What’s On at Sandy Hill Arts

What’s On at Sandy Hill Arts in Corfe

Looking for creativity, culture, and community this autumn? If you’re wondering what’s on at Sandy Hill Arts in Corfe, you’ll find a rich programme of workshops, performances, and special events designed to inspire and delight. From hands-on craft sessions to thought-provoking theatre and live music, Sandy Hill Arts is buzzing with opportunities to try something new, enjoy performance, and connect with local and international talent.

🎶 Live Music & Performance what’s on at Sandy Hill Arts

February – July

Sandy Hill Arts continues its reputation as one of Dorset’s most intimate and adventurous venues, welcoming an inspiring run of live music and performance this spring and summer. From contemporary folk and Irish harmony singing to Afrobeat grooves, genre-defying jazz and spellbinding string duos, there’s something here for curious listeners and dedicated music lovers alike.

21 February | 7.00–9.00pm | £10

Happy Mouth
A truly contemporary folk duo, Happy Mouth blend beautifully crafted songs with the spirit of acoustic greats like Nick Drake, Cat Stevens and John Martyn. Featuring composer and vocalist Alistair Duncan alongside lead guitarist Leigh Crowe, their sound embraces what they call ‘Imperfectionism’ — heartfelt, honest and deeply engaging.

21 March | 7.00–9.00pm | £15

Emily Maguire
Award-winning British singer-songwriter Emily Maguire brings her powerful, thought-provoking songs to Sandy Hill Arts. With seven albums, five books, extensive Radio 2 airplay and tours alongside Don McLean, Dr Hook and Eric Bibb, Emily’s performances are emotionally rich and unforgettable. A remarkable artist with an inspiring story and a rare ability to connect deeply with her audience.

11 April | 7.00–9.30pm | £15

Me and My Friends
Described by Gilles Peterson as “a sublime fusion”, Me and My Friends weave Afrobeat, folk, jazz and highlife into joyous, dance-fuelled live shows. Featuring cello, clarinet, rich harmonies and irresistible grooves, their music is celebratory, soulful and uplifting. Expect spontaneous energy, deep musicianship and songs that invite you to move.

25 April | 7.00–9.00pm | £15

The Sound of Movement – Contemporary Dance & Music
A unique evening where contemporary jazz and dance merge in real time. Following a day workshop, musicians and dancers perform together using an innovative cue-based methodology that allows movement and music to guide one another live on stage. Featuring performers trained at top conservatoires and venues including Ronnie Scott’s and Sadler’s Wells.

2 May | 7.15–9.30pm | £15

Momoko Gill
Fresh from collaborations with Matthew Herbert, Alabaster DePlume and Tirzah, Momoko Gill steps forward with her striking solo project. Blending jazz sensibilities with instinctive songwriting and bold sonic exploration, her debut album Momoko (released 13 February on Strut Records) marks a powerful new chapter for this boundary-pushing artist.

17 May | 7.00–9.00pm | £12

Will McNicol
One of the UK’s most respected contemporary acoustic guitarists, Will McNicol creates cinematic, wordless stories through exquisite fingerstyle guitar. Winner of Guitarist Magazine’s Acoustic Guitarist of the Year and praised worldwide for his “beautifully flawless” performances, this is a rare chance to hear a true master up close.

9 June | 7.30–9.30pm | £20

Ye Vagabonds
Irish brothers Brian and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn bring their haunting harmonies and richly textured folk sound to Sandy Hill Arts. Winners of multiple RTE Folk Awards, Ye Vagabonds are at the forefront of a new wave of Irish folk. Their forthcoming album All Tied Together (released January 2026) was recorded live in Galway with acclaimed producer Phil Weinrobe.

20 June | 7.30–9.30pm | £10

From Brighton this group resists easy definition but weave threads of jazz, post-punk, hip-hop, folk and electronica.

Friday 27 June | 7.00–10.00pm | £15

The Youthsayers & The Soothsayers – Live
An unmissable, high-energy celebration of Afrobeat, ska, reggae and jazz. Featuring outstanding young South London talent alongside members of legendary band The Soothsayers, expect big rhythms, joyful melodies and a dance-floor-filling sound. Music that lifts spirits, moves bodies and showcases the stars of tomorrow.

Friday 18 July | 7.00–9.00pm | £15

Balladeste
Violinist Preetha Narayanan and cellist Tara Franks create a spellbinding blend of contemporary classical, Indian classical, baroque and folk traditions. Described as “Indo-Baroque meets alt-folk minimalism”, Balladeste’s live shows are ambient, soulful and quietly powerful. Catch them previewing new material ahead of their fourth album.

🎨 Creative Workshops, Courses & Exhibitions what’s on at Sandy Hill Arts

February – July

Alongside its acclaimed live programme, Sandy Hill Arts offers an inspiring calendar of hands-on workshops, creative courses and exhibitions set in a beautiful rural location beneath Corfe Castle. Whether you’re looking to learn a new skill, deepen an existing practice, or simply enjoy time making and exploring, these events offer welcoming, high-quality creative experiences for all ages and abilities.

Workshops & Courses

14 February | 10.00am–1.00pm | £75

Colourful Beach Huts Glass Fusion Workshop – Jenny Green
Create your own vibrant seaside scene inspired by iconic beach huts. Learn how to layer and cut glass, working with colourful materials to design a finished glass artwork. No experience needed. All materials, firing and refreshments included. Finished pieces will be ready for collection within a week (or can be posted).

16 February | 10.00am–1.00pm | £20

18 February | 10.00am–1.00pm | £20

Zartclub – School holiday Art for Young People (ages 8–14)
Join artist and educator Zara for creative school holiday fun using a wide range of materials. Activities include Mardi Gras masks, drawing and printing from nature, collage, clay, sculpture and imaginative “cities of the future”. Children do not need to be accompanied. Please bring snacks (no nuts).

8 February | 10.00am–3.30pm | £30

Half Term Blacksmithing Workshop (ages 7–16)
A rare chance for young people to learn traditional blacksmithing techniques. Under the guidance of resident blacksmith Alistair Butcher, participants will use real tools to forge small sculptures, jewellery and objects while learning tapering, cutting and forming techniques.

28 February | 10.00am–1.00pm | £75

Coastline Glass Fusion Workshop – Jenny Green
Create a shimmering coastal scene using jewelled glass, frits, stringers and beads. Work from a design or intuitively, with guidance throughout. Learn glass layering and optional cutting techniques. All materials, firing and refreshments included.

7 March | 10.00am–1.00pm | £35

Still Life Collage Workshop – Charlotte Fereday
A relaxed, hands-on workshop exploring collage techniques to create a unique still-life artwork. Suitable for beginners and experienced makers alike. All materials included.

15 March | 10.00am–1.00pm | £85

Under the Sea Glass Fusion Workshop – Jenny Green
Create a sea creature in glass — choose from seahorses, jellyfish, octopus or fish, or design your own. Learn glass fusion techniques and produce a fired piece ready to collect within a week. No experience required.

From 19 March | 10.00am–1.00pm | £120

From the Drawing to the Painting – 6 Week Course with Heather Gibbons
A deeply exploratory course inviting participants to embrace uncertainty, play and discovery in drawing and painting. Through themes such as Playing the Shapes and Playing the Colours, this course encourages intuitive mark-making and evolving compositions. Ideal for those wishing to deepen their creative practice.

29 March & Sunday 12 April | 10.00am–4.00pm | £140

Two-Day Raku Ceramics Workshop – Make, Glaze & Fire
Led by local ceramicists Richard Jeffery and Jayne Cunliffe, this small-group workshop takes you through the full raku process — from hand-building clay forms to outdoor kiln firing. Suitable for beginners and those with experience. All materials included.

13–17 April | £450

Traditional Signwriting Course – Terry Smith
A rare opportunity to learn the art of traditional signwriting over four immersive days. Led by master signwriter Terry Smith, participants will learn hand-lettering, enamel application and multi-dimensional lettering, producing their own finished sign. Perfect for lovers of vintage style, heritage crafts and traditional skills.

25 April | 12.00–5.00pm

The Sound of Movement – Contemporary Dance & Music Workshop
A dynamic cross-artform workshop exploring improvisation, composition and choreography for dancers and musicians. Open to all instruments and movement practitioners, followed by an evening performance where participants can take part.

16 May | 10.00am–1.00pm | £40

11 July | 10.30am–4.00pm | £80

Mindful Mandala Drawing – Pia Elliot
Gentle, restorative drawing workshops exploring mandala creation through mindful pen and ink techniques. Inspired by nature and pattern, these sessions are suitable for all abilities and include materials to take home for continued practice.

17 May | 11.00am–4.00pm | FREE (ages 16–25)

Will McNicol Guitar Workshop – Fingerstyle from Around the World
A relaxed, inspiring workshop exploring global fingerstyle guitar traditions. Designed for young players with some experience, focusing on technique, rhythm and group playing.

5 July | All Day | £65

Two-Day Playwriting Course – Rohan Gotobed
Spread over two weeks, this course supports writers interested in creating work for the stage. Led by Dorset-born playwright Rohan Gotobed, sessions explore theatrical voice, structure and the transition from page to performance, with optional follow-up mentoring.

Exhibitions at Sandy Hill Arts

7–15 March | 10.00am–4.00pm

Sayoko Takahata Exhibition 2026
Room 14, Sandy Hill Arts
This exhibition presents paintings developed through Sayoko Takahata’s PhD research at Arts University Bournemouth, exploring the Japanese cultural concept of ma — the spaces, pauses and intervals between things. Inspired by her 2024 residency at Sandy Hill Arts, the work reflects on emptiness, perception and creativity through sensitive, meditative painting.

✨ All events take place at Sandy Hill Arts, Corfe Castle.
Places on workshops are limited and early booking is strongly recommended.

👉 Find out more about Sandy Hill Arts
👉 Book tickets for upcoming events

Note: This event listing is a guide only. For up to date information and or changes to the event please check with the organiser or venue.