A New Chapter for Horsham
With the refurbishment of The Capitol well underway, Horsham has a unique opportunity to deliver a fresh start for community arts, sport and culture. While it’s wonderful to enjoy the panto or catch the latest film, culture is far more than a spectator experience. Our ambition is to harness the creativity and energy of all our communities so that everyone can take part and play a part in shaping the cultural life around us.
A thriving cultural district doesn’t happen by accident. It requires a council that facilitates, promotes, and invests in community arts, sport and culture — not just a handful of pet projects. Horsham deserves a cultural life that is broad, inclusive and alive with local talent.
Building a Cultural Buzz
The success of Friday Lates shows what can happen when we open our doors to creativity. Now we must go further by investing in the talent already here:
- Amdram groups
- Orchestras and bands
- Choirs
- Community arts groups
We want affordable culture for all, with artists performing in parks, community halls and town centres. The council’s role is to enable, not obstruct — through promotion, low‑cost venue hire and practical support.
Horsham already has a rich cultural landscape: film and photographic clubs, model railway groups, book clubs, green and literary festivals, theatre, poetry, classical and pop concerts, gardening societies and arts organisations to name check just a few. We will amplify this activity, not reinvent it.
A Connected Cultural Community
We will use the council website to create a central cultural hub, promoting all local activity and providing spaces in the town centre where organisations can easily advertise events.
We will encourage:
- Outdoor art classes
- Chess and board‑game competitions in Horsham Park
- Annual mural competitions with local schools, based on themes chosen by the community using recycled materials, connecting culture with sustainability.
- Festivals that show case food and culture from around the globe
Our vision is to support communities to create something extraordinary, linking cultural activity with our green initiatives to build a truly inclusive cultural identity.
Sport for Everyone
Horsham’s sports teams are thriving, and we want to harness that momentum. We will encourage people of all ages to take part in:
- Walking
- Running
- Bowls
- Cycling
- Dancing
- Team sports through local clubs
- And numerous other activities besides
We will work with local groups to promote their activities through a sports and leisure hub, adding another dimension to the cultural life of our communities.
Celebrating Horsham’s Cultural Heritage
At the heart of our vision is a celebration of Horsham’s cultural history — including its connection to Percy Bysshe Shelley, the iconic Romantic and Radical poet. We will build on this legacy to create a distinctive cultural identity for Horsham that inspires creativity across the district.
Everyone should have the opportunity to take part, without barriers of cost, location or background so much of what we promote will be free for all.
Our Core Values
- Community First — Empower local groups, clubs, artists and volunteers to shape cultural priorities.
- Involving Young People — Ensure young people have places to create, play, perform and develop skills.
- Health & Wellbeing — Recognise culture and sport as essential to physical and mental health.
- Economic Impact — Support culture as a driver of local business, tourism and high‑street vibrancy.
What the Council Must Deliver
- Community Cultural Hubs providing affordable rehearsal, performance and exhibition spaces.
- Improved sports Infrastructure including pitches, courts, cycling routes, walking trails and inclusive sports programmes.
- Investment in Youth including youth clubs, arts groups, skate parks, dance studios and grassroots sports teams.
- Touring arts and pop‑up events in rural villages, including outdoor cinema and workshops.
- High Street Culture – expanding performances, markets, festivals, exhibitions and celebrations in Horsham town centre.
- Inclusive Participation — activities for disabled residents, older people, low‑income families, emerging communities and those facing isolation.
- An Online Cultural Hub where residents can easily find information about all activities.
How This Will Benefit Horsham
This fresh start will create:
- Stronger communities — bringing villages and neighbourhoods together.
- Healthier lives — reducing loneliness and improving wellbeing through participation and creativity.
- Thriving high streets — cultural activity will draw residents into the town centre, boosting the local economy and creating new job opportunities.
- A more equal society — with everyone able to take part, building a confident and optimistic future for all residents.
How We’ll Know We’re Succeeding
We will know we’re on the right track when Horsham is ready to submit its story for consideration as a UK Town of Culture, not more in hope but with an expectation of winning as it will be a reflection of what we’ve already achieved together.