
The first time I visited the Boilerhouse Gallery was around 20 years ago. It had a beautifully creative vibe with just the gallery and 4 studio spaces nestled at the foot of Corfe Castle next to the Victorian railway station… what a location! I was lucky enough to be part of the Boilerhouse cooperative for several years meeting many wonderful people along the way. Moving on to the present, the Boilerhouse Gallery is now the heart of a wider community of creatives called Sandy Hill Arts. This newly founded charity will be putting on exciting events throughout the year and yesterday I experienced my first music event… it was AMAZING! The psychedelic ballads and experimental music of The Good Beast was so good and totally original, especially their final song about a mole (really!) which got the crowd up, dancing and interacting with the musicians. I loved catching up with old friends and meeting new, enjoyed delicious locally sourced food from the Salt Pig, felt especially special that I have this wonderful venue on my doorstep and that hidden away in these nooks of Purbeck people exist who are dedicated to creativity, music, connecting with nature and their wider community.