Visited The Courthouse before 31st March? Get 10% off – and support our charity – by completing this quick survey!

Enriching lives and connecting communities with workshops, performances and community projects

Enriching lives and connecting communities with workshops,
performances and community projects

Join Us!

The Courthouse is open: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm.

The Courthouse Café is open! 

Office hours: Tuesday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.

Read how we’re keeping you COVID-19 Secure

Rural Arts is a charity that delivers inspiring and inclusive creative opportunities that enrich lives and connect communities.

We provide over 400 events and activities each year at our community arts centre in Thirsk, which is also home to an award-winning café, an artisan shop and rooms to hire.

We programme 70 performances per year in rural venues and lead a range of wellbeing and employment programmes to support vulnerable people.

Through work like this, we hope to achieve our vision: creativity at the heart of every community in North Yorkshire.

Rural Arts Welcomes New CEO

Rural Arts, a North Yorkshire charity delivering inspiring and inclusive creative opportunities that enrich lives and connect communities, today welcomes its new CEO, Ian Read.

Read More »
The Courthouse
Saturday November 4 2023
- Saturday December 2 2023

4 Available

£125.00
Thirsk Town Hall
Friday December 22 2023

89 Available

£6.00£8.00
The Courthouse
Friday January 19 2024

12 Available

£65.00
Stillington Village Hall
Thursday November 30 2023

Available

Dishforth Village Hall
Tuesday December 5 2023

Available

Husthwaite Village Hall
Tuesday December 5 2023

Available

There are so many ways you can get involved with Rural Arts

From taking part in a creative wellbeing project to promoting a live performance in your village, from booking a workshop at your school to volunteering at The Courthouse – there are so many ways you can get involved with Rural Arts!

Professional performances in village venues across 3,500 square miles. Find out what's on, or join as one of our volunteer Promoters today!
Funded by Henry Smith Charity and The National Lottery Community Fund, Heart & Craft provides fortnightly art activities for the over 70s in eight communities across North Yorkshire.
Join our friendly team to help bring creativity to every community in North Yorkshire. Whatever your interest, we'd love to hear from you!
Visit Us

Home of Rural Arts, The Courthouse is a friendly, vibrant community arts centre located in the beautiful market town of Thirsk.

Book your place on one of our workshops, indulge yourself in our café, or browse our shop, where you’ll find unique items made by independent artists.

Support us
Help Rural Arts enrich lives and connect communities through creativity. Support us by donating, volunteering or collaborating with us.