DORCHESTER Arts has confirmed it is in talks with the town council about a potential move into the Corn Exchange.

Informal discussions have been taking place between the two organisations and reports are being considered by the town council’s management committee and Dorchester Arts’ board of trustees this month for each body to confirm or reject the proposal.

If both bodies back the move, Dorchester Arts could move into its new home this summer.

Mark Tattersall, artistic director of Dorchester Arts, said: “Dorchester Arts currently occupy the Grove School building on School Lane, which acts as our administrative hub, the venue for around 50 events a year and where we host a number of community organisations and classes. “In the long term we see the The Maltings building on Brewery Square as the ideal venue for a fit-for-purpose arts facility and a move to the Corn Exchange is a logical stepping-stone towards that, allowing us to develop our audiences and have a town centre presence. “If everything goes to plan we expect to be operating from the Corn Exchange from this summer and anticipate being there until summer 2018.”

Town clerk for Dorchester Town Council Adrian Stuart added: “The town council has been looking to increase usage of the building for the last 12 months and the move would bring us guaranteed usage for the next three years. “It also increases the profile of the building to other potential hirers and means the town council can support Dorchester Arts in their longer-term ambition to grow the arts offer in the town.

“The move will also temporarily reduce the overall cost of running the building to the taxpayer.”

The plans have yet to be finalised but the current intention is for Dorchester Arts to move its administrative hub into the Magistrates Room and use the Corn Exchange for most of their performances.

This will see the number of performances at the venue increase from 20 to 70 in the first year, with many on Friday and Saturday nights, and over the three years Dorchester Arts hopes to increase the number yet further.

Modest changes will be made to the inside of the building, to provide curtaining in the Corn Exchange and create additional storage space. Current hirers of Municipal Buildings spaces will be largely unaffected, and there is still potential for new hirers, especially as a summer weddings venue.

Discussions are also underway with current hirers of Dorchester Arts Centre to ensure that they and their participants are unaffected by the move.