AS home to two of the most significant arts organisations in the country, Poole should be proud to be punching above its weight.

That’s the view of Simon Taylor, chief executive of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, as he prepares for the Lighthouse open day on October 18, in which the BSO and Poole’s centre for the arts will collaborate in a series of free arts events and activities to entertain, stimulate and inspire local people.

“Sometimes I’m not sure that people in Dorset realise quite what they have here,” he says.

“I came here from Dublin and my first impression of the area came from my knowledge of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, which has some 300 recordings to its name. The BSO is one of just eight Arts Council-funded symphony orchestras in England, and Lighthouse is the biggest regional arts centre in the country – these are things we should identify with the area.”

Among many highlights on Sunday musicians from the BSO will host workshops and stage a free performance; while Mercury Prize-nominated jazz saxophonist and rapper Soweto Kinch will take workshops in improvisation and hip hop lyrics.

A range of other activities includes learning Streetdance moves with Dance4All and interacting with the puppet exhibition or resident artist Niki McCretton’s Horseplay theatre show, as well as singing with local choirs, listening to local bands and watching local films.

It’s all part of new Lighthouse chief executive Elspeth McBain’s effort to bring the centre closer to the community.

“We are a presenting venue, not a producing venue, so we have to rely on others to produce content for us,” she says.

“The open day is intended to demonstrate that we can make the creative connections between groups and artists and provide the space in which they can flourish – and accommodate the audience for them.

“It may have surprised some people, but my primary concern when I came here at the end of January was not the programme, vital as it is, but how we use the space.

“So the refurbished cafe will have a family area; I want to bring the gallery into the building more and will be looking at how we handle the visual arts.

“I’m really excited about the singing project for the open day because Luminos is a local choir that used to meet here.

“They’re going to be working with another local choir, Unity, to involve anyone who wants to take part on the open day in learning South African and Gospel music.”

The quest for wider involvement is shared by Simon Taylor, whose passion for classical music fuels a desire to impart it to others.

“We have a very loyal and enthusiastic core audience, and it’s great to be able to sell 3,000 tickets to a Wednesday night concert, but what about those who can’t get tickets? Can we involve them in other concert situations?” he asks.

“We have a wonderful new 32-year-old principal conductor in Kiril Karabits who wants to engage with younger audiences.

“It’s a real challenge. Our free educational concerts in the summer were watched by 4,000 children and, just as importantly, we had 104 turn up to a concert in Studland Village Hall last week given by the orchestra’s brass section.

“One thing we’re looking at for next year is Club Karabits, a large scale concert with Kiril conducting the orchestra but also involving a name DJ or band – I want younger people to experience the sheer physical and emotional thrill of an orchestra playing at full tilt.”

The need to meet new audiences is also key to Elspeth McBain’s vision for Lighthouse, encapsulated by the Cross Channel Circus Alliance, a festival of contemporary circus arts featuring French and British performers.

“Poole has strong links with Cherbourg in many areas, but there is a much stronger cultural link to be made.

“We attract the Royal Shakespeare Company, but we don’t sell out. Why not?

“Are we getting the message out there?

“Is coming to Lighthouse a good experience?

“We can’t be complacent, these are challenging times.

“I keep hearing the arts is elitist and I’ll keep challenging that.

“One of the most exciting things I’ve seen here is the project our resident theatre company Salt Factory worked on with the recovering addicts from Vita Nova.

“We should give thanks to those who had that vision 40-odd years ago at the start of the planning process, because there’s nothing quite like this in the country – a major concert hall, a theatre and a symphony orchestra all under one roof.

“Lighthouse is not just an iconic white building.

“There’s a lot happening... and more to come.”