York Art Gallery Announces Special Events for May Half-Term
Visitors heading to York Art Gallery this spring can look forward to a diverse programme of creative events centered around its popular Japanese artwork showcase. Running from Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May 2026, the seasonal schedule draws inspiration from historic woodblock prints, including Hokusai’s renowned ‘Great Wave’.
Family Activities and Hands-On Workshops in York
The gallery has curated a series of interactive experiences tailored for families, friends, and individual visitors. Throughout the week, guests can try an on-gallery printing station to craft their own postcard-sized keepsake of The Great Wave.
Special weekend and weekday sessions offer deeper engagement with the collections:
- Make and Play: Self-led creative sessions in The Studio on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May, drawing on Japanese artistic traditions.
- Gallery Tales: Story Craft Theatre returns on Wednesday 27 May with interactive storytelling and craft activities designed for younger guests.
- Creative Families: A collaborative workshop on Thursday 28 May inviting visitors to experiment with woodblock stamps and contribute to a large-scale wall art installation.
- Make a Splash: An outdoor, water-based community session led by artist Lendita in the gallery's Japanese Dry Garden on Saturday 30 May. This open-air workshop is free to attend and accessible without a gallery admission ticket.
- Paddle in the Surf: Guided Mokuhanga printmaking sessions with printmakers Andy and Naomi on Sunday 31 May, allowing participants to create four traditional Japanese prints.
Exploring the Collections and Daily Visitor Highlights
Beyond the scheduled workshops, guests can pick up materials for the new Draw and Discover activity to sketch while exploring the galleries. Additional hands-on features include the Not a Pot dressing-up area, sensory toolkits, and handling collections. Visitors can also join daily Art Shot Talks hosted by the Visitor Experience Team to hear insights into standout pieces from the museum's holdings.
Further information regarding the institution and its seasonal schedules can be found through updates provided by the York Museums Trust and official announcements at York Art Gallery.
To plan your cultural itinerary and discover more exhibitions across the city, explore the York what's on exhibitions guide or view the interactive map view on Musemap (musemap.art).
