Artsreach is set to launch its summer programme of activities for children on July 28.

There’s something for everyone to get stuck into this summer including circus skills, outdoor adventures, film-making, crafts, storytelling, audio adventures and more taking place in 14 rural communities across Dorset.

Go on a Wild Adventure with Dorset Forest Schools in Buckland Newton and Broadmayne in a session packed with adventures and activities including nature- craft skills, games, challenges and even campfire cooking. Parents and toddlers can enjoy a fun-filled session of minibeast-themed arts, crafts, songs, storytelling and cooking with Kathy Kelly’s Fiddlesticks at Sturminster Newton.

Dorset Youth Dance Director Claire Benson explores climate change, plastic pollution and the impact it has on the planet through dance and puppetry, making moving props such as fish from recycled materials before learning moves from the new touring show Plastic Paradiso.

Budding artists and makers have plenty to turn their hands to, with local artist Fran Quinlan leading a Wild Withy session, creating giant structures out of willow inspired by seed pods, flowers, cones, vegetables and fruits at Halstock. 3D sculptor Darrell Wakelam returns this summer to bring to life Wildlife on the Edge at Morden and Sturminster Newton, making fantastic 3D tiger scenes from cardboard, papier mache and other recycled materials. Dorset maker Sarah Butterworth leads two sessions this summer; Printing from Nature, creating colourful prints using local ferns, hazel, oak, sycamore, grasses and flower leaves in Child Okeford, and Paint like a Caveman at Sandford Orcas and Sturminster Marshall, using stones to grind local soils into coloured powder paints, then making caveman paintings using natural materials such as twigs and grasses.

Treehouse Theatre head to Yetminster to offer an exciting and interactive hour of making music, dressing up, singing songs and creating stories in Sally & The Limpet and Abbie Thommes and Laurie Newman present a storytelling and craft session, Jessie The Jellyfish. Kevin Burke invites you to join the Secret Circus in Yetminster and Sturminster Newton; learn a variety of circus skills including juggling with clubs, rings, balls and scarves, diabolo, flowerstick, stuntsticks, plate spinning, stilts, poi and rolla bolla!

Pageant Productions offer a fun and engaging Stop-Motion Animation workshop in Halstock and Blandford, for children who want to create their very own short film; constructing sets, creating scenes and using props to capture an original story.

Workshops have limited places and often sell out. Go to artsreach.co.uk to book.

Support Us

Thank you all so, so much for the love and appreciation you’ve shown us since we launched the New Blackmore Vale.

Please show your support and add a review on our Facebook page or on Google.