About Us

We're a team who love bringing our community together through culture. We believe in collaboration, creativity, and making sure everyone in Wimborne has a chance to be part of something special.

our manifesto

Wimborne’s story began over a thousand years ago, and this year it’s being told in a new voice. Town of Culture celebrates the traditions, festivals and landmarks that define Wimborne, while reimagining them for today. 

From Roman roads to digital murals; from folk festivals to experimental soundscapes; Wimborne blends the familiar with the unexpected. It’s about connection across generations – giving history a heartbeat and heritage a future. Wimborne becomes a town that looks back with pride and forward with imagination. 

Together, we’re rewriting the narrative through art, story and song. We celebrate what’s come before and create what comes next.

Wimborne is the Culture Catalyst.

what does it mean to be the culture catalyst?

As Dorset Town of Culture 2026, we want to be known as the Culture Catalyst. But we need your help to turn that vision into a reality. 

If you live in or around Wimborne, we want you to be part of both our culture and our community – not just in 2026, but well into the future. 

Our town’s incredible heritage doesn’t come from history books. It flows from the communities of the past who have shared stories and creative passions. They passed Wimborne’s culture forward. 

It’s time for us to do the same. 

Together we can become the next bridge between what Wimborne was, what Wimborne is and what Wimborne’s community has the imagination to become.

meet the team

  • A smiling woman with light brown hair styled in a half-updo, wearing a colorful floral jacket, sitting in a room with bookshelves, a window, and decorative objects in the background.

    emma kerr

    PROJECT MANAGER

    As a creative leader with a passion for bringing projects to life, Emma draws on a rich background in the arts, including her time at organisations like Rambert Dance Company, East London Dance and English National Ballet, to inform her strategic thinking and fundraising expertise. She’s recently been celebrating a personal highlight: her role as the award-winning Executive Producer for Cathy Waller Company, where their film This is Us has been recognised with international accolades. When she’s not busy making magic happen, you can find her supporting the arts as the Chair of Arts by the Sea Festival, an Associate Producer for MOVE IT, and a Trustee of Zoielogic Dance Theatre.

  • Close-up of a smiling man with short dark hair and blue eyes, wearing a light-colored shirt, against a plain light background.

    gary mason

    EVENTS OFFICER

    As the Events Officer, Gary oversees key civic events for the Town Council, including Remembrance Sunday, the Christmas Lights Switch-On, and New Year’s Eve celebrations. With a deep passion for the arts and community engagement, he brings meticulous attention to detail and careful planning to every project. Gary also provides valuable support to the Project Manager.

  • People sitting at a wooden table, taking notes during a meeting or discussion, with notebooks and a pen visible.

    town of culture

    STEERING GROUP

    Huge thanks go to the Town of Culture steering group, who have given their time and energy to developing the proposal that secured the Town of Culture opportunity. Members of the group are: Malcolm Angel (Gulliver’s Bookshop and Radio Wimborne), Heather Birchenough (Wimborne Model Town and Gardens), Carole Chedgy (The Allendale Centre), Sarah Dean (Kingston Lacy, the National Trust), Sarah Evans (Allendale House), Chezzie Hollow (Museum of East Dorset), Gill Horitz, Tony Horitz (Millstream Theatre), Tammy Sleet (BID), Martin Smith (Wimborne Minster), Simon Wheeler (Wimborne Folk Festival), Bruce Jensen (Wimborne Minster), and Terry Wheeler (Walford Mill).

    We are also very grateful to have representation from the following Wimborne Town Councillors: John Billington, Chris Brown, Jeff Hart, Bill Jaggs, and Simon Wheeler.

Get In Touch

WimbOrnE is dorsEt tOwn Of CulturE 2026

Being named Dorset Town of Culture 2026 gives us an unprecedented opportunity to bring our community together and introduce even more people to what makes Wimborne so special.

We are organising an exciting programme of events that will span the whole of the year. Our dream is that the collaborations and connections we all make over the coming months will lead to a more connected and creative community in and around Wimborne for years to come. 

We see culture as art, performance, music, sport, heritage and leisure activities. It doesn’t fit neatly into one category. Much like the two rivers that meet in Wimborne, culture is a confluence of ideas and activities, all carried forward by our community.

That’s why we want you to help shape our year of culture by coming along to events, volunteering to support activities and perhaps even running your own sessions. 

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