Art & Culture

Art and Culture runs deep in Watlington and the surrounding area. There is a strong and growing presence of artists, musicians and creatives in the area. This has resulted in a number of initiatives covering the arts, music and TV/Film.

Art Weeks in Watlington

ArtWeeks first came to Watlington on a large scale in 2019 when we discovered over 60 artists hidden behind our closed doors.

In one amazing week each May (10th-18th this year), these artists exhibit in our public spaces, our High Street shops and in The Tree Barn at Christmas Common. You can expect to enjoy a wide range of art forms from painting, photography, ceramics, sculpture, glass and textiles displayed in group and solo exhibitions and open studios.

Watlington was one of the few local venues that was able to run events and exhibitions during the COVID pandemic with 2 Art Trails in August 2020 (Hidden) and August 2021 (Green). These Trails created a community of artists working together culminating in the ARTSHUB and a number of pop-up exhibitions such as the Photography Collective in November 2023 and 2024.

Watlington ARTSHUB, established in 2023, is a creative community based at The Chapel, Watlington OX49 5BT holds art workshops, talks and exhibitions for visitors and local residents. The information on events can be found on Linktree and the ARTSHUB can be followed on Instagram

@watlington_artshub

The venue is available for a range of artistic endeavours for example making the lanterns carried by local schools’ children at the Christmas Carol service, a Christmas Eve tradition which has been going for the past 50 years.