Latest news with #DorsetMuseum
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Dorset Museum says it 'cannot subsidise' Taste cafe in fees row
A museum has issued a new statement after the operators of its on-site cafe blamed its fees for the demise of a late night which runs the cafe in Dorset Museum, said its Night at the Museum supper and tours had become unviable after a 550% fee increase from the museum, which disputes the 550% figure, said the "modest contribution" it requested was to cover its costs, adding it could not "subsidise commercial activity".Taste Cafe said it stood by its original announcement but declined to comment further. According to museum bosses, Taste has a commercial licence to operate the cafe, retaining revenue and catering for events, while the museum receives a rental museum, in Dorchester's High West Street, previously said it had supplied staff and tours for the supper pilot scheme and charged Taste £50 per event - however its latest statement says the charge was actually £120. It said the "nominal amount" did not cover its costs but "was a supportive gesture to enable this pilot".The statement said: "Our insurance requires at least two members of museum staff on site during all events. "This makes any out-of-hours events a cost-bearing exercise for our charity."Unfortunately, the modest contribution we've requested to cover these costs and ensure the financial sustainability of the museum has been deemed unviable by Taste and they didn't take up an alternative model that was offered."While we regret this, we cannot subsidise commercial activity at the expense of our charitable activities."In it's previous statement, Taste said: "Sadly we will no longer be able to host these evenings due to a cost increase of over 550% from Dorset County Museum."Unfortunately it is not sustainable for a small business like ours."We're incredibly disappointed, as these nights were a real highlight for us." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Taste cafe blames Dorset Museum fees as it scraps evening event
A cafe that operates inside a museum says it will no longer hold a popular evening event after the museum increased its Cafe and Dorset Museum began hosting their Night at the Museum meal and museum tours on a trial basis last Taste said the sell-out events were no longer sustainable after the museum increased its fee for staffing and tours by 550%.Dorset Museum said it had been operating at a loss during the trial period, which had now come to an end, but said its fee increase had been "very small". It said the "nominal amount" it had charged Taste had not covered its costs for providing staffing, museum access and guided tours. A statement released by Taste said: "Sadly we will no longer be able to host these evenings due to a cost increase of over 550% from Dorset County Museum."Unfortunately it is not sustainable for a small business like ours."We're incredibly disappointed, as these nights were a real highlight for us."Museum executive director Claire Dixon said: "The partnership [with Taste] is really important to us but we also recognise that we are all working in a challenging climate and need to ensure we achieve the right balance between income generation and cost management. "We are committed to supporting Taste with any activities and events that widen access for visitors and generate income for both of our organisations, whilst ensuring we cover any costs we incur, so we can continue to develop our own activities."Dorset Museum reopened in 2021 following a £16.4m revamp, but the Covid-era relaunch and a sharp increase in costs left it year it received £250,000 of lottery money to invest in schemes to increase footfall and diversify income. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Bard of Dorchester' competition searching for its next poet
The search is underway for Dorset's next champion of words and wit as The Bard of Dorchester competition opens for entries from new talent. The competition is open to storytellers, poets, spoken word artists and musicians aged 18 and over, with six finalists getting the opportunity to perform at the live final on Sunday, September 14 at Dorchester Corn Exchange. The winner will be crowned the Bard of Caer Dur for the next year. All styles of storytelling are welcome, including traditional, experimental, musical, poetic and hybrid forms. Applications close at midnight on Friday, August 15. To find out more or to apply, visit or email bardofdorchester@ READ: Voices from Weymouth and Portland sought for new interactive poetry trail Current Bard of Caer Dur, Molly Dunne, has embraced her year in the role. (Image: The Bard of Dorchester) Molly Dunne, the current Bard of Caer Dur, has used her tenure to perform at local events, serve as Writer in Residence for Dorset Museum's Jane Austen: Down to the Sea exhibition, and publish her debut poetry collection, Blood on the Bramble. Molly said: "Being appointed Bard of Dorchester truly made my year. "It's opened doors, introduced me to brilliant people in the community, and given me the chance to keep creating. "Although my time is nearly up, I can't wait to see what the next Bard brings to the role."
BBC News
03-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Dorset Museum fundraises for 3,000-year-old blobs of gold
Two 3,000-year-old blobs of gold found in field in Dorset are the subject of a fundraising campaign to keep them in public gold remnants, weighing a total of 63g (2oz), were valued at £3,000 after being discovered by metal detectorists at Melcombe Horsey in October to be of very high purity, they are believed to be the by-product of Bronze Age goldworking Museum, which is hoping to acquire the treasure, has raised half the amount needed through grant funding and is appealing for donations for the rest. One of the pieces is about 4.5cm long (1.8in) and weighs just under 49g (1.7oz) while the second is 1.5cm long (0.6in) and weighs just about 14g (0.5oz).The museum's archaeology curator, Jon Marrow, said: "Though they may seem modest at first glance, these pieces offer an extraordinary glimpse into prehistoric craftsmanship. "They are tangible traces of human activity from a time when gold held powerful social and symbolic meaning."The fragments are part of a growing body of evidence pointing to significant Bronze Age activity in the finds include a copper-alloy axe head, a collection of gold fragments, and a bent gold bracelet, all within several hundred museum is hoping to acquire the objects to put on display and for further grant funding has come from the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Crichel Hoard: Dorset Museum to acquire Bronze Age gold
A hoard of "exceptionally rare" 3,000-year-old gold ornaments, found by metal detectorists in Dorset, is the subject of a campaign to keep it in the three Bronze Age objects were found in March 2022 and date back to about 1400–1150 as the Crichel Hoard, the bent ornaments have been valued at £9,000 and Dorset Museum is fundraising to acquire, conserve and display museum said they shed "new light on Bronze Age life in southern England". The collection is made up of a twisted gold ribbon torc bracelet, a gold strip thought to be part of a larger piece of jewellery, and a spiralled gold bracelet weighing 46g (1.6 oz).Jon Marrow, of Dorset Museum, said: "One of the most interesting things about this hoard is that the gold twisted torc is of a type normally found further north and west. "It's also intriguing that such objects are so often damaged before burial, as though this was done ritually but it's hard for us to discern what the beliefs were behind this practice."The museum said £8,000 had already been raised through the Arts Council England and V&A Purchase Grant Fund, and The Headley Trust.A spokesperson said: "Artefacts like these are exceptionally rare in this region and significantly deepen our understanding of early gold working, social structures, and cultural practices over three millennia ago." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
