Easter at York Art Gallery

Saturday 28 March – Sunday 12 April 2026

All Easter activities are included in general admission, except Carving the Wave and Gallery Tales, which incur an extra charge. Family tickets are now available offering a great value day out. Due to the popularity of the exhibition, we’re also opening Tuesday 7 April, 10am – 5pm. Book tickets.

This Easter holiday, get involved in a programme of creative activities inspired by our brand-new exhibition, Making Waves: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Print. During your visit, discover amazing interactives including the Not a Pot dressing up area, sensory toolkit and handling collection. 

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What’s On

Carving the Wave: Linocut Printmaking Workshops
Saturday 28 March 2026
Session 1: 10.30am – 12.30pm | Session 2: 2pm – 4pm
Suitable for ages 10+
Tickets £7pp*

Design, carve and print your own lino block in this artist-led workshop inspired by The Great Wave and the dynamic compositions in Making Waves. You’ll learn relief printing techniques, exploring how line, movement and contrast create drama, and will work with striking Prussian blue ink, experimenting with texture, pattern and expressive mark-making to capture motion and rhythm of water. 

*Please purchase Gallery admission separately to access the permanent galleries and Making Waves exhibition. 

Gallery Tales
Wednesday 1 April and Wednesday 8 April 2026
Session 1: 10.15am – 11am | Session 2: 11.30am – 12.15pm
Suitable for ages 2-8
Tickets £7 per child* 

Join the award-winning Story Craft Theatre and step into a world of imagination where art comes alive and stories leap off the walls! This interactive storytelling adventure, inspired by the artwork at the Gallery, is designed to spark curiosity, creativity and joy. 

This Easter, there’ll be a different tale each week inspired by our Making Waves exhibition.

*General admission to York Art Gallery is included, giving access the permanent galleries and Making Waves exhibition. 

Secret Lives of Samurai Women: An Introduction to York Art Gallery’s Newly Acquired Print with Dr Eleanor Jackson
Wednesday 1 April 2026
12 noon – 12.30pm

Join Eleanor Jackson, curator of the Making Waves exhibition, to learn about the history behind York Art Gallery’s newly acquired print, taking you to the heart of the major changes in Japanese society during the 19th century.

Creative Families 
Thursday 2 April, Saturday 4 April, Thursday 9 April and Sunday 12 April 2026
Drop in between 10.30am – 3.30pm
Suitable for all ages

Get hands-on and creative with inks and stamps in an artist-led workshop exploring our new exhibition, Making Waves.

Ride the Wave: Family Relief Printing
Friday 10 April 2026
Drop in between 10.30am – 3:30pm 
Suitable for all ages

Explore the magic of Japanese Woodblock Printing in this artist-led workshop with printmaker Becky Long-Smith. Using foam and card to create your own unique printing plates, you’ll experiment with bold shapes, swirling seas and dramatic crests before printing your design in rich Prussian blue; the famous pigment that gives Hokusai’s The Great Wave its power and depth. 

Daily activities: 

Art Shot Talks
Daily
11am and 2pm
Included in general admission 

Join a member of our Visitor Experience team for a short, insightful talk on their favourite artwork from the collection. 

Please note, the York Art Gallery is open Wednesday – Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday as usual except Tuesday 7 April, where the Gallery will open for an additional day 10am – 5pm. Pre-booking online is encouraged due to the popularity of the Making Waves exhibition, however, admission tickets are available to purchase at the admissions desk on the day.

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Looking for more ways to entertain the family throughout the holidays? Find out more about our Easter holiday programme at our other sites.

What’s on this Easter at York Castle Museum

What’s on this Easter at the Yorkshire Museum