Projects

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 practitioners learn from and are inspired by, the museum artifacts. And in turn, how contemporary creative responses breathe new life into the museum’s collection.

This is the fourth gathering of the Friendly Society of Artistic Labourers (FSAL). Devised as a form of radical work experience, This is Now is a research-led project that involves all students across all the creative arts at Weymouth College.

The project has included dedicated research time at the Dorset Museum and the production of new work, that will be made over a period of two weeks at Weymouth College and exhibited and performed at the Dorset Museum on Friday 24th March 2023.

Alongside the research and creative production students contributed to all aspects of the project including; exhibition planning, working with project partners, marketing, press and promotion, documentation, and evaluation.

As with previous iterations, FSAL students worked in groups to develop projects supported by Weymouth College staff members. There are ‘pioneer’ groups consisting of student representatives from each course. This group made key strategic decisions relating to the direction of the project and were representatives of the rest of the participating students.

Alongside project leader Simon Lee Dicker, other professional artists with a background in working in a museum and heritage context were invited to deliver presentations and workshops.