on an amusing whistle-stop tour through some of the discoveries and oddities that make Dorset unique.

Jon’s recently published book Real Dorset (Seren Books, 2023) is a personal, detailed, discursive, humorous, and idiosyncratic look at Dorset. The county is famous for its spectacular coastline, 19its historic towns, its eco-foodie reputation, and for Hardy and Fowles. But there’s much more behind the tourist-friendly façade – subversion, rebellion and revolt, wealth and poverty, ghost stories, and rich folklore. Its history can surprise – from the murky origins of the Cerne Abbas Giant to the revived pagan ritual of the Filly Loo.

Jon Woolcott is a writer and publisher, who has lived in Dorset for 14 years, and grew up nearby in southern Wiltshire. He currently works for the acclaimed independent publisher, Little Toller, where he also edits The Clearing, the online journal for new writing about place and nature. His writing, which often focuses on Dorset, has appeared widely, including for_ The _Guardian, Caught by the River, The Bookseller, Sightly Foxed, Echtrai Journal, and History Press.

Important Announcement

On Friday 2nd June 2023 the cafe TASTE at Dorset Museum cafe will be closed from 2pm
for a private function.


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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CANCELLED

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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Tours

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

Roman Town House Tours

A guided tour of one of the best examples of a Roman Town House in England.

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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.

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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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Tours

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

Roman Town House Tours

A guided tour of one of the best examples of a Roman Town House in England.

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Tours

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

Roman Town House Tours

A guided tour of one of the best examples of a Roman Town House in England.

Find out more