Portland's quirky art festival b-side is back for another year – and audiences will get a special preview of what's to come at an event today.

Since 2008, artists have been coming to Portland to embark on projects which bring a fresh perspective of the island to both tourists and the community. Their work enables people to see the island in new and intriguing ways.

The festival, organised by a Dorset-based arts organisation working with artists, residents and young people will be held from September 5-13. A programme of events will be held today at St George's Centre in Easton to announce the 16 exciting artists projects which will be showcased.

This is a free event and everyone is welcome. Just drop in between 1pm-8pm to find out more meet the b-side team and some of the festival artists. There will be films to watch, artists talks and a special closing event.

Festival producer Sandy Kirkby said: “We never cease to be amazed by artists ideas for b-side Festival.

"Portland has a rich seam of history and stories that inspire.

"There will be lots of surprises this year, we have some pretty exciting projects to unveil and if you want to find out more then do come and see us at St George's.”

Throughout the day there will be scheduled events to listen to, watch and join in with highlighting many of the projects which are legacies of past festivals. Portland Museum community researchers group will be on hand all day to share their recent research on the history and secrets of Church Ope. Some wonderful stories have been uncovered as a result of a recent partnership project between b-side and Portland Museum.

Events include:

Age of Smoke: Painting the Predator (2pm-2.30pm and 5pm-5.30pm) - a short documentary by Batfish Films following the story of Israeli artist Leni Dothan’s year-long collaboration with a team of chemists from UCL for her b-side 2018 festival commission developing a series of pollution-reactive sculptures to raise public awareness about the danger of pollution in London.

And the Crowd Goes Wild (3pm-4pm) - the launch of b-side artist Laura Hopes' publication and film. The culmination of a year long project with b-side, The Grove Prison Museum and the YOI. Laura will give a short talk about the project following the film's premiere screening.

The Portland Lookalike Agency (6.45pm-7.15pm) - Another chance to see this brilliant film created by Portland film makers Joe Borez and James Laming. ‘The Portland Lookalike Agency’ is a fictitious organisation that can provide celebrity lookalikes drawn from the real residents of Portland. Presented as a film, this ’love story to Portland’ explores the juxtaposition of hope and realisation with a gentle hair ruffling fondness, wit and a healthy dose of black humour.

The Doors of Prophecy - Projections and Telepathy (7.30pm-8pm) - From Dorset's own wizard of art and animation Thomas Hughes.

Window Wanderland returns to Portland (8pm) - this annual event organised by the Friends of b-side turns the whole island into a wonderful illuminated outdoor gallery. Start your journey off in Easton.

For more information and how you can get involved www.b-side.org.uk