Offbeat Collective

Offbeat Collective is a grassroots, volunteer-led organisation based in Dursley, Gloucestershire. We bring together artists, makers, performers, and local people to celebrate creativity, connection, and community pride. Our mission is simple: to ditch the ordinary and make creativity part of everyday life. We believe in small acts of making and doing that have big ripple effects — sparking imagination, building confidence, and strengthening the cultural and social fabric of our town. Our first major project, Offbeat Dursley, takes place on Saturday 6 June 2026. It’s a micro-festival of creativity — small in size but mighty in spirit — transforming public spaces with stalls, workshops, performances, and participatory art. The event will showcase local talent while connecting Dursley with the wider Cotswold creative community. Offbeat isn’t just a one-day event; it’s a growing movement for connection and joy. In the months leading up to the festival, we’re developing a lead-up programme of community activities, including sewing and craft circles, outdoor cooking sessions, storytelling nights, and artist-led workshops in natural inks, printmaking, and more. These events are designed to bring people together, share skills, and build a sense of collective ownership. We work collaboratively, powered by lists, WhatsApp threads, and tea. Our crew includes artists, producers, educators, and community organisers who share a belief in inclusion, sustainability, and fair pay for creative work. We’re committed to accessibility and to supporting D/deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent artists and participants. Offbeat Collective is part of a growing creative ecosystem in the Stroud district — working alongside initiatives like Discover Dursley, Prema Arts Centre, Create Gloucestershire, and local schools and colleges. We’re also supported by Hewing Wittare CIC, which provides a formal structure for partnerships and fundraising. Our manifesto says it best: Do it differently. Include everyone. Celebrate the now of this town — not just the past. Build something joyful, together.