Both biennial events had been set to return this September – Inside Out Dorset hosted by Dorchester-based outdoor arts producers Activate in extraordinary locations across the county, and b-side on the Isle of Portland.

Inside Out Dorset will now take place from 17 to 26 September 2021 and b-side from 11 to 19 September 2021.

In a joint statement, Inside Out Dorset co-artistic directors Kate Wood and Bill Gee said. “Inside out Dorset is unique in that we present events across the county in rural and urban locations. We celebrate our unique environment and the communities of Dorset, and even though the festival may be postponed, this will not change. Inside Out Dorset will continue to bring world class art to Dorset.”

Alan Rogers, executive director of b-side, said, “It’s a difficult time for many people on the planet – 22 April Earth Day 2020 will be remembered as extraordinary. We can only hope it will also be remembered as a turning point in our thinking. Climate change requires an urgent global response, but this begins at a local level, and later this year b-side will launch Common Lands, a new three-year art programme, using Portland as a microcosm to explore our relationship to and with the land, both here and elsewhere. As an organisation b-side has always sought to listen to the needs and interests of artists, communities, partners and colleagues locally and much further afield. And, despite the current situation we find ourselves in, we will continue to do so and perhaps this is needed now more than ever.”

“We will support the artists, freelancers and venues we planned to work with to ensure we can still work with them next year,” the joint statement continues. “We are both proudly European festivals, committed to presenting the best talent in contemporary art and outdoor arts from the UK and across Europe. This will not change. We choose to wait until our artists and audiences can travel safely to Dorset rather than go ahead without them.

“As we continue to observe social distancing the opportunity to be together may seem far away. However, it will come again – on hills, beaches, in forests and woodlands, we will be together once more, and we will celebrate.”