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Village Halls Bring Culture And Connection To Rural Communities
A packed village hall in rural Cumbria is offering a vivid reminder of the vital role these community spaces play across the countryside.
As Village Halls Week (16–22 March), organised by Action with Communities in Rural England, celebrates the contribution of village halls to community life, a new story shared by the National Rural Touring Forum highlights how these venues are also bringing professional arts and culture directly into rural communities.
The piece focuses on Lazonby Village Hall in Cumbria, where volunteers have been hosting performances for decades. With a population of around 1,100 and limited public transport links, the village is not the kind of place where residents can easily travel to theatres or concert venues. Instead, the theatre comes to them.
Through rural touring programmes such as the Highlights Rural Touring Scheme, professional performers travel to village halls and community venues, transforming local spaces into intimate stages for theatre, music, comedy and dance. These schemes rely on networks of volunteers who work with artists and touring organisations to bring high-quality performances into rural areas.
Across the UK, rural touring helps ensure that people lnrtving in smaller and more remote communities can experience the same high-quality arts and cultural opportunities often associated with towns and cities. The National Rural Touring Forum supports this national network of touring schemes, artists and venues working together to deliver professional performances in community spaces such as village halls.
On a recent Friday evening in Lazonby, almost 100 residents gathered to watch a performance by Ceyda Tanc Dance, a powerful example of how cultural experiences can reach even the most rural communities.
Volunteer promoter Jill Eastham, who has helped organise events in the village for more than a decade, says programmes like this are particularly important in rural areas. With many residents unable to travel easily to larger towns, events in village halls can provide opportunities not only for entertainment, but also for connection, creativity and improved wellbeing.
The story also highlights the essential role played by volunteers, whose time and dedication keep village halls active throughout the year, ensuring these buildings remain vibrant community hubs.
Across rural England, village halls continue to bring people together in ways that go far beyond bricks and mortar, providing spaces where communities can connect, celebrate and experience culture together.
