AUB Festival of Creativity 2026

15.30 | Connor Ryan – known as the UK’s ultimate "Loop Wizard", Connor is a dynamic busker and guitarist bringing an infectious energy to the stage. Expect a spellbinding mix of brilliant covers, live improvisation, and captivating original tracks built entirely on the fly.

17.30 | Jest Fordham – Portland electro rock.

18.30 | The Surfin' Birds – led by the Sharod brothers from the South Coast, The Surfin' Birds blend psychedelic blues, jazz, raw garage rock and surf-fuelled chaos into a sound that's wild and energetic with vintage energy.

11.00 | Danny Peacock – Danny is a superb entertainer and mastermind behind the Sunday Sessions at Chaplin's. Pairing witty, soulful vocals with his banjo, he delivers original, heartfelt musical musings on life that will completely captivate the crowd.

12.00 | Anatol Just – Anatol is a charismatic vocalist and guitarist. Armed with his acoustic guitar, looper pedal, electronic wind instrument, and an exceptional voice, he delivers an unforgettable blend of acoustic anthems, heartfelt covers, and irresistible rhythms.

13.00 | Dennieze – bringing an elegant warmth to the stage, Dennieze is a beautiful singer-songwriter who connects effortlessly with her audience. Armed with her acoustic guitar, she delivers a captivating, deeply heartfelt set of soulful vocals and moving melodic storytelling.

14.30 | Pachango – with an explosive fiesta of live music, Pachango delivers an infectious blend of upbeat Latin, ska, and world rhythms. Driven by a powerful brass section and irresistible energy, they guarantee an absolute party from start to finish.

16.00 | Wild Violets – bringing the ultimate '70s soul-disco injection to the stage, London-based outfit The Wild Violets deliver an infectious, high-octane performance. Expect massive grooves, striking live instrumentation, and stunning vocal harmonies that are guaranteed to get everyone moving.

Saturday 4 July

• Abu Ibrahim
• Tobi Aluko
• John Foster/Doppelganger Dialogues
• Jamie Derrick
• Claire H
• Tom Shaw
• Marbellys Bayne

Sunday 5 July

• Phoenix Ford
• Peter John Cooper
• Vita Nova

Livewire Live!

Featuring Tim Heywood, CW Blackburn, Laura Sargent-Edney and Nina Hart

Co Evo

Co Evo is Pavilion Dance South West’s resident adult contemporary dance company. Comprising dancers with professional-level training, they bring a wealth of experience, technical prowess, and deeply expressive storytelling to the stage through captivating, high-calibre contemporary choreography.

Remix

The Remix is Activate’s award-winning, fully inclusive youth performance company. Bringing together talented disabled and non-disabled young people from across Dorset, they deliver vibrant, boundary-pushing contemporary choreography filled with joy, energy, and exceptional teamwork.

First Position

First Position Performance Company brings elite training and spectacular stage presence to the festival. Showcasing highly disciplined dancers, they deliver a versatile showcase of technical excellence, artistic storytelling, and beautifully synchronised commercial and contemporary choreography.

Murilova Ballet School

Bringing the timeless grace and precision of classical ballet to the festival, Murilova Ballet School showcases its exceptionally talented young dancers. Expect a breathtaking performance filled with beautiful storytelling, elegant technique, and stunning choreography.

DYD (Dorset Youth Dance)

Managed by Activate Performing Arts, Dorset Youth Dance (DYD) is a prominent, county-wide youth company dedicated to delivering high-quality contemporary dance experiences for young people passionate about movement.

DYD and Lola

What's the Dream – featuring a rap written and produced by 13-year-old Lola with commercial dance by DYD.

Acting (hosted by Dr Louie Jenkins) | two 50-minute sessions (starting at 15.30 and 16.30) – flex your creative talents in an entertaining and dynamic acting workshop that aims to explore character development and scene objectives through a series of practical exercises. So, come prepared to play, improvise and explore in an exciting workshop.

Art Wall (hosted by Topsy Turvy Collective) – Ahead of the debut of their own stage at Boomtown Fair in August, emerging event company Topsy Turvy will be joining the Festival of Creativity to support the interactive Art Wall: a collaborative installation inviting attendees to contribute to a constantly evolving artwork throughout the event.

BH Live Active Workshop – Dance Aerobics with Pom Poms | 15–20 minute sessions on the hour and half-hour throughout the day – Grab some pom poms and shake up your Saturday! This high-energy, feel-good dance aerobics class is all about vibrant music, easy-to-follow routines, and maximum fun.

Cyanotypes (hosted by Emily Grigg) – a give-it-a-go cyanotype workshop for all ages. Print your own blue-and-white images using natural objects and the sun! All materials are provided, and you can take away a zine with instructions on how to make more at home. Cyanotype photography, or sun printing, is a cameraless technique that involves laying an object or image negative on a chemically coated surface like paper or fabric, before exposing it to UV light (the sun) and washing with water to create vibrant blue and white images.

Games Jam (hosted by Jordan Cutler and Joseph Holroyd) – AUB is hosting a Games Jam where anyone can come and have a go on brand-new games. Developers were given just one week to build a brand-new video game around a top-secret theme. Festival-goers are invited to play the final submissions, test their skills, and vote for their favourite games to help crown the champions!

Poole Museum – Pottery Illustration – meet the friendly team at Poole Museum’s workshop stand and try your hand at designing your very own pottery illustration, inspired by original Poole Pottery masterpieces from the museum collection! You can also find out how you can get involved with the Poole Museum Volunteer Crew – from events and gallery support to training and skills development, there’s plenty to get stuck into.

Art Wall (hosted by Topsy Turvy Collective) – Ahead of the debut of their own stage at Boomtown Fair in August, emerging event company Topsy Turvy will be joining the Festival of Creativity to support the interactive Art Wall: a collaborative installation inviting attendees to contribute to a constantly evolving artwork throughout the event.

BH Live Active Workshop – Bodyweight Bootcamp | 15–20 minute sessions on the hour and half-hour throughout the day – Kick start your Sunday with an empowering, athletic workout. This bootcamp-style class uses your own body weight to build strength, agility, and stamina through fun, scalable movements.

Nature in Layers: Collage Illustration (hosted by Emma Randall) | 12.30–17.00 – Unwind, connect, and explore your creativity in this immersive, hands-on collage workshop. Inspired by the intricate details of flora and fauna, you'll discover the art of visual storytelling by transforming beautifully textured and recycled papers into a unique, nature-themed artwork. Perfect for beginners and seasoned creatives alike, this relaxed session provides all materials, just bring your curiosity and a love for the natural world.

Crafty Kids (hosted by Creative Kids Centre) – Creative Kids Centre is a children's arts charity based in Boscombe, providing free and affordable creative programmes to our community. At AUB's Festival of Creativity, Creative Kids will be providing free, speedy craft workshops for the whole family.

Cyanotypes (hosted by Emily Grigg) – A give-it-a-go cyanotype workshop for all ages. Print your own blue-and-white images using natural objects and the sun! All materials are provided, and you can take away a zine with instructions on how to make more at home. Cyanotype photography, or sun printing, is a cameraless technique that involves laying an object or image negative on a chemically coated surface like paper or fabric, before exposing it to UV light (the sun) and washing with water to create vibrant blue and white images.

Games Jam (hosted by Jordan Cutler and Joseph Holroyd) – AUB is hosting a Games Jam where anyone can come and have a go on brand-new games. Developers were given just one week to build a brand-new video game around a top-secret theme. Festival-goers are invited to play the final submissions, test their skills, and vote for their favourite games to help crown the champions!

Special FX Animation Workshop (hosted by Lucy Turner) | 11.00–17.00 – A workshop for anyone to have a go at doing the special FX on paper-based animation. The friendly production team from the 2026 graduate film Set In Stone, will be working with participants to add colour and analogue FX to their experimental animation frames. There will be a demonstration of how the team make their animations, and a demonstration of how they scan in their work and edit on specialist animation software – in this case, Dragon Frame. At the end of the workshop all the artwork will be scanned into a video sequence, so everyone can watch their clips! Recommended for ages 6 and over.

The following talks will take place at the Library. Free entry.

13.00 | Life after graduation as a games artist (by Oyku Erdenlig)

14.00 | You made your world, now sell it! (by Joseph Holroyd)

15.00 | Horror creatures, concept art from Annihilation (by Peter Ocampo)

16.00 | Award ceremony; Games Jam winner announcement