Events

Creative Families – Fri 10 Apr 2026

Date: Friday 10 April 2026, 10:30 am-3:30 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Creative Families

Friday 10 April

Drop in between 10.30am – 3.30pm

Suitable for all ages | Included in general admission

Get hands-on and create something wonderful in an artist-led workshop inspired by our exhibition Sugar, Skill and Shiftwork.

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Ride the Wave: Family Relief Printing – Fri 10 Apr 2026

Date: Friday 10 April 2026, 10:30 am-3:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Ride the Wave: Family Relief Printing

Friday 10 April 2026

10.30am – 3:30pm

Included in general admission

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 Great Wave its power and depth.

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Meet Me at the Yorkshire Museum: Mary Anning the Fossil Collector – Fri 10 Apr 2026

Date: Friday 10 April 2026, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Meet Me at the Yorkshire Museum: Mary Anning the Fossil Collector

Friday 10 April

Drop in between 11am – 4pm

Suitable for all ages | Included in general admission

Join History Riot for an interactive storytelling experience where you’ll meet Mary Anning, a palaeontologist (fossil collector), and discover highlights of the exhibition through stories, music, games and laughter.

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Castle Kitchen: Hot Cross Buns – Sat 11 Apr 2026

Date: Saturday 11 April 2026, 10:30 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Castle Kitchen: Hot Cross Buns

Saturday 11 April 2026

Drop in between 10.30am – 4pm

Suitable for all ages | Included in general admission

Come watch live Hot Cross Bun baking demonstrations throughout the day, a traditional Easter treat. There’ll be samples of both modern and Victorian recipes and don’t forget to pick up a recipe card or scan the QR code available so you can try making them yourself at home!

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Life Drawing – Model as Muse – Sat 11 Apr 2026

Date: Saturday 11 April 2026, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Life Drawing – Model as Muse
Saturday 11 April 2026, 2pm – 4pm
Adult only (18+) | £15 per person* | Book Tickets Here

*General admission to York Art Gallery is included.

Join us at York Art Gallery for Life Drawing Workshops; whether you are a regular participant, would like to hone your skills, or try life drawing for the first time. These 2-hour immersive Saturday sessions, led by York based artist and tutor Rob Oldfield, are a wonderful way to experience life drawing in a supportive and friendly environment.

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.

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Creative Families – Sun 12 Apr 2026

Date: Sunday 12 April 2026, 10:30 am-3:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Creative Families

Sunday 12 April

Drop in between 10.30am – 3.30pm

Suitable for all ages | Included in general admission

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

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Sketch Cafe Workshops: Introduction to Intaglio printmaking with recycled materials – Sun 12 Apr 2026

Date: Sunday 12 April 2026, 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Sketch Cafe Workshops
Introduction to Intaglio printmaking with recycled materials
Sunday 12 April | Sketch Cafe | 4pm – 6pm
£30 per person | Book Tickets Here

Introduction to Intaglio printmaking with recycled materials

Learn how to use everyday items including tetra paks and fruit netting to create your own beautiful handmade prints with artist Susan Bradley. You’ll learn how simple materials can be used to create Intaglio prints using drypoint techniques.

A relaxed creative workshop that everyone can enjoy. You’ll take home a set of 5 of your own prints.

All materials provided, but please please bring an apron along.

A range of refreshments will be available from the cafe

Participants aged under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

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Community Birdwatching – Wed 15 Apr 2026

Date: Wednesday 15 April 2026, 10:30 am-11:30 am
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Community Birdwatching

Wednesday 15 April 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.

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Sketchbook Circle at York Art Gallery – Wed 15 Apr 2026

Date: Wednesday 15 April 2026, 1:30 pm-3:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Sketchbook Circle
Wednesday 15 April 2026 | 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Suitable for ages 16+ | £5 per person* | Book Tickets 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.

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Gallery Babies – Thu 16 Apr 2026

Date: Thursday 16 April 2026, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Gallery Babies

Thursday 16 April 2026, 10am – 12pm

Free | Pre-booking required | Sold Out

Burton 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.

Please note: Gallery Babies admission includes free access to the permanent gallery spaces, tickets for temporary exhibitions require a separate admissions ticket.

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