The Arts
The Arts
The George Harrison Community Room
The George Harrison Community Room is a (proposed) textured tribute to George Harrison and the Harrison family, who hold a valued place in the hearts of local residents. Overlooking the river, this community space supports a wide range of music, arts, wellbeing, and learning activities. Designed to be welcoming and accessible, it offers opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to come together, create, and express themselves.
Music
The room provides a home for musical expression and community connection, including:
• Choir rehearsals and community singing
• Creative and collaborative music‑making groups
• Exercise sessions that incorporate rhythm and movement
• Extension space for school music programmes
• Music workshops for beginners through to hobbyists
• Private hire for lessons, tuition, and practice sessions
Arts & Creative Expression
• Watercolour and drawing classes
• Artist meet‑ups and collective creative sessions
• Workshops led by local practitioners
Whether someone is trying something new or pursuing a long‑held passion, the space encourages creativity in a supportive, social environment.
Exercise & Wellbeing
The room hosts a wide variety of classes suitable for all abilities, including:
• Zumba and dance‑based fitness
• Chair‑based exercise
• Barre
• Stretching and gentle movement
• Yoga
• HIIT, bootcamp, and boxfit
These sessions help promote physical health, confidence, and community connection.
Henley River and Rowing Museum Partnership
The River Centre proudly retains the original The Wind in the Willows gallery, leasing the space to the Henley River and Rowing Museum. The museum continues to rotate exhibitions approximately every eight weeks, providing fresh and engaging cultural experiences for visitors throughout the year.
Event and Community Space
The River Centre’s large community space remains a hub for gatherings, celebrations, and shared creativity. It supports a diverse range of activities such as:
• Large‑scale craft events
• Community jumble sales
• Vintage and makers’ fairs
• Pre‑teen discos
• Cinema nights for young teens and pre‑teens
• Toddler‑and‑guardian discos
• Seasonal celebrations like Easter egg decorating and pumpkin carving
It also accommodates broader social, cultural, and wellbeing‑focused events, including:
• Themed music nights, such as drum and bass evenings or country nights
• Weddings and private celebrations
• Retreats and wellbeing days
• First‑aid and lifesaving courses
• Health‑improvement programmes
• Targeted sessions, including fitness groups for over‑60s
• GP‑referral exercise groups
The space is designed to be inclusive, flexible, and accessible, ensuring everyone feels welcome and supported.
The Dhani Harrison Community Recording Studio
The Dhani Harrison Community Recording Studio offers a friendly, no‑experience‑needed environment where hobbyists, beginners, songwriters, and young creatives can experiment, learn, and record. Upstairs, this room continues the texture tribute to the Harrison family. It is inspired by the ‘musician’s musician’ and Grammy Award winner Dhani Harrison. The aim of the recording studio is to build confidence and provide opportunities for creative expression, regardless of background or prior experience.
The River Series
The River Series is a seasonal programme of music, arts, and cultural events that takes place throughout spring, summer, and early autumn. Held on the terraces, it features:
• Outstanding British talent, including an ambition to partner with BBC Introducing to support emerging artists at The River Centre as an official venue
• Outdoor cinema nights for all ages
While being mindful of the significance of events such as Henley Festival and Rewind, the River Series offers something different: an informal, regular, community‑minded programme with accessible pricing, designed to bring people together in a welcoming riverside setting.