Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) is bringing a dynamic line-up of community workshops, pop-up gallery exhibitions, live music, and sustainable fashion to the town centre and beyond for this year’s Arts by the Sea Festival and Fringe.
From interactive design sessions and nature-inspired writing to fine art photography and analogue sound design, explore where and when you can experience work from AUB alumni, students and staff.
Programme overview
Dates: Tuesday 22 – Friday 25 September 2026
Location: 6 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth
Transforming an empty town centre retail space in collaboration with Jessica Toale MP, this pop-up gallery showcases fine art, architectural, and wildlife photography from AUB Adult Learning and Short Course students. Exhibiting photographers include Colin Grieve, Katie Hamer, David Perkins, Gary Rawlins, Philip Woodward and Rachel Woodward Carrick.
The space also hosts a prelude showcase on Tuesday 22 September for The Shopkeepers, an Arts Council England-funded speculative fiction project by MA Fine Art alumna Lisa Moro. The project explores forgotten high street histories, memory and local commerce through augmented reality, physical relics and audio archives.
Date and time: Friday 25 September, 16.00–18.00
Location: 6 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth
Hosted in Jessica Toale MP’s pop-up on Old Christchurch Road, MA Creative Writing (Online) alumna Louisa Flynn hosts a free, two-hour creative writing workshop.
Inspired by the festival's theme, participants will use elemental concepts, nature-focused writing prompts, and immersive soundscapes to generate new prose and poetry, culminating in a collaborative group piece. All materials are provided, and no prior writing experience is required.
Date and time: Saturday 26 September, 13.00–16.00 (drop in anytime)
Location: AUB Marquee and Bournemouth Lower Gardens
Head to the central cross-path in Bournemouth Lower Gardens to join BA (Hons) Graphic Design alumna Tess Blanshard-Phibbs at the AUB Marquee for 10 Minutes of Creative Calm.
This free, open-air workshop invites visitors of all ages to slow down and create visual ‘future messages to self’ or mini posters using paper, typography and collaging techniques. All materials are provided on site.
Date: Saturday 26 September
Location: AUB Marquee and Bournemouth Lower Gardens
Lisa Moro will present the live interactive installation of The Shopkeepers, inviting passers-by to engage with the surreal and hidden histories of local retail spaces.
Date: Sunday 27 September
Location: St Mark's Church, Talbot Village, Poole
Delivered in collaboration with Defashion Dorset as part of Sustainable Fashion Week and the Arts by the Sea Fringe, this runway showcase highlights eco-conscious design solutions to the climate emergency.
BA (Hons) Design for Costume and Performance students present inventive costumes inspired by themes like ocean restoration and rewilding, while our Foundation Diploma students showcase fashion collections created entirely from discarded upholstery industry offcuts.
Tickets are £5 (free for students with reservation) via Humanitix, with proceeds supporting the Arts at St Mark's community programme.
Dates: Friday 2 – Sunday 4 October
Location: Patch, Bobby’s, Bournemouth Town Centre
Closing out the festival period, BA (Hons) Modelmaking alumnus Sam Edwards brings his custom-built analogue hi-fi sound system, Hearing Colours, to Patch at Bobby’s for a multi-sensory three-day music takeover.
Crafted using precision CNC milling at the Innovation Studio at AUB, the system combines audiophile acoustics, global vinyl culture, and visual projection art.
- Friday: Global vinyl sets, deep house, disco, and garage paired with live analogue oil-wheel projections by Moodz.
- Saturday: Hardware-only live electronic music performances featuring synths, drum machines and live drums.
- Sunday: Chilled ambient soundscapes featuring festival veteran Rob da Bank, alongside Goan small plates and a chai bar.
