Flax Uncovered – Exhibition

Join us at Bridport Arts Centre for Flax Uncovered : The exhibition bringing together research from the Flax Forward Project. Free entry.

With its pretty pale blue flower, the seemingly delicate flax plant has an incredible range of uses, from linen and canvas to linseed oil and lino. Grown here for its fibres, flax was once a defining part of the local economy, shaping the town’s identity for over 1,000 years through generations of cultivation, processing and making. Yet while Bridport’s hemp growing and ropemaking histories are well documented, the story of flax is less widely known.

During early summer 2026, community researchers have been searching archives and collections to explore the history of flax in this area, uncovering lost stories and knowledge. This exhibition shares what they have discovered so far and invites visitors to explore maps, documents and books and add their story to help tell the story of a plant, a town and a landscape.

Sat 10 – Sat 24 October, 10am-4pm
Weds-Sat

Bridport Arts Centre
South Street
Note: opens 12.30pm on Sat 17 Oct