Date: 7 May 2026

Making more waves this May Half-Term at York Art Gallery 

Saturday 23 May – Sunday 31 May 2026 

York Art Gallery is making the most of its iconic and incredibly popular Making Waves exhibition, showcasing a wide variety of Japanese artwork, including the recognisable ‘Great Wave’ by Hokusai, this May Half-Term. 

The woodblock prints serve as a backdrop to and inspiration for the programme of Half-Term activities aimed at families, friends and solo travellers. Have a go at the on-gallery interactive and create a postcard of The Great Wave in a 4-step hands-on printing experience, a souvenir of the exhibition to take home with you. 

Make and Play returns Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May, offering self-led activities in The Studio inspired by Japanese art. Story Craft Theatre return with an interactive storytelling experience and craft activity for younger visitors in Gallery Tales on Wednesday 27 May. Experiment with wood block stamps and inks and contribute to a large-scale stamped wall art piece in the Creative Families workshop on Thursday 28 May. 

Head outside to the Japanese Dry Garden behind York Art Gallery to Make a Splash in a water-based activity on Saturday 30 May. Led by artist Lendita, this large-scale creative session is free for all to take part and does not require an admission ticket to York Art Gallery. The Garden has continued to bloom and blossom throughout the spring; it offers a serene space in the heart of the city to enjoy the half term.  

Take the opportunity to create 4 beautiful Mokuhanga Japanese prints in a family-friendly guided session titled Paddle in the Surf, with printmakers Andy and Naomi on Sunday 31 May. Tickets are £15 per person and run every 25 minutes throughout the day. Tickets can be bought from York Art Gallery’s admission desk on the day only. 

During a visit to York Art Gallery, there are plenty of opportunities to be creative and interact with the collections including a new Draw and Discover activity. With a range of materials available to borrow, explore the Gallery and use the collections as inspiration to create imaginative art. 

Throughout the Gallery, there are plenty of other hands-on experiences with the Not a Pot dressing up area, sensory toolkit and handling collection. Don’t miss the daily Art Shot Talks with the Visitor Experience Team, who will share fascinating facts and anecdotes about some of their favourite pieces from the collection. 

All activities, workshops and exhibitions are included in general admission, except Gallery Tales and Mokuhanga Printmaking, which incur an extra charge. Family tickets are now available.