Editing Frome (section)

== Culture ==
[[File:North Parade Frome1.JPG|alt=Italianate three-storey building, with entrance at the narrow end of the building nearest the camera|thumb|[[Frome Museum]] on North Parade]]

Frome has a vibrant arts scene.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Art, Music and Theatre |url=https://www.discoverfrome.co.uk/attraction_category/arts/ |access-date=2019-03-16 |website=Discover Frome |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322165416/http://www.discoverfrome.co.uk/attraction_category/arts/ |archive-date=22 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The high-point is the annual ten-day [[Frome Festival]] in July, which in recent years has included more than 160 events held at various venues in and around the town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frome Festival – 5th −14th July 2019 |url=https://fromefestival.co.uk/ |access-date=2019-03-16 |website=Frome Festival |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215050430/https://fromefestival.co.uk/ |archive-date=15 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The town is host to a number of artists, many of whom open their studios to the public during the Festival.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frome Open Studios – Annual artist open studio event 6 – 14 July during the Frome Festival. Entries in January- 1 March 2019 |url=https://www.fromeopenstudios.co.uk/ |access-date=2019-03-16 |website=www.fromeopenstudios.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126024140/http://www.fromeopenstudios.co.uk/ |archive-date=26 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The event includes a Children's Festival.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frome Children's Festival – Children's Festival – |url=https://www.fromechildrensfestival.org/childrens-festival/ |access-date=2019-03-16}}</ref>

There are a variety of cultural & community events that have become regular features of the town's life throughout the year: the Window Wonderland<ref>{{Cite web |title=Window Wanderland: Frome, Somerset 2019 |url=https://www.windowwanderland.com/event/frome-2019/ |access-date=2019-03-14}}</ref> (early March), Frome Busks<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-04 |title=Hit the streets with Frome Busks |url=https://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/fromebusks/ |access-date=2019-03-14 |website=Frome Town Council}}</ref> (late March), Apple Day<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frome Community Orchard Apple Day |url=https://ptes.org/event/frome-community-orchard-apple-day/ |access-date=2019-03-16 |website=People's Trust for Endangered Species}}</ref> (21 October), Fireworks<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-10 |title=Frome Fireworks raise thousands for local charities |url=https://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/frome-fireworks-raise-thousands-for-local-charities/ |access-date=2019-03-14 |website=Frome Town Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219211758/http://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/frome-fireworks-raise-thousands-for-local-charities/ |archive-date=19 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> (November) and Light the Night:<ref>{{Cite web |title=light the night |url=http://www.fromelanterns.co.uk/ |access-date=2019-03-14 |website=light the night |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190317155256/http://www.fromelanterns.co.uk/ |archive-date=17 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> lanterns and the Christmas Lights switch-on (late November). The Carnival<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frome Carnival – Home |url=http://www.fromecarnival.org.uk/ |access-date=2019-03-14 |website=www.fromecarnival.org.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304083349/http://www.fromecarnival.org.uk/ |archive-date=4 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> (September) is part of the Wessex Grand Prix circuit of the [[West Country Carnival]]. A national Town Crier festival is held each year in June; for the third year running, it is the largest such festival in Britain, hosting 25 town criers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frome prepares for Britain's largest town crier festival {{!}} Frome Times |url=http://www.frometimes.co.uk/2019/06/04/frome-prepares-for-britains-largest-town-crier-festival/ |access-date=2019-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605114454/http://www.frometimes.co.uk/2019/06/04/frome-prepares-for-britains-largest-town-crier-festival/ |archive-date=5 June 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are two theatres in Frome: The Memorial Theatre was built in 1924 in memory of the fallen of the World War I,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frome Memorial Theatre |url=http://www.fmt.website/ |access-date=2019-04-13 |website=www.fmt.website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413141043/http://www.fmt.website/ |archive-date=13 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> while the 240-seat Merlin Theatre is part of the [[Frome Community College]] campus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Merlin Theatre : Home |url=http://www.merlintheatre.co.uk/ |access-date=2019-04-13 |website=www.merlintheatre.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930213753/http://www.merlintheatre.co.uk/ |archive-date=30 September 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Frome is home to Somerset's first and only pub theatre: Nevertheless, Productions, which promotes new drama in small venues around the town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nevertheless Theatre Company – Crysse Morrison |url=http://www.crysse.com/drama/nevertheless-productions/ |access-date=20 December 2017 |website=www.crysse.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052550/http://www.crysse.com/drama/nevertheless-productions/ |archive-date=22 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Cheese and Grain, a former farm produce warehouse which was converted into a market and concert hall in 1997, has a capacity of up to 800 and hosts regular pop concerts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cheese & Grain {{!}} A Not-for-Profit Social Enterprise |url=https://www.cheeseandgrain.com/ |access-date=2019-04-13 |website=www.cheeseandgrain.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413141039/https://www.cheeseandgrain.com/ |archive-date=13 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Locally based musicians include American [[saxophonist]] [[Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis]] and Irish folk singer [[Cara Dillon]] as well as hardcore punk bands More Than Life, Ghost of the Avalanche and Landscapes.

Frome's only cinema, the Westway,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Westway Cinema Frome {{!}} Movies {{!}} Latest Films {{!}} Book Online {{!}} Cinema in Frome |url=https://westwaycinema.co.uk/ |access-date=2019-04-13 |website=westwaycinema.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413141044/https://westwaycinema.co.uk/ |archive-date=13 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> is in Cork Street in the town centre, which closed in March 2016 and re-opened February 2017, after changing hands and undergoing extensive refurbishment.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wood James |date=19 February 2017 |title=First look at the three-screen Westway Cinema in Frome after revamp |work=Somerset Live |url=http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/film/first-look-three-screen-westway-28327 |url-status=live |access-date=24 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025022231/http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/whats-on/film/first-look-three-screen-westway-28327 |archive-date=25 October 2017 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> A fire at the cinema in October 2016 was thought to have been started deliberately.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Fire at Frome cinema 'started deliberately' |work=BBC News |date=23 October 2016 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-37743990 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026120557/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-37743990 |archive-date=26 October 2016 |access-date=23 October 2016 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Trim |first=Liam |date=23 October 2016 |title=Frome cinema fire being treated as suspicious after night time operation to fight flames |work=Somerset Live |url=http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/frome-cinema-fire-being-treated-as-suspicious-after-night-time-operation-to-fight-flames/story-29833069-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=23 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023210022/http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/frome-cinema-fire-being-treated-as-suspicious-after-night-time-operation-to-fight-flames/story-29833069-detail/story.html |archive-date=23 October 2016 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> There is an arts centre, The Black Swan,<ref>{{Cite web |last=blackswanarts |title=Home |url=https://www.blackswanarts.org.uk/ |access-date=2019-04-13 |website=Black Swan Arts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413171113/https://www.blackswanarts.org.uk/ |archive-date=13 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> within which the information point for Discover Frome<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.discoverfrome.co.uk/ |access-date=2019-04-17 |website=Discover Frome |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416163224/http://www.discoverfrome.co.uk/ |archive-date=16 April 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> is based.

The Frome & District Agricultural Society holds an annual Agricultural & Cheese Show in September.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frome Cheese Show |url=http://www.fromecheeseshow.co.uk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117151024/http://www.fromecheeseshow.co.uk/ |archive-date=17 January 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> This was formerly held on the Showground at Fromefield, but in recent years has moved to West Woodland, {{convert|2|mi|km|1}} to the south of the town. Early markets were known as cheese fairs; the Agricultural Society was formed in 1861 and held its first fair. In 1875 the creation of the Market Hall (now the Cheese and Grain) and of a railway siding into the Cattle Market (now the main car park) established Frome as a cheese town – one sale alone recorded 28½ tons of [[Cheddar cheese|Cheddar]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Morrison |first=Chryssie |title=Frome Unzipped |publisher=Hobnob Press |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-906978-55-6 |location=Gloucester |pages=77}}</ref>

The Frome Society for Local Study<ref>{{Cite web|title=Frome Society for Local Study|url=http://fsls.org.uk/|access-date=2022-01-16|website=fsls.org.uk}}</ref> was founded in 1958 to make the history of Frome and the district better known, and to preserve its historic buildings and records; there is an annual programme of winter lectures and summer visits to places of interest as well as a wide range of research, donations, and publications. It has funded plaques across the town, to mark significant buildings and prominent persons.<ref name="x147">{{Cite web |date=2016-06-16 |title=Plaques |url=https://fromesociety.wordpress.com/plaques/ |access-date=2019-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417113325/https://fromesociety.wordpress.com/plaques/ |archive-date=17 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Frome Museum]] has a particular important collection of artefacts from Singer's bronze foundry and houses a rolling display of local history including a Cockey lamp and shop contents.  The library and archive is open to researchers by appointment throughout the year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frome Museum |url=https://fromemuseum.wordpress.com/ |access-date=2019-04-13 |website=Frome Museum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331204348/https://fromemuseum.wordpress.com/ |archive-date=31 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Frome is served by two newspapers, the ''[[Somerset Guardian Standard|Frome & Somerset Standard]]'' and the ''[[Frome Times]]'', the latter now has the third largest circulation in the county.<ref>{{Cite web |title=It's official! Frome Times is one of Somerset's biggest newspapers {{!}} Frome Times |url=http://www.frometimes.co.uk/2019/03/26/its-official-frome-times-is-one-of%e2%80%88somersets-biggest-newspapers/ |access-date=2019-04-13 |archive-date=8 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808061347/http://www.frometimes.co.uk/2019/03/26/its-official-frome-times-is-one-of%E2%80%88somersets-biggest-newspapers/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2008, a 'not for profit' company called Frome Community Productions was formed by members of the community in order to develop and deliver [[FromeFM]], an internet based community radio station. The station broadcasts 24 hours per day and is completely staffed by volunteers who produce features, interviews and music shows. In 2009, [[FromeFM]] commenced a service to stream the broadcasts to mobile phones.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frome FM |url=http://www.fromefm.co.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824153634/http://www.fromefm.co.uk/ |archive-date=24 August 2010 |access-date=6 February 2010 |publisher=Frome FM |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Digital switchover of television and radio |url=http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/frome.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111134111/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/frome.pdf |archive-date=11 November 2010 |access-date=8 August 2011 |publisher=UK Parliament |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Jennie |title=FromeFM Launches New Mobile Listening Service |url=http://avalanchemedia.org/?p=264 |access-date=8 August 2011 |publisher=Avalanche Media}}</ref> In late 2011 FromeFM was granted a broadcast licence<ref>{{Cite web |title=Three community radio licence awards: September 2011 |url=http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radio-broadcast-licensing/community-radio/current-licensees/awards-round-3/sep2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220183749/http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radio-broadcast-licensing/community-radio/current-licensees/awards-round-3/sep2011 |archive-date=20 December 2013 |access-date=2 August 2012 |publisher=Ofcom}}</ref> and on 16 July 2012 began broadcast on 96.6FM in the Frome area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frome FM launch onto 96.6 fm |date=17 June 2012 |url=http://fromefmnews.blogspot.com/2012/06/frome-fm-launch-onto-966-fm.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116142608/http://fromefmnews.blogspot.com/2012/06/frome-fm-launch-onto-966-fm.html |archive-date=16 January 2014 |access-date=16 July 2012 |publisher=FromeFM |df=dmy-all}}</ref> FromeTV, was another 'non-profit' organisation running an online TV station.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frome TV's code of conduct |url=http://www.frome.tv/code-of-conduct/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630050357/http://www.frome.tv/code-of-conduct/ |archive-date=30 June 2012 |access-date=4 April 2012}}</ref>

Frome is home to the Frome Writers Collective – a not for profit organization. Its patron is [[Barry Cunningham (publisher)|Barry Cunningham]] OBE.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Supporting local writers |url=http://fromewriterscollective.co.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925195907/http://fromewriterscollective.co.uk/ |archive-date=25 September 2017 |access-date=24 October 2017 |publisher=Frome Writers Collective |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Frome's Cheap Street is a location in episode six of the first series of [[BBC]] TV comedy ''[[The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0576232/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725165208/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0576232/ |archive-date=25 July 2008 |access-date=10 November 2010 |website=Internet Movie Database |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Frome has provided the backdrop to historical dramas, such as [[Poldark (2015 TV series)|Poldark]], broadcast in 2016 which has regular scenes shot in Gentle Street,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-09-04 |title=Scenes from new Poldark series shot in town near Bath |work=Bath Chronicle |url=http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/poldark-series-2-watch-out-for-frome-near-bath-as-the-hit-drama-returns-to-bbc-1-tonight/story-29684297-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2016-10-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905135434/http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/poldark-series-2-watch-out-for-frome-near-bath-as-the-hit-drama-returns-to-bbc-1-tonight/story-29684297-detail/story.html |archive-date=5 September 2016 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> with a further shoot in December 2018<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Max |date=2018-12-06 |title=Poldark filming wraps up as footpaths set to reopen |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/poldark-filming-wraps-up-frome-2298446 |access-date=2019-04-13 |website=somersetlive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413145341/https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/poldark-filming-wraps-up-frome-2298446 |archive-date=13 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''Drover's Gold'', filmed by [[BBC Wales]] in 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Wales on Location in Frome |url=http://www.askwhy.co.uk/frome/16taniadrovers.php |access-date=10 November 2010 |publisher=Frome Town |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613011922/http://www.askwhy.co.uk/frome/16taniadrovers.php |archive-date=13 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Wasted (British TV series)|Wasted]] used exterior shots from Church Steps as the location for Stoned Henge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guide |first=British Comedy |date=2016-07-25 |title=Danny Kirrane interview - Wasted |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/wasted/interviews/danny_kirrane/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}}</ref> Catherine Hill, in the town centre, was the setting for the 2016 short film ''Lucky Chicken'' by Gulliver Moore which is available on [[YouTube]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Lucky Chicken 2016 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5071770/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 |publisher=[[IMDb]] |access-date=2018-11-04}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Lucky Chicken, Romance Short Film |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urYwqhvPw7o |publisher=Omeleto via [[YouTube]] |access-date=2018-11-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209182811/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urYwqhvPw7o |archive-date=9 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Aside from a thriving café culture, there is a wide range of restaurants in Frome.