Bournemouth and Poole College has teamed up with Poole Museum to launch the 12th Dorset Art Prize, inviting Dorset residents aged 16 and over to submit work on the theme Metamorphosis ahead of the Sunday 14 June deadline. Entry is free and artists can work in any medium—from photography and digital art to animation, film and sculpture—with prizes of up to £1,000 in both the 16–18 and 18-plus age categories. Stuart Palmer, Director of Creative, Digital, Tech and Service Industries at the college, said: “We’re so excited to partner with Poole Museum, which is a true treasure in our community.”
Shortlisted pieces will be shown in a public exhibition at Poole Museum from 2 to 14 July 2026, giving local talent a platform inside the recently revamped landmark. The competition, first set up with the Dorset Community Foundation Trust, is backed by BCP Council and The Dorset Chamber this year. Jaine Fitzpatrick, Interim Director at Poole Museum, stressed the venue’s enthusiasm for celebrating creativity at every level, whether from internationally known names or emerging local artists.
The museum itself reopened in November 2025 after a £10 million transformation that added six new galleries and conserved historic buildings including Scaplen’s Court, a medieval merchant’s house with a walled garden and café run by Salt Pig. The partnership ties the college’s mission to connect education, community and culture directly to the museum’s renewed role as a creative hub, offering entrants a chance to have their work seen in a space that is quickly becoming a focal point for the town’s cultural life.
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