The grounds of The Horton, which have been closed to the public for three decades, have been transformed into a natural landscaped green space for everyone to enjoy and officially opened to the public on Thursday 24th July.

The 10,000m2 gardens will provide a wonderful tranquil space for visitors and have been designed with accessibility and nature at the forefront.

The first phase of works will be completed and features:

• New accessible paths winding around the perimeter
• Two event lawns
• Entrance lawn
• Wildflower meadow areas
• 1000 new saplings
• Bench seating
• Recycling and waste bins
• Entrance planting along the main pathway
• Workshop area for horticulture and maintenance
• Habitat zones

More than 200 metres of native hedgerow has been planted to provide and improve the habitat for hedgerow birds, hedgehogs, bats and insects. A hibernaculum has been created for green waste, providing safe areas for hibernating mammals, insects and reptiles.

Development of the grounds have been supported by Surrey County Council’s Your Fund Surrey and Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy Fund. Contributions have also been been made by Toyota, Coop Community Fund and members of the local community making private donations.

The Horton’s dedicated team of volunteers has helped to plant trees and clear hundreds of metres of thorns and invasive plants.

The newly unveiled grounds will host an exciting programme of outdoor performances this Summer – kicking off on Tuesday 29th July with Mrs Armitage on Wheels an interactive, energetic show for children, celebrating the joy of getting outdoors on a bike.

Other events include:

• Saturday 2nd August:  The Whale – an 18-metre inflatable creature hosting an immersive theatre show for children inside its belly.
• Saturday 16th August: aerial circus theatre on a giant spinning parasol – Everywhere’s A Beach from Epsom company Hikapee.
• Saturday 23rd August: pirate and mermaids’ event, Message In A Bottle with dressing up, dance, juggling, and drama.
• Thursday 28th August: evening of acoustic harmonies with Geoff Robb’s The Music of Trees.

As well as enjoying the outdoor shows, visitors can simply enjoy the birdsong sitting on a brand-new bench with a great cup of coffee – ordering from outside if you’re are out with your dog.

Maria Reeves, Director of The Horton, said:
“We are delighted to finally be opening our gardens for the community to enjoy. It has taken a long time and lot of effort to make the grounds safe and accessible. We’re very grateful to donors and for the funding support we have received from Surrey County Council, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and others. Our volunteers have been amazing too.

Three years after opening The Horton, it is wonderful to see the outdoor vision beginning to come to life. We can now start to make the most of the wonderful surroundings the heritage building sits in and plan creative activities for all”

Denise Turner-Stewart, Surrey County Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Customer and Communities said:

“We are delighted with this Your Fund Surrey (YFS) project. It’s lovely to see that over £112k YFS funding has brought back to life an overgrown and neglected community garden for all to enjoy.  The Horton Arts Centre Garden’s Project is exactly the type of project that with the help of YFS brings communities together to create communal spaces for us all to be proud of. This new community green space will help to rejuvenate and inspire people helping with health and wellbeing, leaving a legacy for generations to come. This is something we at Surrey County Council are proud to have been a part of, delivering on the doorsteps of Surrey’s beautiful towns and villages.” 

Councillor Neil Dallen, Chair of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee said: “I am delighted to see the opening of the restored Horton gardens, which have been transformed into a natural landscaped green space for everyone to enjoy, following funding from Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Fund. These improvements to the gardens provide even more reason for residents and visitors to visit The Horton – which is a local gem. Now that The Horton’s gardens have been landscaped and replanted, with the addition of new pathways and seating, I hope as many residents as possible will visit and take a moment or two to enjoy them.”

There are plenty of opportunities for people to get involved at The Hoton. Maintaining the gardens is an ongoing task and we are on the look out for more volunteers to help our small team.

If you’d like to find out more about how to help keep The Horton Gardens looking good, or to donate the cost of performance tickets for some local families in need – as Epsom Rotary have done – do get in touch.

We look forward to seeing you in The Horton Gardens very soon.

Opening times: 9.15am – 4.30pm Tuesday to Saturday.

We have chosen Hebe Wiri Mist variety as it is drought resistant, hardy to -10 degrees with masses of white flowers appearing from late spring into summer. 

You can help The Horton to make an entrance by making a donation.
We are aiming to raise £600 for plants and compost in the next four weeks.
£50 will fund the purchase of an established Hebe plant with compost.

In acknowledgement of support, people making a donation of £50 will be able to add a public name dedication on a special slate label on one of the planters – lasting the rest of the year.   

We will buy the Hebe from our friends at The Old Moat Garden Centre – so you will be helping two local charities in one donation.  

If we are able to raise more than £600, we will also be able to buy English lavender, ferns and other plants for the large troughs in our car park. 

It takes a lot of work to keep our gardens looking good and the equipment to maintain it, so no matter what size the donation, every contribution makes a real difference to us.  

How to donate 

Click on this link to our CAF Donate page.
People donating £50 will receive a special name dedication on the plant. 

In order to create a slate dedication, we will need permission to able to contact you, so remember to check ‘yes’ for the box asking: ‘We would like to send you news about our work, fundraising activities and ways to get involved. Would you like to receive updates from us?’  

We look forward to seeing you in The Horton Gardens from the end of July. 

Find out what’s on this summer.   

Transformed into a beautifully landscaped green space, the newly unveiled grounds will host a packed programme of outdoor events.

From whimsical storybook adaptations to immersive experiences and live circus shows, the summer line-up is bursting with great entertainment.

The outdoor family season kicks off with Scoot Theatre’s adaptation of Mrs Armitage on Wheels, bringing Quentin Blake’s beloved children’s story to life in The Horton’s first-ever outdoor production.
Tuesday 29th July – 11:30am & 2:00pm

Next up is a unique underwater adventure inside an enormous 18-metre inflatable whale. Join Circo Rum Ba Ba for The Whale, a magical and interactive theatrical experience.
Saturday 2nd August – Shows at 11:30am, 12 noon, 1:45pm, 2:15pm, 3:30pm & 4:00pm

Then, get ready for laughter, spectacle and acrobatics in Everywhere’s A Beach by Hikapee Theatre, a fast-paced circus show perfect for all ages.
Saturday 16th August – 11:30am & 2:00pm

As well as hosting fun family shows, the grounds will soon be open for everyone to explore, so why not come discover The Horton Gardens this Summer?

Discover what’s on and plan your visit…

Mrs Armitage on Wheels
Quentin Blake’s much-loved tale comes to life.
Tuesday 29th July, 11:30am & 2pm

The Whale
Climb inside a giant 18-metre inflatable whale and discover an enchanting underwater adventure.
Saturday 2nd August , 11:30am, 12 noon, 1:45pm, 2:15pm, 3:30pm and 4pm

Everywhere’s a Beach
Enjoy a high-energy circus and acrobatics show from the brilliant
Saturday 16th August, 11:30am & 2pm

Message In a Bottle Circus Workshop
Join Pirate Blackbeard and Mermaid Pearl in a fantastically fun creative circus workshop for the whole family.
Saturday 23rd August, 11am and 2pm

And for music lovers…

The Music of Trees
Inspired by the wonder of the natural world, ‘The Music of Trees‘ weaves together tales of our woodland folklore with a suite of original compositions by songwriter and guitarist Geoff Robb.
Thursday 28th August, 6:30pm

The Horton Summer Exhibition 2025

Applications are now open for The Horton’s Summer Exhibition 2025 on the theme ‘The Music of Life’ – paying tribute to The Horton’s extraordinary legacy as Europe’s first centre for music therapy.

Open to professional and amateur artists living in Surrey, including the former historic Surrey boroughs of Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Croydon.

Artists are encouraged to explore ideas such as healing, rhythm, sound, memory, and emotion and their personal experiences of music’s ability to capture a moment or to transform lives. Submissions can include painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, textile and multi-media pieces.

Music Therapy was pioneered at Horton Hospital in the 1950s – the first time music was used as a tool for mental health care in a formal programme.

How to Submit
The Horton Summer Exhibition 2025 is open to professional and amateur artists living in Surrey, including the former historic Surrey boroughs of Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Croydon.

Artists must be aged 18 years at the time of entry. Students in current education are eligible to apply.

The Horton Summer Exhibition will be held 1^st – 26^th August 2025 and will showcase a variety of artwork selected by a judging panel, with a main competition prize of free exhibition space and promotion for three artists in 2026 at The Horton.

Why enter?
The selection panel hopes to see an eclectic mix of work by established artists alongside emerging talent and first-time exhibitors. If your work is selected for the Summer Exhibition, you will benefit from:

• A three-week exhibition at a beautiful venue with free parking and a Cafe-Bar on-site.
• Artist’s name and link on our website.
• Outreach to press and media.
• Promotion of the exhibition on The Horton’s social media accounts.
• Printed exhibition leaflets/ posters and price lists.
• Promotional photography and video filmed in the exhibition space.
• Invitation to a Private View launch event.
• Opportunity to sell work – with a 20% + VAT commission (deposit) on sales taken by The Horton to raise funds for the charity.

Making a submission:
The cost of entry is being kept low to reduce barriers to participation. Artists will pay £5 per entry and can enter a maximum of three artworks. (£15)

If your work is selected for the Summer Exhibition, there will be an additional fee of £25 per artist (£10 for full-time students aged under 23) to participate; this goes towards the costs of running and promoting the exhibition and provides you with all the benefits listed above.

Please note that although you may enter up to three artworks, only one piece may be exhibited per artist.

Your artwork

• Your work must have been completed in the last five years.
• 2D – must be framed or canvas (no clip frames) with fixings and be a maximum size of 110cm wide x 110cm
• 3D – will be considered but there are fewer spaces available – at a maximum of 100cm wide.
• Artists submitting digital artwork must be able to provide a monitor or projector as required.
• All work for sale should be priced between £100 and £2,000. But you do not have to put your work up for sale.

Key dates

• The first round of selection will be made from digital images of artworks. The Royal Academy has produced a very helpful guide to Photographing Your Work if you need some tips.
• Final deadline for entries: Monday 9th June 2025 at midnight.
• If you are successful in the first round, we will notify you by email and may ask you to deliver your artwork to The Horton for the final round of in-person judging. Date to be confirmed.
• Artists selected to exhibit will be notified in the week beginning 30^th June 2025
• Exhibition Dates: 1^st – 26^th August 2025

Please note, we can only accept applications through the Curator Space portal.

When the Portal opens for Submissions, please download and read the Terms and Conditions relating to entry before submitting your Work, as they form a contract between you and The Horton.

SUBMIT YOUR WORK

The Judges 

Grass on the event lawns has begun to shoot, paths have been created, the wildflowers are peeping through and our fantastic volunteers have helped to plant trees and clear hundreds of meters of thorns and invasive plants.

Our first outdoor events have been announced – appearing in the Summer brochure published this week. From the dramatic spectacle of The Whale – an 18 meter inflatable creature hosting a theatre show inside its belly – to the acoustic harmonies of Geoff Robb’s The Music of Trees, we hope you find time to make the most of Epsom’s new green arts space.

The outdoor family season kicks off with with Mrs Armitage on Wheels on 29th July,  a 40-minute interactive, energetic show for children, celebrating the joy of getting outdoors. Also in the programme, is aerial circus theatre on a giant spinning parasol – Everywhere’s A Beach from Epsom’s Hikapee, plus pirates and mermaids event Message In A Bottle with dressing up, dance, juggling and drama.

If the remaining work goes to plan, the grounds will be fully open to the public at the end of July. Visitors will be able to enjoy the birdsong sitting on a brand-new bench with a great cup of coffee – ordering from outside if you prefer to make the most of the sunshine or are out with your dog.

Indoors, the programme is a busy as ever – from live music and Gyotaku fish printing to wine tasting. Many of our shows, workshops and events do get fully booked so make sure you don’t miss out.

Drop in to pick up a new Summer Season brochure or flick through online: The_Horton_Summer_Season_Brochure_2025 by thehortonepsom.org – Issuu

We are delighted that Peacock & Co Solicitors have announced The Horton Epsom as their Charity of the Year for 2025, with special events and donations.

The first event will be a free to attend Planning for Later Life afternoon at The Horton on Wednesday 21st May, from 2-4pm – an informative Q&A event that helps answers questions on lasting power of attorney, assisted living, downsizing, wills, estate planning and more.

The event will include a complimentary Afternoon Tea for all attendees. Admission is free, but spaces are limited. Find out more and reserve your place online or contact Peacock & Co directly.

Leave a Lasting Legacy: Support The Horton in Your Will

The Horton is inviting supporters to consider leaving a gift in their will to help protect its future and preserve its unique heritage. As a registered charity, gifts to The Horton are exempt from inheritance tax, and leaving 10% or more of your estate to charity could reduce the tax rate on the rest of your estate

In support of this, Peacock & Co will donate 10% of their will-writing fee to The Horton for anyone who mentions our charity when booking. Find out more

Peacock & Co are also generously sponsoring our upcoming Summer Exhibition: The Music of Life taking place from 1^st – 26^th August.

“We are really pleased that Peacock & Co have chosen to make The Horton their Charity of the Year,” said Maria Reeves, director of The Horton. “Their support will help to maintain our beautiful listed building, which is freely accessible to local people. We are incredibly grateful for their commitment to culture, community, and local heritage.”

The Horton Epsom is celebrating its third anniversary, having welcomed more than 90,000 visitors through the door since officially opening to the public on 28^th April 2022.

What was once a silent, semi-derelict, chapel has become a vibrant venue for arts and heritage.

The former Horton Asylum Chapel was saved by registered charity Horton Chapel Arts & Heritage Society (HCAHS) following a six-year project to raise funds and renovate the building.

The venue has hosted a diverse creative programme of more than 750 events in the last three years – from incredible live music and theatre performances and innovative creative arts workshops to exhibitions, community events, and a free-to-access permanent exhibition about the history of Epsom’s psychiatric hospital cluster and the people who lived and worked there.

Birthday Breakfast

At a special anniversary breakfast, staff and volunteers came together to celebrate the charity’s achievements and enjoy a slice of birthday cake, baked by The Horton’s chef Martin.

Our volunteers and supporters reflected on their own experiences over the last three years:

“Friendships have developed as a result of The Horton.”

“There are so many wonderful things to do here. It makes me feel so happy.”

“It’s great to have somewhere like this in Epsom as a magnet for all the cultural events there are in the world.”

“The Horton is a place where you can leave your troubles at the door.”

“We must keep somewhere like this going. It’s important for the community, history and well-being of people.”

Chair of Trustees, Elaine Sharpe highlighted the contribution of those who work together in many different ways, to ensure The Horton is thriving, and thanked everyone for their commitment to the charity’s vision.

The Horton’s director, Maria Reeves, said: “It has been an incredible three years. We have achieved so much and are proud to be part of the community. Thank you to everyone who has supported us. We have so many more exciting events coming up. We can’t wait to see you at The Horton soon.”

The Horton’s Birthday – a blog by Tom Griffiths, a volunteer at The Horton

Do you know anyone who’s got a birthday in April? Well, now you do because The Horton is celebrating its 3^rd birthday on the 28^th. Even at a tender age, we’ve achieved more than most people achieve in their lifetime.

We’ve achieved this thanks to the kindness of thousands. Last year, 35,000 people visited The Horton while more than 6,000 people had been to an event that we put on. Thank you to everyone who has been to one of these events.

The productions we have put on have touched upon every aspect of culture. Drama, music and literature show a cultural flair consistently demonstrated through our three years.

Our cultural flair has also evolved into the artistic arena, hosting exhibitions from artists. Our first Summer Exhibition in 2024 proved The Horton’s credentials, and we look forward to doing so again this summer.

We can even accommodate amateur artists, as shown through artwork displayed by children and young people.

We’ve shown our passion for various cultural pursuits through The Horton’s workshops.  Book clubs, yoga and life drawing are like muscles that we flex regularly through our weekly events. We use these muscles to bring our community closer together.

Recent achievements include  tour-de-force shows into the lives of Sherlock Holmes and Dorian Gray. We’ve even perfected our language, culminating in the fourth Spanish season that was held on the Easter weekend.

We are building a fantastic garden. An accessible path, feature steps, electricity, a wildflower meadow and event lawns have all combined to build a space that is set to come alive in the summer. We wouldn’t have achieved this without the help with planting, of our volunteers.

We also have a great café to shout about, with fantastic roasted coffee to drink either inside or outside. Our bar nights exemplify our talents, with prosecco and cocktails being among our specialities.

From The Horton’s origins as a Grade 2 listed chapel, we have achieved more than the building would ever have anticipated. Our outstanding reviews on Google and TripAdvisor show that our achievements are being noticed. However, we are only kept alive by your support. If you keep showing your kindness by going to the shows and workshops that we produce for the good of the community, then we can stay alive for more years to come.

You could wish us a Happy Birthday by coming to a future event at The Horton. If you bring a friend along who’s never been before, they might demonstrate their kindness to The Horton as well in the future.

Whatever you want to do, The Horton is here for you. I’m sure you’ll want to join me in wishing The Horton many happy returns for its 3^rd birthday.

Volunteer Tom Griffiths

We are delighted to announce the theme for this year’s Summer Exhibition as ‘The Music of Life’ – paying tribute to The Horton’s extraordinary legacy as Europe’s first centre for music therapy.

Following the success of the inaugural Summer Exhibition in 2024, artists from across Surrey will once again be invited to submit their work on the theme for consideration by the panel of judges.

Artists are encouraged to explore ideas such as healing, rhythm, sound, memory, and emotion and their personal experiences of music’s ability to capture a moment or to transform lives. Submissions can include painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, textile and multi-media pieces.

Music Therapy was pioneered at Horton Hospital in the 1950s – the first time music was used as a tool for mental health care in a formal programme.

“This year’s theme is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the historic significance of The Horton – where music helped so many people to find joy, peace, and connection,” said The Horton’s director, Maria Reeves.
“We want visual artists to take music as their inspiration. The Music Of Life is a powerful theme and we are hoping to see some exciting ideas.”

Sponsor Kim Peacock, Managing Partner of Peacock & Co Solicitors said: “As part of our year of support for The Horton, we are thrilled to be sponsoring The Summer Exhibition, which is such a vibrant showcase for creativity in our community.”

Success in 2024

The Horton’s first open exhibition last year attracted entries from across Surrey responding to the theme ‘State of Mind.’ The work of 86 artists was selected – a mix of professionals and amateur artists displaying their work publicly for the first time. More than 2,500 people visited the exhibition over three weeks, and three artists were awarded prizes of their own solo exhibitions at The Horton – Kath Macdiarmid, Maria Walker and Sarah Simonds-Gooding.

Watch video interviews filmed at the launch event, featuring some of the artists and judges.

Judges for 2025

Kendra Haste

Kendra is a contemporary British sculptor celebrated for her distinctive use of galvanised wire to create expressive, life-sized representations of animals. She is a Master’s graduate from the Royal College of Art and a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors.
Haste’s sculptures are included in numerous public and private collections, with notable commissions including Royal Beasts (2010), a permanent installation of thirteen wire animals at the Tower of London and a life-size elephant relief at Waterloo.
Her solo show Big Bad Wolf runs at the Ornamental Cast Iron Museum, Büdelsdorf, Germany, 29.05. – 02.11.2025

Karl Newman

Karl is CEO of Freewheelers Theatre and Media  –  a diverse and creative company of people with disabilities based in Leatherhead, Surrey, and the Co-Chair of the Surrey Cultural Partnership.

Karl also practices as a painter, graduating with a degree in Fine Art from The Chelsea School of Art, and has exhibited widely and has work in public and private collections. www.karlnewmanart.co.uk

Saba Khan

Saba is CEO to Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum, supporting more than 60 grassroots community groups, and Founder of ArtEase – offering workshops supporting good mental health.
A self-taught painter herself, Saba is also Creative Advisor to charity Voice of Freedom which uses the therapeutic process of photography, working with people who have escaped trafficking and torture.

Steve Trimm

Illustrator and graphic designer Steve is a trustee of The Horton and teaches our life drawing sessions. He began his career working for the Conran Design Group and the 1992 World Expo in Seville. He has led creative projects around the globe and now practices as a freelance designer and visiting lecturer. He is the creator of The Horton’s brand identity and was the designer for the permanent heritage exhibition.

Christopher Wray

Christopher is a musical director, music educator and choral conductor, with many years of experience in teaching young people. His areas of interest are musicology and music pedagogy within the singing and development of young voices.
Chris is also vice chair of LGBTQ+ Forum for Kingston Upon Thames.

Maria Reeves

Maria is director of The Horton. She co-founded the charity that runs The Horton, previously serving five years a trustee and taking a leading role in project managing the renovation of the listed building and its transformation in becoming an independent arts centre.
As creative director, she leads artistic programming at the venue – from creative workshops to performances and events – introducing The Horton Summer Exhibition for the first time last year.

Call for Entries: How to Submit

The Horton Summer Exhibition 2025 is open to professional and amateur artists living in Surrey, including the former historic Surrey boroughs of Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Croydon.

Artists must be aged 18 years at the time of entry. Students in current education are eligible to apply.

The Horton Summer Exhibition will be held 1^st – 26^th August 2025 and will showcase a variety of artwork selected by a judging panel, with a main competition prize of free exhibition space and promotion for three artists in 2026 at The Horton.

Why enter?

The selection panel hopes to see an eclectic mix of work by established artists alongside emerging talent and first-time exhibitors. If your work is selected for the Summer Exhibition, you will benefit from:

• A three-week exhibition at a beautiful venue with free parking and a Cafe-Bar on-site.
• Artist’s name and link on our website.
• Outreach to press and media.
• Promotion of the exhibition on The Horton’s social media accounts.
• Printed exhibition leaflets/ posters and price lists.
• Promotional photography and video filmed in the exhibition space.
• Invitation to a Private View launch event.
• Opportunity to sell work – with a 20% + VAT commission (deposit) on sales taken by The Horton to raise funds for the charity.

Making a submission:

The cost of entry is being kept low to reduce barriers to participation. Artists will pay £5 per entry and can enter a maximum of three artworks. (£15)

If your work is selected for the Summer Exhibition, there will be an additional fee of £25 per artist (£10 for full-time students aged under 23) to participate; this goes towards the costs of running and promoting the exhibition and provides you with all the benefits listed above.

Please note that although you may enter up to three artworks, only one piece may be exhibited per artist.

Your artwork

• Your work must have been completed in the last five years.
• 2D – must be framed or canvas (no clip frames) with fixings and be a maximum size of 110cm wide x 110cm
• 3D – will be considered but there are fewer spaces available – at a maximum of 100cm wide.
• Artists submitting digital artwork must be able to provide a monitor or projector as required.
• All work for sale should be priced between £100 and £2,000. But you do not have to put your work up for sale.

Key dates

Submissions must be made ONLINE via the Curator Space Portal between Tuesday 27th May and Monday 9th June 2025. You cannot submit work before this date.

The Link to enter will be displayed here from 10.30am on Tuesday 27^th May.

• The first round of selection will be made from digital images of artworks. The Royal Academy has produced a very helpful guide to Photographing Your Work if you need some tips.
• Final deadline for entries: Monday 9th June 2025 at midnight.
• If you are successful in the first round, we will notify you by email and may ask you to deliver your artwork to The Horton for the final round of in-person judging. Date to be confirmed.
• Artists selected to exhibit will be notified in the week beginning 30^th June 2025
• Exhibition Dates: 1^st – 26^th August 2025

Please note, we can only accept applications through the Curator Space portal.

When the Portal opens for Submissions, please download and read the Terms and Conditions relating to entry before submitting your Work, as they form a contract between you and The Horton.

This April, we’re delighted to once again be hosting a season of Spanish work at The Horton, welcoming back celebrated artists from Spain for a series of intimate concerts and performances.

Our fourth annual Spanish Season will be a celebration of Spanish classical music and dance. A tribute to Spanish dance prodigy, Felix García, banished to Horton Asylum in 1919 and buried in Horton Cemetery.

Running on Friday 18th April and Saturday 19th April, this is a great chance to see award-winning Spanish performers up close.

Piano on Fire – Recital
Friday 18th April, 2pm
Concert pianist José Vicente Riquelme performs a beautiful repertoire of Spanish music on The Horton’s grand piano.
£15* Find Out More

Talk: Andalusian Music and Flamenco
Friday 18th April, 6:15pm-7pm
Musical Director Antonio Hernandez Moreno explores the history of Andalusian music and flamenco ahead of the evening concert Spanish Passion.
£10* Find Out More

Spanish Passion Concert
Friday 18th April, 8pm
Immerse yourself in the Spanish music and dance, featuring classic Spanish guitar and Bolero dance, performed in the round.
Cristina Cazorla, Dancer & Álvaro Toscano, Guitar.
£24* Find Out More

Spanish Guitar Masterclass
Saturday 19th April, 9am – 11am
Guitarist Álvaro Toscano introduces the key Flamenco and Spanish rhythms and progressions in this special masterclass.
£25* Find Out More

Spanish Dance Masterclass
Saturday 19th April, 9am – 11am
Join expert Cristina Cazorla for an introduction to Spanish dance. Learn the arm movements typical of Spanish dance and footwork characteristic of the “bolero” school. £25* Find Out More

Spanish Fairytale Children’s Concert
Saturday 19th April, 12 noon
A narrated storytelling in Spanish of Pedro y el Lobo (Peter and the Wolf), accompanied by the grand piano.
Ages 4+. 45 mins no Interval.  Find Out More

Guitar On Fire Concert
Saturday 19th April, 2pm
Guitarist Álvaro Toscano plays a special concert of passionate Spanish guitar music.
£15* Find Out More

Talk: 1919: The Premier of The Three-Cornered Hat Ballet in London
Saturday 19th April, 6.15-7pm
Musical Director Antonio Hernandez Moreno discusses the Ballet, The Three-Cornered Hat, choreographed by Léonide Massine with music by Manuel de Falla, and the link to Epsom and the Horton Asylum. £10*
Find Out More

Echoes of Spain Concert
Saturday 19th April, 8pm
A glorious celebration of Spanish classical music, song and dance performed in the round. Featuring piano, song and dance.
Cristina Cazorla, Dancer | Jennifer Ramírez Mezzo
José Vicente Riquelme, Piano
£28* Find Out More

The Horton Arts Centre is delighted to be taking part in a very special Arts For Impact fundraising campaign this month – (18-25 March) where every pound donated is being doubled by Big Give’s charity Champions.

We are aiming to raise £5000 in one week for The Horton – which could be matched to total £10,000!

Every donation made to The Horton through Big Give’s website between 18-25 March will be generously doubled…

• A donation of £10 will become £20
• A donation of £50 will become £100

Your support will have twice the impact.

Your Donation Will Make A Difference

Since opening almost three years ago, The Horton has flourished as a creative community space where everyone is welcome. More than 35,000 visitors a year come now come through our doors.

You have told us how much you value what The Horton has to offer – as a place to make friends; to learn something new; to feel inspired; to discover local history; to share stories and enjoy being part of something enriching.

Maria Reeves, director of The Horton, said: “It is fantastic to see how much The Horton has developed. The building, which was semi-derelict not so long ago, is now regularly filled with people enjoying live performances and having memorable experiences with friends and family. Instead of having to travel into London or further afield, there is a whole new world of arts and culture on our doorstep.

The Horton is at the heart of the community and we want to do more. As an independent charity, we receive no financial support for running or maintenance costs of this heritage venue. We are encouraging everyone to think about making a donation to ensure The Horton can thrive. The price of a train ticket – or more if you can afford it – will really make a difference to the future of The Horton and what we can offer.”

What is Big Give?

Big Give is a registered charity, supporting arts and culture charities working to achieve societal impact across the UK via match funding campaigns. Big Give’s Arts for Impact match fund campaign will see the public’s generosity multiplied, as donations to the participating charities will be doubled by generous ‘champions’, typically philanthropists, foundations or companies.

It’s a simple idea, when the public donates to a charity through Big Give, they ask funders to match that donation. So £50 from a member of the public becomes £100 for a good cause.

Why is The Horton asking for donations?
The Horton is an independent arts venue, receiving no core funding or financial support. Income from ticket sales and our café-bar alone do not cover running and maintenance costs and delivering a creative programme. With an important history of mental health and music therapy, we are appealing for funding so that more people can be part of our creative community and experience improved wellbeing.

How can you get involved?
Donate what you can via The Big Give website between 18th – 25^th March. Every donation, no matter the size, will make double the difference.

Support your local arts centre and help us do more for you.

Visit BigGive.org to donate between 18 -25 March only