New £1,000 Platform Artist Bursary Launches for Dorset Artists in 2026
New £1,000 Platform Artist Bursary Launches for Dorset Artists in 2026
Artists living and working in Dorset are being invited to apply for a new professional development opportunity, as b-side and Dorset Visual Arts (DVA), in partnership with Visual Arts South West (VASW), launch the Platform Artist Bursary 2026.
Designed for both emerging and established artists, the Platform Bursary offers £1,000 in funding alongside tailored mentoring support, giving artists time and space to pause, reflect and explore new directions in their practice. The programme is open to Dorset-based practitioners across all visual art forms who are ready to experiment, evolve or take their work somewhere new.
Successful applicants will receive a comprehensive package of support, including a £1,000 bursary, dedicated mentoring from b-side and Dorset Visual Arts, and a 90-minute mentoring session with a VASW Director. Artists will also be featured on the VASW Practice in Place blog, gain a free one-year Dorset Visual Arts membership, and may have the opportunity to develop work for the 2026 b-side Festival.
The bursary is intended to support creative development rather than finished outcomes, encouraging artists to test ideas, rethink approaches, or investigate new methods and contexts for their work.
How to apply
Applicants are asked to submit a single PDF (labelled with their name) containing:
- A short summary of themselves and their practice (maximum 300 words)
- An explanation of how the bursary would support their development
- Ideas they would like to explore or evolve
- Up to 10 images or links to previous work
The deadline for applications is 31 January 2026.
Artists interested in investing in their practice and taking the next step in their creative journey can find full details and application information at:
The Platform Artist Bursary 2026 reflects a shared commitment by b-side, Dorset Visual Arts and Visual Arts South West to nurture artistic talent in the region and support sustainable, ambitious creative practices.