Dorset Museum looking positive on survival into 2026

As previously reported, Dorset Museum and Art Gallery was at risk of closure without support from the public, with fears that it could close within the next 12 months.

Following ‘overwhelming support’, the museum was made more financially secure after it was revealed that 15,000 people had visited the Elizabeth Frink Exhibition in the museum’s art gallery.

Now, Claire Dixon, the museum’s executive director, said that the museum was in a better position than it was this time last year.

She said: “We have seen a gradual increase in footfall since July last year and we are still monitoring summer numbers very carefully, but we are in a stronger position and things are looking positive for survival beyond this year and into 2026."

The museum was struggling since undergoing its £16.4m transformation, however they have been working on new ways to attract the crowds which has paid dividends, with 60 per cent of visitors to the Frink exhibition coming from outside the county.

Mrs Dixon added: “We still need to see continual growth to achieve longer term sustainability beyond that, but we have a good programme, and our new marketing strategy provides confidence that we should achieve further growth.”

“The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is going well.”

More has been planned to keep the footfall steady going into the new year, as the museum has just announced its 2025 exhibition, Gladiators of Britain.

Gladiator helmet (Image: Trustees of the British Museum) Gladiators of Britain is a British Museum partnership exhibition with Colchester and Ipswich museums, which will explore the sometimes overlooked history of gladiatorial contests in Roman Britain.

The tour will start at the museum in January, before travelling to four venues around the UK, following in the footsteps of gladiators who fought in Romano-British amphitheatres.

Mrs Dixon added: “We are very excited to be working with the British Museum on this brand-new exhibition.  Visitors will be able to explore the rarely told story of gladiators in Britain and we will be showcasing our own collections that include Roman archaeology, mosaics and stories from across the county. 

"A programme of walks, talks and collection tours will bring people closer to the places and artefacts that bring this part of our history to life and other cultural events will provide a fun and engaging way to connect with the exhibition – our Gladiator film night, held in the Victorian Hall where audiences will be sitting on a Roman Mosaic, is a must! 

"As the first venue to host this exhibition, we look forward to welcoming visitors from Dorset and beyond.”

Dorchester has a rich connection to Roman history, including the Roman Town House in Dorchester and Maumbury Rings - which were adapted nearly 2,000 years ago from a Neolithic henge into a Roman amphitheatre – along with a wealth of artefacts.

Gladiators of Britain will be on display at the Dorset Museum and Art Gallery from January 25 to May 11 next year.