Arts by the Sea Fringe

Arts by the Sea Fringe kicks off on Sunday 27 September and runs until Sunday 11 October, taking the creativity of the main festival into independent venues across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. It's the second edition of the Fringe, which extends the programme beyond the town centre and into the local shops, pubs and community spaces that make the area what it is.

The Fringe is powered in collaboration with We Broke Free, the South Coast independent music curators, and the line-up draws on local talent alongside established names. There's a lot to pick from: Lisa Moro's photography exhibition The Shopkeepers at 6 Old Christchurch Road, the Writing the Elements creative writing workshop, and The Future of Plastic Heritage: Toys That Outlast Trends at the AUB Marquee and Bournemouth Lower Gardens. You'll also find 10 Minutes of Creative Calm at the AUB Marquee, a community fashion show at St Mark's Church in Talbot Village, Poole, and Sam Edwards' Hearing Colours soundsystem at Patch, Bobby's. The rest of the bill brings together artist Tom Winter, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Freefall Collective, The Hide by Tilly Ingram Theatre, Breakin' Free with Pavilion Dance South West, Read by the Sea with the National Literacy Trust, and The Story Works.

It all sits under the theme 'ELEMENTAL', which frames creativity as a catalyst for positive change and encourages collective action, sustainable thinking and a deeper connection to the shared world. There's a festival Green Hub hosting local organisations and interactive activities. The Fringe is part of the wider Arts by the Sea festival, which runs from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September in Bournemouth town centre — The Square and the Lower Gardens — and is now in its 15th year. Founded by BCP Council and supported by Arts Council England, it's run in partnership with Arts University Bournemouth and brings outdoor theatre, live music, large-scale installations and pop-up creative workshops to the town. Accessibility is a priority across the board, with accessible access, accessible toilets, Changing Places facilities and ear defenders available. The whole thing is completely free and no booking is needed.