The Octagon Theatre

We love the diversity of creative and cultural experiences that people living in Somerset can engage with, and we’re proud that Somerset has such a broad range of conventional and unconventional spaces to share, present & exhibit work.

We want to support all forms of creative practice whether that’s art & craft, circus, dance, film, music, opera, photography, poetry, puppetry, sculpture, song, storytelling, theatre, or another art form.

Whether you’ve just started out or been around the block more times than you care to admit, we’re here to support you. With programmes including: 

Masterclasses with…

Our series of masterclasses with, are professional skill workshops designed to support artists upkeep and develop skills and talents. Throughout the year we offer multiple masterclasses that offer a range of opportunities across different art forms. These masterclasses are led by leading professionals, west-end performers and world-class practitioners.

The Fundamentals of Producing

‘The Fundamentals’ are a series of workshops designed for artists to develop their self-producing skills in theatre and support career development. These workshops are led by Anthony Kosky (Freelance Producer and Arts Engagement and Outreach Officer at The Octagon & Westlands). These workshops aim to support individual artists and companies who may be just starting out or who have been working in the industry for years, and will focus on describing your work, UK Theatre Ecology, budgets and fundraising, plus some of the issues facing producers of new work and commercial work. On occasion this series of events may have a guest speakers.

Creative Ideas Fund

Applications for the latest round of our Creative Ideas fund is now open!

This fund is for independent creatives, community groups, non-profit organisations or charitable companies to deliver creative art projects in Somerset that will engage and benefit local residents and visitors to the area.

Grants can be up to £1,000 and must be delivered within 12-months of being awarded the grant.

What is the Creative Ideas Fund for?

• Innovative non-profit creative and cultural projects in Somerset.
• Creative and cultural projects that engage residents and visitors in artistic activities such as, carnival, circus, combined arts, dance, festival, film, literature, live art, music, opera, painting, photography, poetry, puppetry, sculpture, song, storytelling, theatre, or another art form.
• To support new activity that engages residents and visitors in innovative ways (this can be as part of a reoccurring event e.g. annual festival)
• To support the delivery of the Arts Engagement & Outreach Strategy and positively contribute to positively contribute to at least one of the following contextual factors in Somerset: Rurality & Rural Isolation, Deprivation, Poor Mental Health, Ageing Population.

For full details read our guidance here

Applications are open now, deadline Monday 12th May 2025 at Midnight.

Apply for the Creative Ideas Grant here

Image credit Wassail Theatre and Len Copland

A Place to Work

We are inviting expressions of interest from local artists and practitioners who make professional non-commercial work, to use of our spaces free of charge, subject to availability.

Use our Lounge Bar at Westlands Entertainment Venue as A Place to Meet and Dream; to read, write, draw, plan, send emails or have meetings with colleagues.

Our Studio at Westlands Entertainment Venue is available as A Place to Create; for R&D, practice, rehearsal and informal sharing’s to develop new or existing work on short to medium-term use.

You can find information about this offer, including eligibility, here. For further information including how to request space, email anthony.kosky@somerset.gov.uk

1:1 Artist Support

Dedicated time with our Arts Engagement & Outreach Officer, Anthony Kosky, to talk through your professional, project or company development plans.  Perhaps you need a critical friend on a funding application, some advice on who to speak to about moving your ideas forward or simply a chat about your hopes, dreams & ambitions. Anthony is an experienced producer, theatre maker, musician, performer and participatory facilitator. He can’t promise to have all the answers, but he will help you try to find them. 

If you are looking for mentoring and career development support, please contact our Arts Engagement & Outreach Officer, Anthony Kosky anthony.kosky@somerset.gov.uk

Blogs

We love to celebrate and champion Somerset’s creative and cultural practitioners. In our series of monthly blogs our Arts Engagement & Outreach Officer speaks to artists, theatremakers, practitioners, performers, directors, photographers, choreographers, filmmakers and facilitators across the county.

Read this month’s blog here: Celebrating Somerset’s Creative & Cultural Practitioners

Performing Artist Support in Somerset 

We have teamed up with several organisations and companies offering Artist Support in Somerset, to give artists a better understanding of and to highlight the resources and opportunities on offer across Somerset.

Together with our colleagues in Somerset who also offer artist support, we’ve produced a downloadable document that signposts the range of resources and opportunities that are available.