Artists and Organisations Gather at AUB for Key Conversation with MP Jessica Toale
Today, artists and arts organisations from Bournemouth and the surrounding area gathered at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) for an important conversation with Jessica Toale, MP for Bournemouth West. The session provided a valuable opportunity for the local visual arts community to share their perspectives directly with a parliamentary representative deeply engaged in cultural policy.
The discussion centred on the challenges currently facing grassroots arts organisations and independent practitioners across the region. Participants highlighted the urgent need to remove systemic barriers that limit opportunity and growth, particularly for emerging and marginalised voices.
Access to affordable, flexible “meanwhile” spaces for exhibitions, studios, and events was raised as a top priority, alongside calls to strengthen regional networks and foster more sustainable collaboration between existing arts organisations.
The event, hosted in partnership with AUB, served as both a listening exercise and a platform for shared ambition - affirming the crucial role that artists and cultural workers play in the life of Bournemouth and beyond. Jessica Toale expressed her commitment to continuing dialogue with the arts sector and recognised the importance of supporting infrastructure that allows creativity to thrive at all levels.
We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the conversation -from visual artists and curators to cultural producers and community leaders. Your insights are vital in shaping a more connected, inclusive, and resilient arts ecology for the region.
This conversation marks an important step forward, and we look forward to continuing the dialogue in the months ahead.
