Welcome to your local community arts centre
Our mission is to bring amazing art, live music and creative workshops to the South West. As a charity and multi-arts venue, we’ve been enriching the cultural life of our community for almost 30 years from a former historic church in the heart of Ilminster. Here, you can enjoy world-class musicians, wonderful art exhibitions and get as creative as you like in a wide range of art and craft classes for all abilities.
We also have a boutique shop, selling handmade gifts from local craft makers, and a scrumptious café famous for its cheese scones.
Performances
The Jake Leg Jug Band bring you the authentic sounds of 1920s and 30s America - jazz, blues, ragtime and gospel. Songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption.
Tickets: £20
Many popular songs of the 1920s and 30s speak of dreams, hallucinations, fantasies, even nightmares! Tonight, the seven members of the Sunset Café band present a carefully-curated selection, in their trademark New Orleans style. The band is one of the most respected traditional jazz ensembles in the country.
Tickets: £20
Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion refresh the blues genre with eclectic arrangements, virtuosic playing and vocal prowess. With an exciting live set based around rootsy original songs, strong catchy riffs and exciting grooves; they mix old school tradition with contemporary flare and sophistication.
Vibrant, contemporary, original, melodic, funky rocking blues featuring Hammond-organ, drums, guitar and vocals.
Tickets £18
Workshops
A friendly, untutored clay group enjoying making hand built pottery and sculpture. Beginners welcome and helped to start with some clay, the group tool kit, library and masses of helpful advice.
The group meets every Mondays, 9:30am to 12:30pm.
£8 per session.
Exploring Acrylic Techniques – a 4-week painting course with Stephen Jenkinson
For Abstracts; Semi-Abstracts and Impressionist Landscapes
This course is led by enthusiastic artist and tutor Stephen Jenkinson. It is ideal for everyone - for those who are completely new to the techniques that Stephen introduces, and those who have attended previous standalone workshops and want to refresh and develop their painting skills further. Experience the whole painting process: from preparation, through applying layers of pure vibrant colour and producing striking images with beautiful effects, to finishing your final images for mounting and framing.
Small Group Course - Maximum participants: 8
4 Thursday sessions each of 3.5 hours from 10:30 – 14:00; on Aug 6, 13, 27, Sep 3 (No session on Thursday 20 August)
£100 per course plus £10 for materials to the tutor on the first day.
To book, please ring: 01460 54973, between 9.30am and 3pm Tuesday to Saturday, or pop into the Arts Centre during those hours.
Have you ever wanted to write your life story – but felt unsure of where to begin? This six week memoir course led by Grace Palmer, experienced writer, editor and teacher will guide you through the process of turning your memories into compelling narratives, using the tools of fiction to bring your past life onto the page.
You’ll learn
· What is memoir and where to begin your story
· How to structure your story for maximum impact
· How to write in scenes, and create vivid prose
· Editing and polishing your story
6-week course on Fridays: Sep 4, 11, 25, Oct 2, 9, 16 (No session on Sep 18)
10:00am - 12:00pm
Cost: £105 for 6 sessions
To book, please ring: 01460 54973, between 9.30am and 3pm Tuesday to Saturday, or pop into the Arts Centre during those hours.
Exhibitions
‘Hidden Depths’ is about capturing all the complex layers involved in our human interactions with each other and the natural world.
Open Tuesday - Saturday 09:30-15:00
Exhibition ends on Friday 28th August, 15:00
Free Entry
Three local artists, Ksenia Cieslak, Richard Pearson & Rosaria Valenti come together to present a fresh perspective on life through abstraction.
‘Meet the Artists’- Saturday 8th August 11-3
Open Tuesday - Saturday 09:30-15:00
Exhibition ends on Friday 28th August, 15:00
Free Entry
Immerse yourself in visions of water, weather and changing Somerset landscapes, created by 60 students from Ilminster’s Herne View School with local artist John Gammans.
Sponsored by Somerset Rivers Authority.
Open Tuesday - Saturday 09:30-15:00
Exhibition ends on Thursday 17th September, 15:00
Free Entry
News
South West Heritage Trust and Ilminster Arts Centre are delighted to announce Ilminster Roman Ring Discovery Day, a free, family-friendly event celebrating the remarkable Ilminster Ring and coin hoard.
Taking place on Thursday 20 August 2026 from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm at Ilminster Arts Centre, the event will be a celebration of the Roman treasure and offer visitors the opportunity to explore its history through creative activities, community displays and a curator’s talk.
Ilminster Arts Centre launches 2026 Photography Open Competition
Entries are now open for Ilminster Arts Centre's 2026 Photography Open Competition.
Everyone is welcome to enter and all forms of photography will be accepted, including traditional, digital and cameraless images, which can either be printed on paper, metal, textiles or 3D forms. Photographs must have been taken in the UK in the last 24 months. No AI images will be accepted.
The deadline for entries is 6pm on 29 August 2026. For details and to enter visit: https://www.ilminsterartscentre.com/photography-open-exhibition-2026
Ilminster Arts Centre celebrated the outstanding talent of artists from across the region at the 2026 Open Exhibition Prize Giving Event, held on Wednesday. Friends, artists and supporters gathered to recognise this year's award winners following another exceptional exhibition showcasing a diverse range of artwork.
We are looking for an enthusiastic person to join the Ilminster Arts Centre as our new Office and Operational Coordinator!
Ilminster Arts Centre is delighted to announce that entries for the highly anticipated Open Exhibition 2026 will officially open on 16th March.
This annual judged exhibition invites artists from across the region to submit their work for the chance to be showcased in one of Somerset’s leading artistic events.
Your new community arts café is coming 14th October!
Café volunteering: If you have an interest in volunteering in the café we’d love to hear from you! All necessary training will be provided.
If you can help in any way, please let us know by emailing cafe@ilminsterarts.org.uk
Ilminster Arts Centre is proud to announce the winners of its highly anticipated Open Exhibition 2025, an annual celebration of regional artistic talent which opened to the public on 17 June and runs through 18 July 2025.
We are looking for people who can bring enthusiasm and experience in one or more of the following fields:
· The arts, heritage or charity sectors
· Finance or accounting
· Business strategy and development
· Fundraising and grants
· Health and safety
· Hospitality
Ilminster Arts Centre is delighted to announce that entries for the highly anticipated Open Exhibition 2025 will officially open on 4th March.
This annual judged exhibition invites artists from across the region to submit their work for the chance to be showcased in one of Somerset’s leading artistic events.
We are delighted to announce that the restoration of Ilminster Arts Centre's historic stained glass window is now complete, with the beloved feature fully restored and returned to its rightful place, more resplendent than ever.
Ilminster Arts Centre is proud to present The Frog Lane Painters Exhibition. This special exhibition, running from 15th October to 9th November 2024, highlights the journey and growth of these artists, many of whom began as complete beginners at IAC’s popular acrylic painting classes.
From Tuesday 1st October Annie's Cakery Bakery will be opening at 10 and closing at 2.30.
If you are wondering what the commotion is at Ilminster Arts Centre and why the stained glass window is being boarded, fear not! The beloved historic stained glass window, which has been a significant feature of the building venue since its installation in 1901, is set to undergo vital restoration work.
During the month of June The Arts Centre will be trialling extended opening hours. This means that you will have even longer to browse our beautiful shop or try something delicious at Annie's Cakery Bakery.
The clock is ticking as the submission deadline for the annual judged Open Exhibition approaches. With just one week left until the May 3rd deadline, artists are encouraged to finalize their submissions for a chance to showcase their talent and compete for prestigious prizes.
Artists throughout the South West are invited to showcase their talents at this year's highly anticipated Ilminster Open Exhibition. The Gallery at Ilminster Arts Centre will host the event from June 11 to July 5, 2024
Your Blue Token Matters! Ilminster Arts Centre is nominated for Tesco Community Fund and hopes to provide a summer of creativity for local children.
Ilminster Arts Centre is inviting talented artists to showcase their creativity and craftsmanship. In a quest to enrich our vibrant Arts Centre shop, we are on the lookout for 2 or 3 exceptional artist card makers to join our community of artisans.
The popular Christmas Craft Show at Ilminster Arts Centre is on display in the Gallery until Friday, 22 December, providing a great opportunity to get that perfect present for yourself or loved ones.
To celebrate the festivities, Ilminster Arts Centre has unveiled the winners of its Children's Christmas Card Competition, with the winning cards now on sale in the arts centre’s gift shop until Christmas
We’ve got a packed programme of festive fun for all leading up to Christmas. There’s something for everyone to enjoy!
As the days shorten and the nights get colder, rest assured that a warm welcome awaits you this autumn at Ilminster Arts Centre.
As a renowned venue for top class live music, Ilminster Arts Centre presents a galaxy of star performers this autumn.
We’ve got a packed programme of concerts for music lovers this September, with cut-price tickets for students and free entry for 12 year-olds and under.
There are not many cultural venues in the area that offer such choice and variety as Ilminster Arts Centre. Come and visit this summer to experience top-class performances, workshops and exhibitions.
Loved by…
“A very interesting space in this small Somerset town, run by very pleasant staff and with a great selection of beautiful and well priced Xmas gift ideas made by local crafts people. Well recommended, not to be missed and the café is good too.”