Events

‘Making Waves: The Magic of Materials’ with Professor Helen Smith – Wed 5 Aug 2026

Date: Wednesday 5 August 2026, 12:00 pm-12:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

‘Making Waves: The Magic of Materials’ with Professor Helen Smith
Wednesday 5 August 2026 | 12 noon – 12.30pm
Included in general admission

Join Professor Helen Smith, founding co-director of Thin Ice Press and Head of the Department of English and Related Literature at the University of York, for an insightful talk exploring the materials of Japanese printmaking.

Learn how traditional inks, woods for carving and washi, a Japanese paper contribute to the textures and effects seen in the historic works on display in the exhibition. Helen will investigate the ‘water magic’ of washi and explain how skilled makers make waves in the sugeta (papermaking mold) to produce an exceptional finish.

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Art Outdoors: Make a Splash – Thu 6 Aug 2026

Date: Thursday 6 August 2026, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Art Outdoors: Make a Splash
Thursday 6 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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Creative Families: Pattern Prints – Fri 7 Aug 2026

Date: Friday 7 August 2026, 10:30 am-3:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Creative Families: Pattern Prints
Friday 7 August 2026
Drop in between 10.30am – 3.30pm 
Included in general admission 
Suitable for all ages 

Design your own motif inspired by the beautiful patterns found in Japanese textiles and woodblock prints. You’ll experiment with simple relief printing techniques to design and print your pattern in this family workshop.

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Meet Me at the Yorkshire Museum: Mary Anning – Fri 7 Aug 2026

Date: Friday 7 August 2026, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Meet Me at the Yorkshire Museum: Mary Anning
Friday 8 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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Curator Talk: Georgian Dress and Textiles – Fri 7 Aug 2026

Date: Friday 7 August 2026, 3:00 pm-3:30 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Curator Talk: Georgian Dress and Textiles
Friday 7 August 2026, 3pm – 3.30pm
Included in general admission

Join Curator of Social History, Dr Faye Prior, for a talk about c.18th dress and textiles on display in York Castle Museum’s Secrets of Dress gallery. From patch boxes to knitted silk breeches: every object has its own secret, and Faye’s talk will reveal the secrets behind these fascinating and beautiful Georgian objects.

There will be time following the talk to ask questions. Meet in the Secrets of Dress gallery.

This talk is held in association with York Georgian Festival. For more information about the programme, visit York Mansion House’s website.

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Sounds of the Sixties – Sat 8 Aug 2026

Date: Saturday 8 August 2026, 12:00 am
Venue: York Castle Museum

Sounds of the Sixties
Saturday 8 August 2026
Performances throughout the day
Included in general admission
Suitable for all ages

Take a trip back to the swinging sixties as live music fills the Sixties Street with the soundtrack of a generation. From folk favourites to chart-topping classics, experience the music that defined a decade.

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Castle Kitchen – Sat 8 Aug 2026

Date: Saturday 8 August 2026, 10:30 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Castle Kitchen

Saturday 8 August 2026

Drop in between 10.30am – 4pm

Suitable for all ages | Included in general admission

Come watch our cookery demonstrations throughout the day of Mrs Beeton’s picnic recipes including Balmoral tarts, Sponge Cake, Tea Cream and Apple Cheesecake. There’s a sweet treat to satisfy everyone’s palate and there’ll be samples to treat your taste buds!

Pick up a recipe card or scan the QR code available to get the recipes straight to your phone to try recreate yourself at home.

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Creative Families – Sat 8 Aug 2026

Date: Saturday 8 August 2026, 10:30 am-3:30 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Creative Families
Saturday 8 August 2026
Drop in between 10.30am – 3.30pm
Included in general admission
Suitable for all ages

Join artist Lendita, for a fun, family workshop inspired by the Victorian York Gala. Surrounded by a themed paper-cut installation, created by Yorkshire artist Pippa Dyrlaga, you’ll make a colourful hot air balloon creation.

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Life Drawing – Model as Muse – Sat 8 Aug 2026

Date: Saturday 8 August 2026, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Life Drawing – Model as Muse
Saturday 8 August 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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Summer Supper Club – Sat 8 Aug 2026

Date: Saturday 8 August 2026, 6:30 pm-9:00 pm
Venue: Sketch Café

Summer Supper Club
Saturday 8 August 2026
Arrival from 6.30pm, dinner served from 7pm
£45 per person (set 4-course menu)
Tickets available, please email Maria@sketchyork.co.uk
Suitable for all ages

Join us for a special evening of great food and beautiful surroundings as Sketch Café hosts a series of Summer Supper Clubs.

Each supper club will feature its own unique four-course menu, specially created for that evening. Settle in for an evening of seasonal flavours and relaxed dining in the café after hours.

Menus will be announced on Sketch’s Instagram account @sketchyork

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