Forest Arts Information Page

Forest Arts Website - Click Here!

Forest Arts is a lively and friendly multi arts form arts centre situated in the heart of the New Forest in Hampshire. The Centre offers a wide range of professional performances staged in the 150 seat studio theatre.

We programme a variety of multi genre music, theatre, comedy, dance, literature, talks and children's shows. We also offer a huge array of activities and workshops for all ages in our professional dance studio, workshop space, and theatre. Our rooms are also available for hiring at certain times and current users include Spanish language teaching, the Hard of Hearing Club, the WEA and Brockenhurst College Special Needs group.

We have a licensed café bar serving bottled beers, wine, spirits, soft drinks, tea, coffee and confectionery. We are ideally positioned as a place to pop in and meet up with friends. There is also a gallery area within the centre with an exciting programme of visual arts exhibitions throughout the year. The contemporary work includes paintings, prints, ceramics, textiles and mixed media work, with pieces for sale. The work encompasses local, national and internationally renowned artists, as well as providing an excellent showcase for recent graduates and students. Education, community projects and outreach also play a large part in the work of Forest Arts with extensive partnership working throughout the New Forest district and beyond. There is a free customers car park on the premises. Forest Arts operates a no-smoking policy throughout the building.

Forest Arts is open between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday and most evenings when classes or performances are taking place. The gallery and café are open at these times and admittance to the centre is free. Please note the centre is not open on Saturdays during August. To check opening hours contact the Box Office tel 01425 612393 or email forest.arts@hants.gov.uk.

Forest Arts Centre is owned and run by Hampshire County Council and is in receipt of additional support from New Forest District Council

History

Forest Arts started its life as a group of buildings huddled around a humble Ministry of Defence Drill Hall back in the 1940's. In the 1970's the New Milton Drama Centre was established as an Education Resource Centre run by Hampshire County Council.

In 1974 the first Director of the Centre was appointed and shortly afterwards the first professional productions in the New Forest district were toured into the Centre. Four years after this a new Box Office, lounge bar area and dressing rooms were added to the structure of the building. The studio theatre was also refitted to accommodate the growing audience numbers, both local and district-wide. Classes, workshops and participatory programmes soon followed.

By 1984 the Centre was running very short of space and a new rehearsal studio was added. In the early 90s the Centre changed its name to Forest Arts Centre as it joined the Arts Service of Hampshire County Council where it remains today.

In 2001 the rehearsal studio was given a significant makeover and is now a fully professional dance studio and second performance space. Sliding doors, air conditioning and work upgrading access to the Centre have all been added since and we are always looking at ways to ensure the Centre is at its peak.

We love our Centre, we hope you love it too. See Forest Arts Events in our EVENTS SECTION.