16-18
Apprenticeships
University Level
Adult Learning
Creative students at Coastland College are once again transforming industry insight into a live public event, as their radical work experience programme culminates in a large-scale arts festival this March.
‘Everywhere All At Once’ is the seventh iteration of The Friendly Society of Artistic Labourers (FSAL) – the pioneering project that began at what was then Weymouth College, and now continues at Coastland College.
FSAL was first established in 2019, inspired by the legacy of the Tolpuddle Martyrs and the spirit of collective action. Each year, students become ‘the society’ – working together as an artistic union to deliver work that is bold, ambitious and rooted in shared endeavour.
Designed to reflect how the creative industries really operate, the programme challenges students to work as a professional artistic collective, responding to a live commissioning brief and delivering an ambitious, site-responsive arts event.
Kim Short, Deputy Head of Curriculum for Visual and Creative Arts at Coastland College, said: “For creative students, traditional work experience does not always reflect how the arts industry truly works. At Coastland College, our approach is different. Students take part in a real-world commissioning brief, working together as a professional artistic collective to research, create, promote and deliver a large-scale public arts event.
“This experience is both challenging and exciting. Students collaborate with artists and industry professionals, take on specialist roles, and gain first-hand experience of working to deadlines and shared goals.”
Students begin by choosing a specialist pathway through intensive workshops led by established arts professionals, including Jo Lathwood, Melanie Jackson, Laura Eldret and Jon England. Returning to oversee the project is commissioning artist Simon Lee Dicker, artist and organiser of the Od Arts Festival.
The have said this collaborative approach has been transformative:
“The teamwork collaboration… it changes the way we make and think about work.”
Hayden Selby, Full Time UAL Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
“Developing the choreography for the dance pieces has been a challenging, yet fulfilling experience. We can’t wait to perform it at the site!”
Mia Claridge, Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts
“It’s fabulous, I love working in new groups, it’s really fun.”
Ornela Adams, Level 3 Diploma in Art and Design
Exploring connection through art
This year’s theme explores the idea that everything is connected – people, animals, technology and the natural world influencing one another across time and space. Inspired by writer Daisy Hildyard’s concept of the ‘second body’, students examine how our lives extend beyond ourselves through what we consume, how we travel, the energy we use and the technologies we rely on.
Through art, music and performance, students invite audiences to consider responsibility, care and choice – and how even small actions can ripple outwards into the wider world.
A cross-college collaboration
The festival brings together students from artistic programmes across Coastland College’s Weymouth campus, and for the first time will be held at the Kingston Maurward campus, near Dorchester – a symbolic step strengthening links between the two campuses after coming together as one college in 2024.
Audiences can expect acting and dance performances across the grounds and gardens, intimate acoustic music sets, house and drum and bass DJ sets, large-scale installations and ambitious visual work developed during workshops in the run-up to the event. Together, these elements will animate the historic surroundings of Kingston Maurward House and gardens, creating an evolving arts environment as the event unfolds.
Event details
Everywhere All At Once
Wednesday 18th March 2026
6pm – 9pm
Kingston Maurward House and Gardens, DT2 8PY
Visitors can purchase drinks from the bar and food from Fire House Pizzeria.
Free tickets are available via the website www.artisticlabourers.co.uk