The theme for this year’s Summer Exhibition is ‘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 first open Summer Exhibition last year, artists from across Surrey are invited to submit their work on the theme for consideration by a panel of judges.
Submissions can include painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, textile and multi-media pieces. The closing date is 9th June.
Visit thehortonepsom.org/ summerexhibition2025
Visit The Horton Summer Exhibition 1st – 26th August (Closed Sundays and Mondays)
Enjoy viewing an eclectic mix of work by established artists alongside emerging talent and first-time exhibitors, in the stunning grade-II listed heritage space.
“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. The Music Of Life is a powerful concept and visitors will see some exciting ideas.”
Maria Reeves, Director
The Horton Summer Exhibition 2024
Welcome to Summer at The Horton
After more than 30 years of being an inaccessible tangle of brambles and builders’ rubble, we are looking forward with great excitement to the opening of The Horton Gardens this summer.
Paths have been created, the wildflower meadow and lawns have been seeded, and our fantastic volunteers have helped to plant trees and clear hundreds of meters of thorns and invasive plants.
If the remaining work goes to plan, the grounds will be open to the public at the end of July. As well as enjoying the birdsong sitting on a brand-new bench with a great cup of coffee, visitors can experience our first programme of outdoor events – which appear in this Summer brochure. From the dramatic spectacle of The Whale - an 18
Don’t miss The Whale...
meter creature hosting a family theatre show inside its belly - to the acoustic harmonies of The Music of Trees, we hope you find time to make the most of Epsom’s new green arts space.
Indoors, the programme is as busy as ever with exciting new workshops and performances. We are also proud to be hosting for the second year, The Horton Summer Exhibition. Submissions on the theme ‘The Music of Life’ are open to all –so if you’re feeling creative why not enter?
We hope to see you soon.
Maria Reeves Director, The Horton Arts Centre
Visiting The Horton Gardens on Saturday 2nd August.
Cast off your shoes and squeeze inside a true-to-life 18 metre inflatable whale in this fantastic family theatre experience. With the use of exquisite puppets, comedy and music, Circo Rum Ba Ba explore a tale of sea creatures and their battle to survive in the ocean.
For children aged 3+ with their families and friends. First show 11:30am. Last show 4pm.
PERFORMANCE
Midsummer Classics:
Clarinet and Grand Piano
Saturday 21st June, 12noon
International chamber duo Dialogue of Minds, Epsom-born clarinettist Kristina Newton and Swedish pianist Joel Slott, come together for a dynamic afternoon where timeless masterpieces of classical music meet with exciting new voices of today. £11/£17
Jack Skipper: Skint
OUT
Friday 20th June & Saturday 21st June SOLD
BruMing Band
Thursday 17th July, 8pm
Jazz trumpet, cello, voice and percussion recreate the music of Dave Brubeck and Charles Mingus looking back at Mingus’s Ah Um and Brubeck’s Time Out albums from 1959. £17/£22
OUTDOOR EVENTS
Mrs Armitage on Wheels
Tuesday 29th July, 11:30am & 2pm
Don’t miss The Horton’s first ever outdoor theatre performance. Adapted from Quentin Blake’s classic tale, Mrs Armitage on Wheels
Scoot Theatre present a 40-minute interactive, energetic show, celebrating the joy of being outdoors. A fun, family show suitable for ages 3+, featuring live music, puppetry and physical comedy. £17, Family Ticket £50
Funkytown Big Summer Disco Party
Saturday 19th July, 7:45pm
Join DJ Kobbie on a trip to Funkytown, playing your favourite dancefloor fillers for a night of disco dancing in The Horton’s atmospheric Performance Space. £9/£12
Across Borders, Across Time: Two Hundred Years of Flute & Piano Music
Friday 25th July, 8pm
Flautist Rebecca Guy and pianist Nadine Cavaciuti take you on a global journey of classical music spanning 220 years and 3 continents. Enjoy classics including the Sonata by Poulenc and Ballade by Reinecke, alongside lesser-known works by Burton, Taktakishvili and Heath. £12/£22
Austen’s Women: Lady Susan
Friday 12th September, 8pm
The award-winning creators of Austen’s Women, I, Elizabeth, and A Room of One’s Own are back with a brand new solo comedy show: Jane Austen’s magnificently crafted tale of manipulation and manners. £22
Everywhere’s a Beach
Saturday 16th August, 11:30am & 2pm
Local circus company Hikapee return to The Horton with their highenergy, aerial circus theatre show, perfect for the whole family. Everywhere’s a Beach is a charmingly ridiculous performance, taking place on a giant revolving beach parasol. This dynamic, dizzying and downright daft show will leave you dancing with delight! £17, Family ticket £50
CHILDREN AND FAMILY
First
Theatre Experiences with Short Stories Tall Tales
Immerse your little ones’ imaginations through live performance, fully interactive role-play, props, music and creative drama. An exciting adventure into stories and exploration through the senses for ages 0-5. Tickets from £10.50
Mouse and Sam
Friday 6th June, 11:30am & 1:30pm
A heart-warming tale about being brave in a great big world and finding a friend.
My Kinda Dinosaur
Friday 4th July, 11:30am & 1:30pm
A ROAR-some tale of acceptance and adventure.
Family Art and Craft Drop in with Love Me Love My Mind
Thursday 28th August, 11am – 4pm
Enjoy a range of art and crafts with Epsom-based mental health charity, Love Me Love My Mind. A family drop-in session. FREE
The
Whale
Saturday 2nd August, 11:30am, 12noon, 1:45pm, 2:15pm, 3:30pm and 4pm
An amazing family theatre show that takes place inside an 18-metre-long inflatable whale. For children aged 3+. £17, Family Ticket £58
Message In A Bottle Circus Workshop
Saturday 23rd August, 11am and 2pm
Join Pirate Blackbeard and Mermaid Pearl in a fantastically fun, free, creative circus workshop for the whole family. Come dressed as a pirate, mermaid or any other sea-faring creature and try out juggling, dance, acrobatics, drama and more, under professional instruction. Spaces must be booked in advance. FREE
Learn the traditional Japanese method of printing from fresh fish onto rice paper using ink to create a piece of artwork. In this fun and tactile workshop, you’ll create a unique and fascinating print. No two are the same. £26/£30
Lino Printing – Patterns In Nature Kids Workshop
Thursday 24th July, 10am
Young artists will develop their skills in drawing from still life (plants and flowers) and learn the traditional relief printing method using poly blocks to create colourful prints. Ages 7+. £24
Tropical Inks – butterflies, bugs and dragonflies
Tuesday 29th July, 10am
Create a colourful insect artwork using ink and bamboo pens. Ages 7+. £24
The Music of Trees
Thursday 28th August, 6:30pm
Inspired by the wonder of the natural world, Geoff Robb’s ‘The Music of Trees’ weaves together tales of our woodland folklore with a suite of original acoustic guitar compositions performed in The Horton Gardens. £12/£17/£21
COURSES AND WORKSHOPS
Rose Quartz Jewellery Workshop
Wednesday 11th June, 10am
Perfect for beginners, this session will introduce you to one of the oldest jewellery-making techniques. Use wire, pliers, and creativity to craft your own gemstone bead pendant and earrings to take home. £64
Inspired by Nature Outdoor
Art Workshop
Wednesday 18th June, 10am – 3pm
Join artist Claire Chandler for a creative journey, exploring the nature and beauty of The Horton Gardens. As the grounds are not yet open, you will gain special access to observe and sketch the flowers, trees and landscape. Canvas board and materials included. £86
Flower Embroidery Workshop
Thursday 10th July, 10am – 3pm
Create a beautiful embroidered flower hoop with professional tutor Nati Denniff-Jones. Enjoy a mindful and fun approach to embroidery while learning new techniques. The one-day workshop is open to all levels of ability. All materials are provided, with embroidery kit to take home. £71
Discover English Wine
- Tasting Evening
Saturday 12th July, 7:30pm
In this informal evening, expert Graham Cox will take you on a tour of English wines, with a focus on some of the producers located in Surrey. You will taste at least six wines, with welcome drink and pairing snacks included. £65
Acrylic Still Life Workshop with artist Melanie Cambridge
Friday 22nd August, 10am – 3pm
Learn the principles of still life composition and acrylic techniques in this one-day workshop. Create an artwork to take home. Canvas board and all materials provided. £80
Learn the basics of life drawing or improve existing skills, and develop the ability to observe and capture the human form in various poses, media and visual styles. Block book or pay as you go. From £27
WELLBEING
Gong Sound Baths
Friday 6th June, 7pm
Saturday 5th July, 11am
Friday 5th September, 7pm
Take a journey into sonic tranquillity at The Horton. The soothing voice of Helen Nicholas will ease you into a relaxed state.
£21
Thursday Morning Yoga
5th June to 17th July, 9:15am
Start the day with a session of gentle yoga. Teacher Louise Tozer incorporates breathing techniques, sound and movement to improve self-awareness, flexibility and relaxation. Block book or pay as you go. £12/£14.50
EXHIBITIONS
Epsom Camera Club
Tuesday 3rd June – Saturday 14th June
Know Yourself, Grow Yourself
Tuesday 1st July – Thursday 10th July
Sarah Simonds Gooding –
Summer 2024 Exhibition Winner
Tuesday 15th – Saturday 26th July
The Horton Summer Exhibition
Friday 1st August – Tuesday 26th August
MAKERS MARKET
Saturday 31st May, 9:15am – 4pm
Saturday 30th August, 9:15am – 4pm
Discover unique, handcrafted creations and artwork at The Horton Makers Markets. The Horton will be filled with market stalls selling craft products and artworks made by artists and artisans from Surrey and across the South East. Stalls will include jewellery, textile crafts, ceramics, artwork and much more. Free Entry
Permanent Exhibition
Discover the history of Horton Asylum and Epsom’s history of mental health care.
Free Entry
The Horton Café-Bar
Open Tuesday to Saturday 9:15am – 4pm
Enjoy fresh food at The Horton Café cooked by our in-house chef – from seasonal hot specials to paninis and homebaked treats.
Eat and drink in the atmospheric former altar space or sit at an outside table overlooking the gardens.
Venue Hire
Our iconic Grade II-listed building offers a unique venue hire location for your business event, with contemporary facilities for up to 250 guests.
Coming soon... Drum
Thursday 9th October, 8pm
Two rising Ghanaian creatives grapple with success and identity. A fusion of storytelling, music, dance and archival material captures a unique snapshot of London in the swinging sixties.
Afternoon Tea
Served Wednesday to Saturday 11:30am – 2:30pm
Enjoy a delicious Afternoon Tea in the atmospheric surroundings of The Horton Café. Made to order in our kitchen, savour tasty sandwiches, delicious homemade cakes and freshly made scones with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry jam.
The Horton Arts Centre, Haven Way, Epsom, KT19 8NP
Opening
Hours
The Horton is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:15am –4:30pm plus specific evenings for performances and events.
The Café-Bar serves between 9:15am and 4pm and before, during and after shows on event evenings. Please check your ticket for details.
Visit Us
The Horton is located one mile north of Epsom town centre. The E9 bus stops right outside and there is a free car park. All public spaces are fully-accessible.
