York Castle Museum

Events

Take your pick from our selection of special events....

Click on the following sections to skip to the area you are interested in: Studio Saturdays (monthly drop-ins for children), Easter Holiday activitiesWorkshops and Courses, Curators' Lunchtime Talks,

 

Studio Saturdays

Drop-in and join us for one of our Studio Saturday workshops for accompanied children, sponsored by the Friends of York Art Gallery. A small charge will be made for materials

Patterns

3 April, 11am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm

Create your own patterns in ceramics with artist Kirstie Briggs-Bateman

Treasure Hunt

1 May, 11am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm

Join artist Jo Pullar for a treasure hunt around the gallery.

China

5 June, 11am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm

Artist Kirstie Briggs Bateman will lead this session exploring Chinese arts and crafts, to co-incide with our exhibition China: Journey to the East.

Pots

3 July, 11am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm

A practical workshop using clay led by Kirstie Briggs Bateman, taking inspiration from our Gallery of Pots.

York Mystery Plays

7 August, 11am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm

Create your own images of York with Kirstie Briggs Bateman using ideas from the York Mystery Plays exhibition.

China

4 September, 11am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm

Join Kirstie Briggs Bateman again for some more Chinese arts and crafts.


Easter Holiday activities

Join us during the Easter holidays at these drop-in practical art sessions for accompanied children. A small charge will be made for materials.

Portraits

6, 7 and 8 April

11am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm

Draw yourself or a member of your family taking inspiration from the portraits within our exhibition 100 Years of Gifts.

Landscape

13, 14 and 15 April

11am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm

Create your own abstract landscape using paint or collage, using ideas from 100 Years of Gifts.

 

Workshops and courses

Poetry workshops

13 March, 11am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm

Explore the gallery and unlock your creativity with experienced workshop leader and award-winning poet, Pat Borthwick.

Places cost £5 per two-hour session. To book, telephone 01904 650333.

18th Century Collage Workshop

14 March, 11am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm

Make your own collage of images and words, taking inspiration from 18th century correspondence, fashion and art, and from work by students from York St John University. This workshop celebrates the re-hanging of the gallery's 18th century collection and will be led by an 18th century scholar and an artist.

To book a place, costing £5 per two-hour session, telephone 01904 650333.

Oil painting

20 March, 10am - 3pm

Join artist Tim Morrison for this workshop, which costs £25 per person. To book a place telephone Future Prospects on 01904 634748.

Felt Making

27 March, 10am - 3pm

This workshop is led by artist Viviene Morpeth and is £25 per person. To book a place, telephone Future Prospects on 01904 634748.

Figuring it out!

17 April, 10am - 4pm

A day of practical drawing and painting with reference to portraying the human figure and setting including: composition, perspectives, tonal effects and structural essentials. Suitable for all abilities. Led by Stephen Court, tutor for the Open College for the Arts.

£35 per person, booking essential. Telephone 01226 704364 to reserve a place.

Monotype and Technique

15 May, 10am - 4pm

Monotype involves the transposition of paint from a plate onto paper as a means of creating a "space" in which to "play". Release your imagination and sense of fun in this visually inspiring and immensely popular workshop. All materials are provided. Led by Stephen Court, tutor for the Open College for the Arts.

£35 per person, booking essential. Telephone 01226 704364 to reserve a place.

Pottery Weekend

29 and 30 May, 11am - 3.30pm

Explore our Gallery of Pots and learn different techniques for building with clay with potter Penny Phillips.

£15 per person, per day, or £25 for the weekend, including all materials. To book a place, telephone 01904 650333.

Exploring Chinese Brushwork Designs

19 June, 10am - 4pm

This course starts with sketchbook work in the museum to generate ideas for designs and compositions, leading to an exploration of colour/technique on paper as a basis for producing future silk paintings.

£30 per person, booking essential. Telephone 01226 704364 to reserve a place.

Still Life

17 July, 10am - 4pm

Explore the relationships between a selection of objects, working through the mediums of pencil, charcoal and acrylic, with Jane Lazenby, tutor with the Open College for the Arts. This workshop aims to encourage a personal starting point in sketchbook work, progressing to developing your ideas into a full colour study.

£30 per person, booking essential. Telephone 01226 704364 to reserve a place.


Curators' Talks

100 Years of Gifts

22 April, 12.30pm - 1pm

An introduction to our main gallery exhibition, which celebrates the centenary of the Contemporary Art Society. Free, no need to book.

China: Journey to the East

10 June, 12.30pm - 1pm

An introduction to this touring exhibition, which is coming to York from the British Museum in London.

York Mystery Plays

12 August, 12.30pm - 1pm

This talk will take visitors along the medieval route of the Mystery Plays, which were performed on waggons at 12 points around the city, through prints and drawings in our new exhibition in the Little Gallery.