A quirky festival held on Portland has scooped the first award of its kind at the Weymouth Civic Society awards.

b-side festival has won the Society's inaugural award for Arts and Culture in the lead-up to its seventh festival to be held in September. 

Seeking to honour buildings and projects that make a positive impact on the appearance and quality of the local environment, The Civic Society awarded b-side for its contribution to the arts and culture of Portland and Weymouth.

b-side festival is run by a collaborative team of artists, producers and curators and welcomes curious wanderers and arts-obsessed regulars to the unique island.

This year’s festival will take place from Thursday, September 7 to Sunday, September 10.

The festival provides a platform for global artists and seeks out the art scene’s most exciting newcomers.

The interactive and artist-led tour around this distinctive part of the UK explores Portland’s culture, heritage, and environment, through different approaches each year.

Rocca Holly-Nambi, director of b-side said: "We are delighted to receive this award and be recognised by Weymouth Civic Society.

"Together we are celebrating what community building and contemporary art can do for the places we live, visit, and love.

"It is great to have this recognised and for everyone to see the culmination of our two-year programme, This Land, at b-side’s 2023 festival. Residents of Portland have been working with national and international artists to excavate knowledge and acquire new skills to protect, preserve and propose new futures for natural and built heritage sites on our unique isle.”

Keith Holdaway, the Chair of Weymouth Civic Society said: “b-side has been the outstanding local arts company for several years and is expanding its work and inclusivity. The festival has been augmented by a series of exciting events that have been communicated in an engaging and lively style, which has brought contemporary arts into the lives of many.

"The winners of the new awards were all chosen for the outstanding way they engaged with local people, this is particularly important to make contemporary visual arts accessible to all.”

The full programme and artist line-up for b-side 2023 Festival will be announced very soon.

For more information, visit the b-side website https://b-side.org.uk/ and Follow b-side festival on Instagram @bsidefestival, Twitter @bsidefest and Facebook @bsidefest.