Force 8 is a creative collective of artists, writers, designers and musicians founded by Anna Best and Hester Schofield in 2016 to promote a culture of thinking and progressive dialogue through contemporary art that will inspire people in Bridport and the surrounding area.
Our pilot project at the Methodist Chapel – Mission Space – aimed to arouse interest in the collective. We had envisaged an informal think tank to explore the holiday experience alongside relevant contemporary issues for our community. We aimed for a curiosity shop, a place of thoughts and dreams, to conjure up ideas, to inspire and share with others…. an off-line place of potential.
For 6 weeks we hosted an evolving programme, including artists talks, new performance work, walking tours, mini residencies and discussions. Film screenings were successful and were conjoined with informal discussions after the screening, often with the artist or director present. The chapel space was noted for its brilliant acoustic, its character as both an intimate and safe space, and a laboratory or testing station for artists ideas. We presented over 50 artists work and hosted a series of residencies at The Mothership in conjunction.
We have put on a series of Mothership artist’s talks at Bridport Arts Centre, Bearkat at The lyric, and at the studio, including Helen Robertson, Ellie Johnson Bullock + Sam Ford as CHAMP, Natasha Mcvoy and Melanie Jackson. Thanks to Megan Durnford and Angie Porter. We curated a day of Mission Space films in Bridport in January and have held the second camp at The Mothership at midsummer.
We organised an event at Hooke Park in November 2017 which invited curator Teresa Gleadowe of Groundwork to share her ambitious strategies for an arts ecology there, including CAST and Cornwall Workshop.
We aknowledge the mentoring support of Culture Plus at The Arts Development Company.
We welcome new members, please get in contact!