Dates: Saturday 18 July 2026–Sunday 6 September 2026, 11:00 am-2:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

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.  

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Dates: Saturday 18 July 2026–Sunday 6 September 2026, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Gallery Talks
Daily, except Mondays
1pm and 2pm
Included in general admission

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

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Dates: Tuesday 21 July 2026–Sunday 6 September 2026, 10:30 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Object Encounter
Daily
10.30am and 4pm

Drop into Saville’s Chemist on Kirkgate to hear about modern Victorian medicine practice and the popular treatment of bloodletting.

Discover how a 19th century scarificator was used to balance the blood of the 4 humours, blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm, in order to treat headaches, fever and many other ailments.

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Dates: Wednesday 22 July 2026–Sunday 6 September 2026, 10:00 am-3:30 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Make and Play
Daily, except Wednesdays, from Thursday 23 July – Sunday 30 August 2026
10am – 3.30pm
Included in general admission 

Drop into the Rec Room to enjoy self-led craft activities and play inspired by the Yorkshire Museum’s collections. Make a bug brooch or a piece of Viking-themed beaded jewellery. 

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Dates: Saturday 15 August 2026–Sunday 16 August 2026, 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Open Studio: Make and Play
Every Saturday and Sunday from 18 July – 6 September  except 25 July and 8 August 2026
10am – 4pm
Included in general admission 
Suitable for all ages  

Discover family friendly stamp and ink activities inspired by the Making Waves: The Art of Woodblock Print exhibition in The Studio. Experiment, collaborate and create! 

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Date: Tuesday 18 August 2026, All Day
Venue: York Castle Museum

Gala Street Performance 
Tuesday 18 August 2026 
Performances throughout the day 
Included in general admission 
Suitable for all ages 

The spirit of York Gala arrives on Kirkgate with live entertainment and performances. Expect fun, laughter and Victorian-inspired acts! 

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Date: Tuesday 18 August 2026, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Meet Me at the Yorkshire Museum: Mary Anning
Tuesday 18 August 2026  
Drop in between 11am – 4pm (Performances at 11am, 12 noon, 1.30pm and 2.30pm)
Included in general admission
Suitable for all ages 

HistoryRiot return to the Yorkshire Museum with another interactive storytelling experience, centred around Mary Anning, a renowned fossil hunter. Hear stories of her Jurassic discoveries and handle fossils and rocks that tell us about Yorkshire’s prehistoric past. 

‘Meet me at the Yorkshire Museum’ is brought to you by HistoryRiot, a performance company connecting people to place and past, through riotous performance and storytelling. 

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Date: Wednesday 19 August 2026, 10:15 am-12:15 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Gallery Tales 
Wednesday 19 August 2026 
Session 1: 10.15am – 11am | Session 2: 11.30am – 12.15pm 
£7 per child* | Book Tickets
Suitable for ages 2-8  

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

Step into a playful world to explore patterns and puzzles where shapes, colours and clever clues come together!  

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Due to space restrictions, a max of 1 adult per booking.  

*Admission to York Art Gallery is included.  

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Date: Wednesday 19 August 2026, 10:30 am-3:30 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Creative Families
Every Wednesday from 22 July – 26 August 2026
Drop in between 10.30am – 3.30pm
Included in general admission
Suitable for all ages 

Join artist Lendita for a creative workshop where you’ll make your own hoard of treasure, inspired by our exhibition Chariots, Treasure and Power: Secrets of the Melsonby Hoard. 

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Date: Thursday 20 August 2026, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Art Outdoors: Make a Splash
Thursday 20 August 2026
Drop in between 11am – 4pm
Free*
Suitable for all ages 

Join us in the Artist Garden, directly behind York Art Gallery, for an outdoor play activity, inspired by York Art Gallery’s exhibition, Making Waves: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Print. Experiment with mark making techniques, play and create!

*Please note, this activity is weather dependent.  In the case of bad weather, the activity may take place indoors, but general admission charges apply. 

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