From and To

An evolving exhibition about creativity and freedom by artist Laura Eldret, created in collaboration with the communities of Bridport and West Dorset.

From and To was conceived as both an exhibition about creative freedoms and a space in which those freedoms could be explored collectively. At its centre was Laura Eldret’s large‑scale curtain installation, newly commissioned for the project and snaking across the gallery. The curtain’s imagery drew on ideas of freedom and creativity that emerged through conversations and making sessions with communities across West Dorset.

Visitors and residents were invited to participate in a range of ways, including a free programme of events, the Honestly Honesty Shop, and by contributing to an ever‑growing gallery wall of ‘creative freedoms’.

The title From and To referred to the distinction between ‘freedom from’ and ‘freedom to’. The exhibition considered creativity as something everyone can engage in – a vital source of freedom. When viewed alongside the freedoms fought for in the past and those still being fought for today, creativity emerged as an essential need and right for all.This exhibition marked the culmination of extensive community research, conversations and workshops. Bridport Arts Centre commissioned local artist Jo Burlington (OopsWow) to lead this work with youth clubs, coffee mornings and other community groups, as well as facilitating a Silent Drawing Disco on the Arts Centre’s forecourt. These exchanges, alongside Laura Eldret’s own research and workshops, shaped the development of the evolving exhibition.

Jo Burlington reflected on the experience:

“It has opened up some new horizons for me. My work is usually process and materials led, and some of the workshops I ended up running were indeed about the process and the materials, but the context and motivation was informed by the conversations about freedom, and observations of the participants in the talk & draw workshops.

The conversations I facilitated with older people about their understanding of freedom were incisive, incredibly varied and often really moving. The initial talk and draw workshop I led with the young teens (10-13 years) about their understanding and experience of freedom was very telling and almost heartbreaking in the virtually blank sheet of paper that was produced, they do not feel free, they struggled to identify any moments in their lives when they experience freedom.

I really appreciated the take on the project of the lead artist Laura Eldret – freedom from and freedom to – it was great to see how that really opened up the subject of creative freedom to everyone, not just people who see themselves as ‘creative’.”

Sharing Your Own Work

Visitors were invited to contribute to the ‘creative freedoms’ display by handing in their own submissions – drawings, song lyrics, rock‑climbing routes, poetry, photographs, maps and more – each one expanding the collective portrait of creativity in the region.

The Honestly Honesty Shop 

This was open as a platform for anyone to sell their creative wares directly to gallery visitors, with freedom from the usual constraints of mainstream commerce.

Events and Activities 

Throughout the exhibition, a programme of free Wednesday and Saturday events brought the themes of From and To to life. The opening weekend featured live buskers performing in the gallery, portrait sessions with photographer Carole Evans using the installation as a backdrop, and dedicated family making activities.

Across the following weeks, visitors encountered a rich mix of creative opportunities: Carole Evans’ return with her pop‑up studio; an offsite reading event at the Poor House Reading Rooms in partnership with More Than Ponies; a ‘no‑fail’ drawing workshop for adults with Jo Burlington; and a lively session from Bridport Community Orchard combining juicing demonstrations with creative activities inspired by the orchard’s deep connections to people and place.

Young people explored identity and imagination through Jo Burlington’s Art Play workshop, and Dorset‑based rapper Isaiah Dreads led a creative writing session using rap and poetry as tools for personal storytelling. Dorset Red, a politically engaged local choir, offered a performance and open singing workshop on freedoms and creativity in song. The Bank of Dreams & Nightmares invited children into a playful, collaborative story‑writing adventure, encouraging them to question, imagine and dream boldly.

The programme concluded with an in‑gallery conversation between artist Laura Eldret and curator Honor Beddard, reflecting on the ideas and processes that shaped From and To.