Somerset Art Weeks Festival closes after 16-day run

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 06:19 · Archive

Somerset Art Weeks Festival 2026 has closed after 16 days across more than 90 venues throughout the county.

Somerset Art Weeks Festival 2026 has closed following a 16-day celebration of art and creativity across the county. The festival transformed Somerset into a showcase of artistic talent, featuring more than 90 venues and hundreds of artists working across galleries, studios, farms, gardens and museums.

This year's theme, Cultural Connections, encouraged visitors to consider how people, places, histories and ideas shape the world around us. A festival spokesperson said the event was 'an opportunity to discover the extraordinary creative talent that exists across the county, meet artists in their working environments, and experience Somerset through fresh eyes'. The festival offered group exhibitions, curated shows, special commissions and a packed programme of events.

Highlights included a talk at the Somerset Rural Life Museum with New York Times bestselling author Charles Foster, who explored what it means to be human and discussed seeing the world from the perspective of a badger. The event, held in conversation with historian James Crowden, embodied the festival's aim of connecting art, history, nature and ideas. Family-friendly events were also central to the programme, including a workshop at the Shoemakers Museum where author Jasbinder Bilan joined artist Kirsten Madeira-Revell and writer Polly Hall to lead families in creating mythological hybrid creatures inspired by their backgrounds and dreams.

How it is being reported

• Somerset Art Weeks Festival closes after 16 days across 90-plus venuesSomerset Art Weeks Festival 2026 drew visitors to 90-plus venues, celebrating creativity, community and cultural connections.Bridgwater Mercury · 9 Oct, 05:00
• Somerset Art Weeks Festival closes after 16 days across over 90 venuesSomerset Art Weeks Festival 2026 drew visitors to 90-plus venues, celebrating creativity, community and cultural connections.Somerset County Gazette · 9 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Somerset Art Weeks Festival · Charles Foster · James Crowden · Somerset Rural Life Museum · Somerset

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