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 activities, Workshops and Courses, Curators' Lunchtime Talks,
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.
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.
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.