About Us

Our story

Ilminster Arts Centre was founded in 1995 by artist and illustrator Mary Atherton and her husband Jim. The centre – now a well-established, thriving multi-arts venue – operates as a registered charity. We’re based in a former Unitarian chapel, built in 1718-19, which welcomed worshippers until 1989 and became known as The Meeting House.

Over its long lifetime the building underwent several changes. Initially it was a chapel with a small congregation. It developed into a much larger town facility with several hundred worshippers and a separate Sunday school, which became a full junior school. Each change involved major building extensions and improvements.

Our boutique shop is located in an alcove where the church organ was housed.

The property is privately owned and leased to the Arts Centre.

Your visit

Opening hours:
Tuesday - Saturday: 9.30am - 3pm (please note, opening hours for the café may vary)
Closed on Mondays and Sundays.

Address:
Ilminster Arts Centre
The Meeting House
East Street
Ilminster
Somerset
TA19 0AN

Car parking is available. The entrance to the car park is on the corner of East Street and Frog Lane.

We have disabled parking spaces close to the main entrance. Please get in touch 24 hours in advance if you would like to reserve a space for a specific performance or workshop.

Booking performances and workshops

Tickets for most performances can be bought online via Eventbrite.

Performances and workshops can also be booked in person at the arts centre, or over the phone by ringing 01460 54973 during opening hours. If you hear an answerphone, please leave a message and we will phone back. Please note that tickets for performances and workshops are not refundable unless we are fully booked and have a waiting list. Refunds are subject to a £5 admin charge. Or, you can opt to transfer your ticket to any of the other events on offer, but only if we are fully booked and with a waiting list.

Thanks to our supporters

Thanks to The Postcode Local Trust funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, Ilminster Town Council, The Gooch Charitable Trust, Persimmon Homes and Somerset Community Foundation for helping to support our work through the generous provisions of grants.