Date: Wednesday 11 February 2026, 10:30 am-11:30 am
Venue: York Museum Gardens
Community Birdwatching
Wednesday 11 February 2026 | 10:30-11:30 | Free
Join our Gardens Duty Manager Isabelle for a community bird watch, and spot some of the various bird species in the gardens
Suitable for all ages, no pre booking required.
Please meet at the bird feeding station next to the rock garden.
Date: Wednesday 11 February 2026, 1:30 pm-3:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery
Sketchbook Circle
Wednesday 11 February 2026 | 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Suitable for ages 16+ | £5 per person* | Book here
*General admission to York Art Gallery is included.
Pick up a pencil – draw and discover!
Give yourself time to sharpen and share your drawing skills in this 2-hour sketching workshop with artist Griselda Goldsbrough.
Enjoy working in sketchbooks in a relaxed and friendly group, taking inspiration from the collections at York Art Gallery.
These informal practical art sessions run one Wednesday each month for beginners or those who create regularly. Suitable for ages 16+. Materials are provided. Please book separately for each session.
Date: Thursday 12 February 2026, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery
Drop-in sensory play sessions every Thursday during term-time, for pre-walking babies and their grown-ups, set in the atmospheric surroundings of York Art Gallery.
Using our beautiful sensory toolkit, a collection of colourful squishy sculptural objects, sessions will be gently facilitated, exploring shape, colour and texture.
Gallery Babies is a welcoming and supportive space to relax, bond with your baby and meet other parents and carers, providing a bit of calm and care to your daily routine.
The session starts at 10am and finishes at 12pm, but you can drop in and out at any time. Even after the session has finished, our sensory toolkit will remain on gallery for you to continue to explore with your baby.
These sessions are designed for pre-walking babies, however we understand that you may have your hands full with more than one child! If that’s the case the Studio will be open and can be used as a space to play, read and eat much needed snacks outside of the galleries if needed. Buggy parking and baby changing facilities available.
We are also offering a special offer in Sketch café for anybody attending a session: Hot drink and cake £7.00 and lunch and drink £15.00.
Date: Saturday 14 February 2026, 10:30 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum
Castle Kitchen: Coaching Inn Food
Saturday 14 February 2026
10.30am – 4.00pm
Drop-in
Included in general admission
Inspired by our new experience set in a Victorian coaching inn, The Last Stop Before Kirkgate, drop in to the Castle Kitchen to see and sample what type of foods would be available to weary travellers in the 19th century, from classic soup dishes to lemon blancmange and spotted dick pudding.
Date: Saturday 14 February 2026, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum
Meet me at the Yorkshire Museum: Viking Winter Camp
Saturday 14 February, Tuesday 17 February and Friday 20 February 2026
11.00am – 4pm
Suitable for all ages | Drop-in, included in general admission
Join History Riot for an interactive storytelling experience, inspired by Viking North and the Jorvik Viking Festival in York.
You’ll meet characters from the Viking winter camp and discover highlights of the exhibition through stories, music, games and laughter.
Date: Saturday 14 February 2026, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery
Rob himself has modelled for life classes for many years, as well as teaching life drawing to his students. As workshop leader, Rob encourages, advises and listens, so come along and take advantage of his skills and experience.
Each month alongside our live model muse, there will be an appropriate reproduction of a work specially selected from the Art Gallery collection which we will reference to potentially inspire our activity.
Life Drawing Workshops take place on the second Saturday of each month, tickets will become available approximately a month in advance.
Important information:
Our Life Drawing sessions are suitable for adults only. By booking, you are confirming that you are over 18. Proof of age may be required.
Basic drawing materials will be supplied, but please feel free to bring your own too.
If you’re more than 15 minutes late for your workshop, unfortunately we may not be able to guarantee entry. This is to ensure that participants have the best experience.
Date: Sunday 15 February 2026, 10:30 am-3:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery
Creative Families
Sunday 15 February 2026
10.30am – 3.30pm
Suitable for all ages | Drop-in, included in general admission
Join us this February half term for an artist-led creative workshop exploring our exhibition, Harold Gosney: Materials and Making. Experiment with 2D and 3D forms to create horse sculptures inspired by Gosney’s work.
Dates: Sunday 15 February 2026–Monday 23 February 2026, 10:30 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum
Sunday Sounds
Sunday 15 February 2026
Performance times: 10.30am, 12.30pm, 3pm and 4pm
Drop-in, included in general admission
Enjoy live performances of songs inspired by travelling and changes of transport through time as you explore Kirkgate. This upbeat duo will have your toes tapping before you know it!
Dates: Monday 16 February 2026–Sunday 22 February 2026, All Day
Venue: York Castle Museum
Cells Talks
Daily
11.30am and 2.30pm
Included in general admission
Discover the history of York Castle prison and some of its notorious inmates.
Dates: Monday 16 February 2026–Sunday 22 February 2026, All Day
Venue: York Castle Museum
Creative Studio
Open daily
Drop-in, self-led activity
Sketch out your dream Victorian outfit using the fabrics, hats, shoes and dresses on display for inspiration.
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