Become a Pro Member

Free Bank Holiday Creative Coworking Session!

Monday 31st August, 10am-4pm, Homestead Pavillion, free to book, kids welcome (accompanied by adults)

Join us in Homestead Park Pavillion to work on your own things, collaborate or have a go at some illustration or writing. Book on via the link!

Book here!

Creative Drinks!

Friday 4th September, PATCH, The Bonding Warehouse, free with any paid York Creatives subscription, or £4.99
This month we’ve got a discussion and then a mini print-fair alongside our usual creative drinks networking mingle.

Book now!

York Poets’ Corner

Spark, Friday 25th September, Tickets £8

Hosted by York Creatives Poetry Board Member Chloe Hanks and Becca Drake of Little Hirundine Press, get together with like-minded poets for talks, workshops and a social!

More info

York Creatives Write-Along Session - every last Monday of the month!

Books and Bevs, Acomb, Monday 28th September, 6-8pm (every last Monday of the month!), free for Creative Pro Members or £5

Carve out some time for yourself to write at our write-along! You can work on your own project, meet some people and take your creativity seriously.

Book here!

Fangfest Festival Of Practical Arts

Village Of Fangfoss, Nr Pocklington, 5th & 6th September, free entry
A celebration of local artists and makers. A great family day out!

More info

York Artworkers Association Presents: George Willmore Collage Artist

Southlands Church, 7th September, 7:15pm, £7 or £4 for members

Junk, Punks, and Adventures in collage, with all the meaning and politics such labels represent! George has worked in props, costumes, theatre and short film in a freelance capacity and, since settling in York in 2023 has been building a new name for himself in the local art scenes through his Collage artworks, curation of shows, exhibitions, and workshops.

More info

Pigeon Paint Off

City Screen Picturehouse, Saturday 12th September, 11:30am-5:30pm, Tickets £14.25

Eleven artists go head to head in two, one-hour rounds to create a unique, pigeon inspired work of art. You can watch them and then bid on a painting! Following this there will be a pigeon social and pigeon-themed pub quiz. Social at 6pm, quiz at 7pm.

Tickets

Printmaker Print Fair

York Cemetery, 19 & 20th September, 10am-5pm, free entry

More than 20 of our members will be taking part in our annual fair selling hand-printed original prints.

More info

York Photographers: Show and Tell

Patch, The Bonding Warehouse, Wednesday 16 September, 6pm - 8pm, £8

Join us for this intimate and relaxed event to get the chance to show and talk about your work, discuss it and network with other peers!

More info

Monsters, Mystery and Darkness: 4 Week Creative Writing Course with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Every Wednesday in October, 6:30-8:30pm, Moorlands Nature Reserve, £60pp for all sessions or £30 with a Creative Pro Membership - if you became a pro before July 26

As the nights draw in and the clocks go back, gather among the trees of Moorlands Nature Reserve, a place where kings once hunted and wolves once roamed. This October writing course takes you week by week through monsters, myths and mystery, with gentle prompts and guidance to help you craft your story.

Book here

If you haven’t already, check out our membership options for Free York Creative Drinks, discounts on our events and as a way to support us, support creatives around the city.

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS free Creative Drinks and 50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory, free access to our other events, 50% off partner events, 20% off in cafes around York, LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Join our free, local social media Circle to keep up to date with what’s happening!

Join 868 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

Monsters, Mystery and Darkness: 4 Week Creative Writing Course with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Every Wednesday in October, 6:30-8:30pm, Moorlands Nature Reserve, £60pp for all sessions or £30 with a Creative Pro Membership if you book before 5th August

As the nights draw in and the clocks go back, gather among the trees of Moorlands Nature Reserve, a place where kings once hunted and wolves once roamed. This October writing course takes you week by week through monsters, myths and mystery, with gentle prompts and guidance to help you craft your story.

Book here

Become a Pro Member

Creative Drinks!

Friday 5th June, PATCH, The Bonding Warehouse, free with any paid York Creatives subscription, or £4.99
This month we’re taking it easy with a relaxed social, getting out on the balcony and a few games if you want to partake!

Book now!

Write-Along Session - now every last Monday of the month!

Books and Bevs, Acomb, Monday 31st August 6-8pm (every last Monday of the month!), free for Creative Pro Members or £5

Carve out some time for yourself to write at our write-along! You can work on your own project, meet some people and take your creativity seriously.

Book here!

Hiscox York Arts Tours

Date Saturday 1st August - Sunday 2nd August, Location (The Hiscox Building), Price (£5-£10)

Book your place on our next tours, Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd August 2026. This year's tours are again raising money for Guide Dogs UK. Explore an extraordinary private art collection — Hockney, Moore, Hodgkin and many more — inside one of York's most remarkable buildings.

Book tickets!

Artists Summer Open Doors

Saturday 8th August, 10am to 4pm, South Bank Studios, 97 Bishopthorpe Road, YO23 1NX, FREE entry

Come and meet 11 of our resident artists, see their studios and their work. Including painting, printmaking, photography, textiles, drawing & mixed media. Plus art demonstrations and activities, and an onsite cafe with homemade cake too. All warmly welcomed.

More info

More events around the city!

York Photographers Networking Night | Opposites Attract Scratch Night |
York River Art Market | York Filmakers with Jessica Loveland | Aesthetica Art Prize

If you haven’t already, check out our membership options for Free York Creative Drinks, discounts on our events and as a way to support us, support creatives around the city.

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS free Creative Drinks and 50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory, free access to our other events, 50% off partner events, 20% off in cafes around York, LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Join our free, local social media Circle to keep up to date with what’s happening!

Join 860 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

Creative Drinks!

Friday 5th June, PATCH, The Bonding Warehouse, free with any paid York Creatives subscription, or £4.99
This month we’re taking it easy with a relaxed social, getting out on the balcony and a few games if you want to partake!

Book now!

Write-Along Session

St Nicks Nature Reserve, Thursday 9th July, 10am-12pm , free for Creative Pro Members or £5

Carve out some time for yourself with our write along session next Thursday! Take your creativity seriously and meet some like-minded creatives.

Book here

Write-Along Session

Books and Bevs, Acomb, Monday 27th July 6-8pm, free for Creative Pro Members or £5

Carve out some time for yourself to write at our write-along! You can work on your own project, meet some people and take your creativity seriously.

Book here!

Acomb Fest

Acomb, various locations, free, 3-5 July 2026

1 weekend. 5 murals. STREET ART. MUSIC. FOOD & DRINK.

Join the fun!

Analogue Street Photography Walk & Film Processing Workshop

Saturday 11 July • 11 AM - 2 PM, Spark York, £18

Dive into the world of vintage vibes and learn how to shoot and develop your own film photos

Starting at SPARK: YORK, the Analogue Photography & Film Processing group will be given the chance to participate to a guided film photowalk in the streets of York, learning and improving their film photography knowledge and skills.

During the second part, the group will be heading back to PATCH YORK, and will be shown, helped and guided through the process of developing the 35 mm film that they’ve just shot by Local Photographer and Photography & Art Lecturer, Neil Harman.

Book and more info!

More events around the city!

If you haven’t already, check out our membership options for Free York Creative Drinks, discounts on our events and as a way to support us, support creatives around the city.

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS free Creative Drinks and 50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory, your profile shared to the York Creatives Instagram grid and story, LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Join 834 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

Creative Drinks - Pride Special Moral Panic Take-Over!

Friday 5th June, PATCH, The Bonding Warehouse, free with any paid York Creatives subscription, or £4.99

This month we have an extra special drinks. We’ll have 10 10-minute performances by LGBTQI+ performers throughout the night and time at the beginning and end to mingle and chat. If you’re a Pro or Supporter subscriber check your emails for your code for a free ticket.

Book now!

York and North Yorkshire Game Jam

Patch, 5 & 6 June,

A 48-hour competition for local videogame enthusiasts and university students to rapidly design and create new digital games!

Join XR Stories and York Game Makers Guild for the York and North Yorkshire Game Jam, a 48-hour competition for local digital games enthusiasts and University of York and York St. John University students to rapidly design and create new digital games!

Book here

Reignite XV

Temple Hall, YSJ University, Thursday 4th June, 6-9pm, free

We are building an ecosystem that actively supports growth. One that connects education to industry, talent to opportunity, and ambition to infrastructure. Most importantly, one that makes it clear: this city is a place where creative careers can begin, grow and thrive.

Because the question is no longer how do you break in? It’s how do we build something that lasts once you do? Liftoff is about that moment of transition - from study to practice, from potential to momentum - and what it really takes to get there.

Event info

Folk Poetry Workshop with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Moorlands Nature Reserve, York, Sunday 14th June, 2:30-5pm, £35
Adel Dam Nature Reserve, Leeds, Sunday 28th June, 2:30-5pm, £35

Come along to this brilliant afternoon with Managing Director of York Creatives and Founder of Written in York, Sarah Williams, for an immersive folk poetry workshop rooted in this beautiful nature reserve in York.

This 2.5-hour session is an invitation to write with the land rather than simply about it. Drawing on the rich tradition of Yorkshire folktales, songs, and verse that have long been tied to the land, you’ll be guided through a process of deep listening and creative discovery: finding inspiration all around you and the voice of the wildlife that Yorkshire Wildlife Trust helps preserve.

Book here!

Write-Along Session

Books and Bevs, Acomb, Monday 15th June 6-8pm, free for Creative Pro Members or £5

Carve out some time for yourself to write at our third write-along! You can work on your own project or hear about the new fiction section of City Folk - the York based creative magazine - and draft a submission for this.

Book here

(C3) Event: Creative Technology Discovery Cluster

York Guildhall, Wednesday 17th June, 1-5pm, free

Join us for the next , bringing together creative practitioners, technologists, researchers and organisations from across York and North Yorkshire. This session will explore what the future of the creative sector could look like - and how we can collectively shape it - while drawing inspiration and insight from innovation happening in other industries.

Book here

York Creative Blends

Patch, Thursday 18th June, 6:30-9pm, free for Pro Members or £5

Come along to a wonderful collaboration between York Creatives and Drawvik and get creative and collaborative!

Writers:
Have you always dreamed of seeing your characters brought to life? Do you want to find an illustrator to collaborate with? Do you need to find an artist to design your next book cover?
Come along to our Writers X Illustrators Blend, designed to introduce you to different artists and bring your words to life.

Illustrators:
Are you looking to work alongside a writer? Are you hoping to break into cover art or book illustration and need help building a portfolio?
Come along to our Writers X Illustrators Blend to get to know what writers really want to see in the art accompanying their book and maybe find a writer to work alongside to make entirely new work!

Book here!

If you haven’t already, check out our membership options for Free York Creative Drinks, discounts on our events and more!

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS free Creative Drinks and 50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory, your profile shared to the York Creatives Instagram grid and story, LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Join 822 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

Creative Drinks

Friday 3rd April PATCH, The Bonding Warehouse, free with any paid York Creatives subscription, or £4.99

If you’re a Pro or Supporter subscriber check your emails for your code for a free ticket.

Book now!

York Photographers Black & White Photography Workshop

Book here!

York Artworkers: Ric Liptrot

Monday 13th April, Southlands Methodist Church, 97 Bishopthorpe Rd, York YO23 1NX, UK. 7:15pm start. Admission charge £7 or £3 for members. (Membership is £22pa or £14 for full time students.)

Message @yorkartworkers on Instagram to book on.

More info

Reignite XIV: Creative Entrepreneurship

Book here

Secret Cinema Club

Info here

Photography Walkabout

Message @katie_dulson on Instagram to book on

Introduction to Letterpress

Thin Ice Press presents and introduction to letterpress. Book on via the button below and check out their other events!

Book here

If you haven’t already, check out our membership options for Free York Creative Drinks, discounts on our events and more!

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS free Creative Drinks and 50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory, your profile shared to the York Creatives Instagram grid and story, LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Join 803 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

Creative Drinks X Lit Fest After Party

Friday 3rd April PATCH, The Bonding Warehouse, free with any paid York Creatives subscription, or £4.99

This is a very special creative drinks where we’re teaming up with York Literature Festival and The Book Exchange York, for a book swap and celebration of all things Lit Fest! Please bring along a book you’d like to exchange (this can be creative, fiction, non-fiction or one of the great books from the Lit Fest), swap it with another book and enjoy mingling with like-minded people!
If you’re a Pro or Supporter subscriber check your emails for your code for a free ticket.

Book now!

York Creatives Board Member Events!

Kids’ Easter Creative Writing, ages 10-13 with York Creatives’ Managing Director Sarah Williams

Book here!

A Cabaret Fundraiser with Hook, York Creatives’ Board Member for Spoken Word and Cabaret. Help Hook stay in the UK and continue to do fantastic things with York Creatives by booking a ticket or donating!

Book or donate!

Foundation in Acting course or The Actors’ Gym with Jacob Ward, York Creatives’ Board Member for theatre!

Book here!

York Artworker Andrian Melka

Monday 13th April, Southlands Methodist Church, 97 Bishopthorpe Rd, York YO23 1NX, UK. 7:15pm start. Admission charge £7 or £3 for members. (Membership is £22pa or £14 for full time students.)

Andrian is a British-Albanian figurative sculptor. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tirana during the student revolts that sparked the fall of communism and was schooled in the socialist realist tradition. He found inspiration in the rich heritage of classical and Renaissance sculpture and is best known for his figurative work in marble and stone - most recently carving a bust of the Japanese ballet dancer, Fumi Kaneko, a principal with The Royal Ballet. Andrian will talk about his work to date and share his approach to modelling in clay when creating bronze and ceramic figurative sculptures in comparison with carving in stone and marble.

Message @yorkartworkers on Instagram to book on.

More info

Intaglio Printmaking Workshop at York Art Gallery with Susan Bradley

Sunday 12th April, 4pm to 6pm, Sketch Café at York Art Gallery, £30

Join me for a creative afternoon in collaboration with York Art Gallery and Sketch Cafe. An easy-going afternoon where you can make something with your hands in a relaxed setting. Creating beautiful Intaglio prints with recycled tetra pak packaging and a pasta machine. Open to all. You'll leave with a set of 5 prints designed and made by you!

Book here!

Rae George Art - life drawing course

Wednesdays, 6.30–8.30pm, 15 and 22 April (no sessions on 4 & 11 April), £15 per session, Pica Studios, York

Each week we’ll work with different models and gently focus on key aspects of life drawing — from light and shade to building form and volume. Places are limited to 12 artists, so booking early is recommended.

Book here!

York Photographers: An Introduction to Event Photography

Tuesday14 April, 6 to 8pm, Patch, York, £5-10

From tips on lighting and framing to gear recommendations , we'll guide you through everything you need to know to help you gain the understanding of how to prepare and shoot events. Feel free to bring your camera and a notepad, and get ready for an in depth and informative workshop.

Book here!

Parade

Wed 1 - Sat 4 Apr, Various Times, Joseph Rowntree Theatre £13.00 - £17.00

A story of injustice, misinformation and racism in southern America in 1913. It details about the mistrial of a Jewish man named Leo Frank who is wrongly accused of murder and the struggles he faces in the city of Marietta, Georgia

Book here!

If you haven’t already, check out our membership options for Free York Creative Drinks, discounts on our events and more!

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS free Creative Drinks and 50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory, your profile shared to the York Creatives Instagram grid and story, LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Join 778 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

York Literature Festival

28 Feb - 25th March, City Wide, Various prices - 10% off for York Creative Pro Members!

A huge number of literature events, workshops and author talks across the city. Get involved with as many as you can. See the full schedule and book via the button below.

More info

Creative Drinks

Friday 6th March PATCH, The Bonding Warehouse, free with any paid York Creatives subscription, or £4.99

We’re back for the first Creative Drinks of the year! If you’re a Pro or Supporter subscriber check your emails for your code for a free ticket.

Book now!

Extending XR

Workshops on 16 March, 23 March and 30 March, 2-4pm or 6-8pm at Patch.

Extending XR is a free training programme for people in York and North Yorkshire who are looking to develop their skills in creative technology (where creative skills are combined with digital technologies to create new content, experiences and stories).

The first three short workshops aim to help participants build foundational skills in creative digital tools including 3D scanning/modelling, basic animation/performance capture and creating a virtual environment.

More info

York Mystery Plays volunteering opportunities event

5th March, 7.00pm in Bedern Hall

The launch will last 90 minutes and combine a short welcome with a jobs-fair-style
marketplace. Meet the people leading the 2026 production and find out how you can get involved! You don’t need to be a theatre professional. You don’t need to have done this before. You just need to care about York — and be willing to play your part.
Arrive from 7.00pm for tea/coffee and the event starts last 7.30pm

Please email any questions and/or RSVP via: volunteer@yorkmysteryplays.co.uk

More info

Rae George Art - 6 Week life drawing course

4th March: Life Drawing with Rae ✍🏼

Wednesdays, 6.30–8.30pm, 4 March – 22 April (no sessions on 4 & 11 April), £90 for the full course, Pica Studios, York

Each week we’ll work with different models and gently focus on key aspects of life drawing — from light and shade to building form and volume. Places are limited to 12 artists, so booking early is recommended.

Book here!

York Artworkers

Monday 2nd January, 7:15-9pm, Southlands Methodist Church, 97 Bishopthorpe Rd, York YO23 1NX, Price £7 or £3 for YAWA members. (Membership is £22pa or £14 for full time students.)

Our speaker is Alison Duddle, a visual artist based in West Yorkshire who specialises designing, making and creating performance using puppets and masks. Her work spans visual theatre performance with the legendary Horse + Bamboo Theatre, creating giant puppets for outdoor spectacle, making masks for film and TV and teaching around the world, most recently in Kenya.

More info

Rode-Sew Workshops

Friday 27th March 11am - 13pm, FREE, Acomb Explore Library, Front Street, Acomb, YO24 3BZ

A hands-on workshop exploring sustainability through fashion collage. Using discarded materials & magazines, reimagine 'waste' to create new, stylish fashion designs. Open to all levels.

Book here!

Fragments of Her | Folk and Word | Hey Creative Women | Street Photography

If you haven’t already, check out our membership options for Free York Creative Drinks, discounts on our events and more!

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS free Creative Drinks and 50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory, your profile shared to the York Creatives Instagram grid and story, LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Join 762 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

We sat down with Chloe Hanks and Rob O’Connor a few weeks ago to hear all about this year’s York Literature Festival. Listen along to hear what events you shouldn’t miss, the history of the Lit Fest and what might be in store for the 20th Anniversary next year!

York Creatives Pro Members get 10% off Lit Fest Tickets. You can sign up here for £6.25 per month and enjoy free entry to Creative Drinks, free events, discounts, a profile on our directory and more.

Creative drinks is back!

Friday 6th February, PATCH, The Bonding Warehouse, free with any York Creatives subscription, or £4.99

We’re back for the first Creative Drinks of the year! If you’re a Pro or Supporter subscriber check your emails for your code for a free ticket.

Book now!

DAMU - Digital Arts Meetup #2

Fri 6th February, 4:30 - 6pm, , Patch, The Bonding Warehouse

where we will be focusing on live music performance, reactive visuals and AI! You’ll get to hear speakers from academia and industry talk about - and perform - their work applying digital technologies to the world of live performance.

Book here!

Poetry and Prose Writing Day Retreat!

Mon 9th Feb, 10am - 4pm, Beningbrough Hall, YO30 1DD, Free for Pros!

We’re super excited to be putting on a writing day retreat with Beningbrough National Trust. This is a free event for our Pro Members so sign up now if you want to book on. This day includes transport to and from York, a free lunch and writing exercises and time throughout the day to explore your own writing. We’ve got Beningbrough to ourselves this day and by attending this you can submit your writing to be in for a chance at becoming Beningbrough’s writer in residence for the summer!

Sign up!

York Residents’ Festival

31st Jan 26 - 1st Feb 26, Citywide

Organised by Make It York, York Residents’ Festival 2026 offers a variety of exclusive deals for York residents. How do I take part? To get involved, please present a valid York Card, student card or identity card that proves York residency. If presenting an identity card, this must clearly state ‘York’ (e.g. driving licence or older person’s bus pass).

Artists:

Rae George Art - 6 Week life drawing course

4th March: Life Drawing with Rae ✍🏼

Wednesdays, 6.30–8.30pm, 4 March – 22 April (no sessions on 4 & 11 April), £90 for the full course, Pica Studios, York

Each week we’ll work with different models and gently focus on key aspects of life drawing — from light and shade to building form and volume. Places are limited to 12 artists, so booking early is recommended.

Book here!

Art Preview: Liz Foster

Thu 12 Feb, 6 - 9pm, Bluebird Bakery, Acomb, free

Join us to celebrate Liz Foster's new art exhibition. Nibbles and a chance to meet the artist, guaranteed!

Book here!

Colour & Light York Bid

4th - 22nd Feb, 6 - 9pm, York Castle Museum and Clifford’s Tower

More info

Navigators Art, Free Exhibition: PENNY MARROWS & J.P. WARRINER - two late great York artists

Sunday 8th February - 6th March, City Screen Picturehouse Basement

Launch event fully booked. See the exhibition anytime during opening hours from 8th Feb - 6th March!

More info

Photographers:

York Photographers Monthly Photobook meet-up

Tuesday 3rd February, 6-8pm, Moxy Hotel, York, free

Book here

If you haven’t already, check out our membership options for Free York Creative Drinks, discounts on our events and more!

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS free Creative Drinks and 50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory, your profile shared to the York Creatives Instagram grid and story, LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Join 745 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

We’ve got some great things in store for 2026. In this newsletter we’re focusing on some of the amazing regular meet ups around York for you to get involved with this year. We’re looking forward to seeing you at some and keep an eye out for what we have in store for the National Year of Reading…

Artists:

January Blues: Drawvik, York illustrators meet-up

Tuesday, Jan 20, 2026, 7 - 9 pm, Exhibition Hotel York, England, free, book on Eventbrite

Join in to celebrate the colour blue! We’ll discuss the history of blue and it’s use within art, illustration and culture, in addition to exploring a little bit of colour theory. Bring along your favourite books or images that feature the colour so we can share, discuss and be inspired. Don’t forget your sketchbooks and favourite blue materials too. Whether you’re a regular, new to the group, or haven’t been for a while this is a great way to welcome the new year!

Book here

Photographers:

York Photographers Monthly Photobook meet-up

Tuesday 13th January, 6-8pm, Moxy Hotel, York, free

Book here

Writers and poets:

York Writers Monthly Meet Up

Every last Sunday (25th January), The Black Swan, Peasholme Green, 4-6pm

Join for writerly chats, working sessions, literary games, and trouble-shooting.

Instagram

Howlers Spoken Word Poetry Night

Every 2nd and 4th Thursdays, The Blue Boar, 7pm sign up, 7:30pm start

Instagram

Musicians and performers:

Golden Ball Open Mic

Mondays 8.30pm, The Golden Ball, *FREE PINT FOR PERFORMERS*

More info

Foundation in Professional Acting

Invest in your craft and book onto a professional acting course this January with York Creatives Acting Board Member Jacob Ward!

More info

More events:

A FEAST OF FOOLS 3

Sunday 4th January, The Black Swan, Peasholme Green, 7pm doors, 7:30pm start

Holiday's end - the last gasp of Mischief! Welcome to our third annual celebration of Twelfth Night and Old Christmas: packed with live folk music and a nod to the pagan and the impish.

Tickets

If you haven’t already, check out our membership options for Free York Creative Drinks, discounts on our events and more!

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS free Creative Drinks and 50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory, your profile shared to the York Creatives Instagram grid and story, LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Join 729 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

York Creatives Christmas Party!

Friday 5th December, Patch - The Bonding Warehouse, 6 - 10pm, free for members or £5

Join us on Friday 5th December for our annual festive get together, where we host a Christmas party for all of you creative souls. Many members of our community are freelancers, business owners, or remote workers, so miss out on all of the fun of a staff do. Fear not - York Creatives to the rescue!

We’ll have fun, games and plenty of cheer. Throw on your best Christmas jumper and we’ll see you there!

If you’re a Pro or Supporter subscriber check your emails for your code for a free ticket!

Tickets

Swarmgate Artwork Launch Event!

Thursday 11th December, Art of Protest and National Centre for Early Music, 5pm - 9pm, FREE EVENT

Please join us on Thursday 11th December to celebrate the Walmgate Reframed Project and installation of the artwork: Swarmgate! York Creatives has led on this project and you can come along to find out all about what we’ve done and what might be coming next!

5pm - 6pm: Head to the Art of Protest Gallery to see the Swamgate Exhibition
6 - 6:30pm: Follow the Swarmgate Trail: Art of Protest to Huby Court
6:30pm: Get to the National Centre for Early Music to hear about the project
7 -9pm: Stay in the NCEM for some live storytelling and poetry
Enjoy a chat with the artist, York Creative team and find out how you can tell the bees your own news..

Just turn up - no ticket or booking required!

York Photographers Christmas Drinks Social

Tuesday 9th December, 6-8pm, Moxy Hotel, York, free

Book here

The Drawing Room York | Life Drawing Workshop

Tuesday 2nd December, 6.30-8.30pm, St Aelred’s Community Hall, Tang Hall, York, £10

Paper and materials provided, Teas and coffees at break time

Join us for a relaxed and welcoming life drawing group this autumn. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned artist, this is a space to explore drawing from the human form, develop your skills, and enjoy the process of making art in good company.

Book here

Art Rights Truth Project at the University of York Film Screening

Wednesday 3rd December, City Screen Picturehouse, £5

Tickets here

AS YULE LIKE IT - All Crackers, No Cheese

Saturday 20th December, 7:30pm, doors 7pm

Live, Local and loud! Our popular live music series returns with a glittering line-up to kickstart your festive week.

More info

Foundation in Professional Acting

Invest in your craft and book onto a professional acting course this January with York Creatives Acting Board Member Jacob Ward!

More info

More Events:

Cli-mic Spoken Word 9/12 | York Filmmakers Christmas Party 17/12 | York Artworkers December Talk with Peter Burman 1/12

If you haven’t already, check out our membership options for Free York Creative Drinks, discounts on our events and more!

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS free Creative Drinks and 50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory, your profile shared to the York Creatives Instagram grid and story, LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Join 717 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

This episode is a live interview which took place at the exhibition and book launch of ’s new project Kids Just Wanna Fly on Friday 7th November 2025.

Ben is interviewed by York Creatives board member for writing and publishing, , who is also one of eight contributing authors who wrote either a short story or a poem for the book.

Kids Just Wanna Fly is about youthful ambition and the tumultuous years of young adulthood. Unfolding between 2003 and 2013, it’s a raw portrait of youth in the pre-smartphone era, and life growing up in post industrial northern England.

In addition to this interview, the launch event featured two short poetry videos and a performance by Bram Jarman (@jarmouse_). You can watch them here.

For those listening before 29th November 2025, Ben would like to invite you to the closing of the exhibition on Saturday 29th November, which coincides with the Patch Frost Fair - a winter celebration of print.

Ben will be there representing Overt Books, the publishing company he created to bring to life artist book projects. He would love to speak to local artists and creatives who have a project that they think might work well as a book.

The Frost Fair is taking place at Patch, The Bonding Warehouse, between 12pm and 6pm this Saturday. Entry is free.

The book is also available to purchase here via Overt Books.

York Creative Drinks - Special Edition!

07/11/2025, Patch - The Bonding Warehouse, 7 - 11pm

Join us at Patch, York, for an extra special Creative Drinks, Fri 7th Nov, with an all-vinyl DJ set by Mat Lazenby & Jono at the monthly meet-up for York Creatives. Grab a drink, chat through ideas and find out how to feature in City Folk Magazine.

If you’re a Pro or Supporter subscriber check your emails for your code for a free ticket!

Tickets

Kids Just Wanna Fly

07/11/2025, Patch, The Bonding Warehouse, 6-7pm, £3 ticket including drink on arrival and entry to Creative Drinks from 7pm

Kids Just Wanna Fly is a collaboration between Ben Porter and 8 authors.

Captured between 2003 and 2013, on disposable cameras, polaroids, cheap consumer digital cameras, and early iPhones, KJWF is set in the world of teenage possibility before modern camera technology had matured.

Join us from 6pm to view the photography exhibition. Between 6.30pm and 7pm there will be performances by some of the contributing authors, and a Q&A with Ben, hosted by Kathryn Tann.

Book here

Aesthetica Film Festival, UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO and the Aesthetica Fringe!

5-9/11/2025, Various Locations, free entry to EXPO, tickets needed for film festival

More info

UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO

This is a 3-day marketplace for the creative industries — film, TV, gaming, digital, media arts, production and more. It’s all about connecting creatives, showcasing talent, and sparking new collaborations.

York Creative Pro Members can get involved and exhibit at the expo for free!

Get Involved as a Pro Member

Reignite XI

06/11/2025, Yorkshire Museum, 6-9pm, free tickets and complimentary drinks

This landmark event brings together all of the UK’s UNESCO Creative Cities for an inspiring evening of presentations, discussion, and collaboration during the BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Film Festival. The event starts at 6pm with presentations at the Yorkshire Museum. Afterwards, guests are invited to explore York’s UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO, where 40 innovative businesses working across the creative industries will be exhibiting.

Tickets

In Conversation with Aneesa Dawoojee

29/11/2025, Location TBC, 12pm - 3pm

Join us for this collaborative event by York Photographers, MPB & York Creatives, in which internationally published photographer Aneesa Dawoojee will be talking about her career and her more recent bodies of work and achievements.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A session and the chance to put words into practice with a hands-on portrait session, in which you will be guided and followed by York Photographers’ Directory and Aneesa.

Book here

Job Opportunity - Development Manager

Help us run and develop artist studios, pop-up galleries, creative markets and much more - be a part of innovative initiatives to transform our town centre. 12 month freelance contract: fee £40,000.

More info

Opportunity to have a major role in creating powerful artistic legacy on Liverpool’s historic waterfront.

We are seeking a UK based artist (or collective) to co-design the cast iron panels of International Slavery Museum’s monumental new Entrance Pavilion.

Artist fee: £30,000 (plus additional expenses)
Call for entries period: 13 October – 17 November 2025

More info

More Events:

An Evening with Ian Parks | Funny Fridays at Patch |
Loneliness in the Digital Age Exhibition | Unwritten - The Literary Improv Show
York Photographers: Photobook Social Club | Artful at the Dodger | Frost Fair at Patch

If you haven’t already, check out our membership options for Free York Creative Drinks, discounts on our events and more!

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS free Creative Drinks and 50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory, your profile shared to the York Creatives Instagram grid and story, LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Join 700 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

York Creative Drinks - free with any York Creatives subscription, or £4.99

Come and meet the community, expand your network, make friends and find collaborators. If you’re a Pro or Supporter subscriber check your emails for your code for a free ticket!

Tickets

Reignite X

01/10/2025, York Theatre Royal, 6-9pm, Free tickets and complimentary drinks

Come to Reignite to explore how regional cultural projects achieve global impact. Hear from leaders at the National Centre for Early Music, Stage One, York Theatre Royal, and Liverpool Biennial, showcasing how ambition transforms local creativity into international resonance, boosting reputations, investment, and economic growth.

Tickets

Black Phillip's Castle Museum Night Market

25th October 2025, York Castle Museum, £5 per time allotted ticket

After a sell-out event last year we’re posting this early for York Residents to get their hands on their Night Market tickets now! A fully curated, spooky night market in the iconic Kirkgate location, inside The Castle Museum in York. Alternative crafters and makers, for one night only, in a truly unique setting.

Tickets here

YO UNDERWORLD

10/25/2025, The Basement, City Screen, York, £8.00 (£10 on the door) 7.00 pm onward

Live, local and left-field new music, words and comedy for Halloween & Samhain, from inspiring York & regional performers.” Outside-the-box creativity” (BBC Upload)

Tickets

Singing Circles

Starting 08/09/2025, 7pm – 8.30pm on alternate Wednesdays, £6 per session
Jacobs Well, Trinity Lane, York, YO1 6EL

This singing circle is simply for the joy of singing. Believing that every voice is unique and powerful, Jess encourages others to sing for the pure joy of it, free from judgment, expectation or conforming to any traditional idea of how a voice “should” sound.

It really is for anyone and all ages welcome (10+), no singing experience is necessary. Children must be accompanied by an parent or guardian.

Tickets

York Explore Library and Archives Christmas Fayre – Stallholder Opportunity

Open until spaces are filled (limited availability)

How to apply: Email arts@exploreyork.org.uk with a brief description and image of your handcrafted items.

The Christmas Fayre fundraiser at York Explore Library and Archives will take place on Saturday 15th November, 10am–4pm We’re inviting local makers to sell unique, handcrafted gifts and stocking fillers (under £30). Stalls are approx. 160x80cm, cost £25 each, with no sales commission. Average Saturday footfall is around 1,000, with the event promoted across our networks. Apply soon – spaces are limited!

Tickets

The Own Our Venues share offer is open until 24 Oct 2025. Join thousands of music fans securing the future of grassroots venues—safe, sustainable, and community-owned. Together, we can protect live music for generations.

Invest or donate

More Events:

York Photographers: Photobook Social Club | Cli-Mic night | York Artworkers Talk With Lucy Saggers | York Environment Festival

If you haven’t already, check out our membership options for Free York Creative Drinks, discounts on our events and more!

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS free Creative Drinks and 50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory, your profile shared to the York Creatives Instagram grid and story, LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Join 680 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

Black Phillip's Castle Museum Night Market

25th October 2025, York Castle Museum, £5 per time allotted ticket

After a sell-out event last year we’re posting this early for York Residents to get their hands on their Night Market tickets now! A fully curated, spooky night market in the iconic Kirkgate location, inside The Castle Museum in York. Alternative crafters and makers, for one night only, in a truly unique setting.

Tickets here

York Creative Blends: Photography X Theatre X Writing

25/09/2025, PATCH The Bonding Warehouse, 6-8pm

Are you a writer in need of a professional photo - one that feels authentic and true to your creative self? Are you a performer in need of a casting headshot? Are you a photographer looking to practice new skills and expand your portfolio?

Join us for the next York Creative Blends: a three-way, collaborative workshop between writers, performers and photographers.

Tickets

Billy No Mates x SPARK YORK

9/9/2025, SPARK YORK, £10

Billy No Mates is a collective of freelancers, home and lone workers who gather monthly at local independent venues across the North East. In September we are collaborating with SPARK YORK CIC for our first coworking session. All are welcome for a change of scenery and to make new mates.

Tickets

York Creative Drinks - free with any York Creatives subscription!

Come and meet the community, expand your network, make friends and find collaborators. All welcome.

Tickets

The Wheel of Nouns

11/09/2025, 7-10pm, £8-£11

Rejoice! Or…Beware! The Gender Fairy is loose and has found their way back to York!
“The Wheel of Nouns” is collaborating with Queer Affaire and Little j to deliver an unforgettable night of queer art stalls, cabaret-theatre, and community.
Dress up as your favourite gender, and come enjoy an evening browsing work by local queer artists, connecting with old friends and new, and then sitting down for Hook’s 70-minute cabaret comedy The Wheel of Nouns!

Tickets

A GIG FOR GAZA: a special quickfire blast of a fundraiser

9/14/2025, The Crescent, £5 - £15 advance, £10 OTD, 7 till 11 pm.

Featuring Borgia, Cast, Fat Spatula, Knitting Circle, Lara McClure, Tom and Ethan from Captain Starlet, and The Bricks. All profits will be donated to MAP (Medical Aid for Palestine) and PCRF (Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund) as recommended by The Yorkshire Palestine Collective. It's work next morning, but you'll feel GREAT!

Tickets

Open Call: Artist Opportunity with York Creates and Walmgate Reframed
Our deadline is coming up on 3rd September - submit your expression of interest now!

Apply here

More Events:

York Photographers: Photobook Social Club | Richard III Redux | Funny Fridays at Patch | York Unlocked | YO Underground #5

If you haven’t already, check out our membership options for Free York Creative Drinks, discounts on our events and more!

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS free Creative Drinks and 50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory, your profile shared to the York Creatives Instagram grid and story, LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Join 657 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

York River Art Market

Award winning Art & Design market York River Art Market , celebrates 10 years of supporting local artists beside the riverside. Six events spread over 3 x weekends and a different variety of artists at each event so always something new to see.

More info

Cli-Mic Spoken Word

Spark
Tuesday 12th August, starting at 7pm

Come along and share your climate-themed music, poetry, comedy and performance! It’s a friendly crowd and we often have people who are performing for the first time. All are welcome to take part - the only requirement is that your performance includes a climate or nature-related angle 🌱

Sign up here

York Mystery Plays - Play Reading

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
Sunday 17th August, 5:30pm

Would you like to take part in a production with the York Mystery Plays Supporters Trust, but don’t quite know what you’d be getting into? We will be holding an informal play-reading event, designed to be a taster session. To give us an idea of numbers, please RSVP to emily.hansen@ympst.co.uk if you plan to attend.

York Creative Drinks - free with any York Creatives subscription!

Come and meet the community, expand your network, make friends and find collaborators. All welcome.

Tickets

York Photographers Events in July

The Photo Books Social Club. 1st July, Free, Moxy Hotels. Tickets.

More about York Photographers

Future Now Symposium 2025
18 September | York St John University

Aesthetica brings together leading voices from across art, design, film, architecture, publishing, and digital innovation to explore what’s next — and how we shape it.

More info and book here

Open Call: Artist Opportunity with York Creates and Walmgate Reframed

Are you an installation artist? Would you be interested in working with the community of Walmgate to create an art piece in the area? We’re putting a callout on Wednesday 6th August. Follow the link below to apply.

Apply here

Open Call: Selby Light 2026

Deadline: 29 August 2025

Mediale and Now Then Creative are inviting expressions of interest for Selby Light 2026, a landmark paid, site-specific light art commission in Selby, launching late February 2026.

More info

Creative Economy Census

Complete by 9th August

The Combined Authority want to hear from us, the creatives of Y&NY. They will use this info to inform what they do next with the money they have to invest in the region. It’s important as many of us as possible complete the survey they have out in order to shape the future of creative business accordingly.

Complete the survey here

If you haven’t already, check out our membership options for Free York Creative Drinks, discounts on our events and more!

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS
Free Creative Drinks!
50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS
Your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory
Your profile shared to the York Creatives Instagram grid and story
LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Join 647 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

Hiscox Art Tours!

Sat 5th July 2025 - Sun 6th July 2025, book from £5-£10

The Hiscox Building, York, YO1 7PR

York Creatives is proud to collaborate with Hiscox York Art Tours on a weekend of guided tours of the internationally significant art collection at the Hiscox office on Peasholme Green alongside some of our amazing contemporary local female artists! As part of the introduction to each tour, guests will be presented with an exhibition of artworks of York-based artists, curated by York Creatives.

Book here!

Homestead Park Festival: Here is Hope!

5 - 6th July,

Homestead Park Festival invites the people of York to come together for a FREE weekend of celebration and reconnection with nature, creativity, and community.

Set in the historic Homestead Park, the festival will take place over the first weekend of July, bringing artists, musicians, and changemakers to inspire, create, and share magical experiences.

More info

York Creative Drinks - free with any subscription!

Come and meet the community, expand your network, make friends and find collaborators. All welcome.

Tickets

York Photographers Events in July

The Photo Books Social Club. 1st July, Free, Moxy Hotels. Tickets.

Drafting Photography Contracts and Invoices. 9th July, From £3.25, Patch. Tickets.

YP X ANALOGUE WONDERLAND: Analogue Street Photography Workshop. 12th July, From £3.25, Patch, Tickets.

More about York Photographers

YO Underground 4

18th July 2025: 7:30-10:30pm, from £5 in advance

Live, local & left-field new folk song, electronica and film Embrace the unexpected... audiences are loving it!

"Outside the box creativity... filling a gap in the York creative scene" (BBC Upload)

Tickets

Drawvik York Illustrators: Create a Character

Tuesday 15th July 2025, 7-9pm, FREE

Exhibition Hotel, 19 Bootham York YO30 7BW

Get your pencils moving and your brains buzzing with our guided creative prompts focused on building brand new characters. We'll spend the first hour designing and doodling, followed by a relaxed hour of drinks, chats, and sketching with new friends.

Bring your own tools and something to draw on — we'll supply the prompts.

Book here

York Filmmakers July Meet-Up

Wednesday 23rd July, 7-9pm, £2.50

The Basement Bar, York City Screen

Screenwriter MATT BAKER - lead writer on Channel 4’s PATIENCE - currently shooting its second series in YORK this summer will be joining us for an evening in conversation. A native of Pocklington, we’ll be chatting about his career, writing, the challenge of adaptation, writers rooms and returning to the homeland to shoot Patience.

As usual, there’ll be time for a Q&A and networking with your fellow filmmakers afterwards.

Book here

If you haven’t already, check out our membership options for Free York Creative Drinks, discounts on our events and more!

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS
Free Creative Drinks!
50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS
Your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory
Your profile shared to the York Creatives Instagram grid and story
LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Join 621 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

York Creatives is excited to announce two new membership options

Supporter membership - £2.50 per month:
All current member perks PLUS
Free Creative Drinks!
50% off our events

Pro membership - £6.25 per month:
All Supporter membership perks PLUS
Your profile featured in the York Creatives Professionals Directory
Your profile shared to the York Creatives Instagram grid and story
LinkedIn campaigns highlighting York Creative’s Professionals and more!

Independent Bookshop Week

7 events across the city from 14 - 21st June. Receive a £5 book voucher when booking onto any paid or donations-based event (while vouchers last).

All event tickets

York Creative Drinks - A week today!

Come and meet the community, expand your network, make friends and find collaborators. All welcome.

Tickets

Funny Fridays at Patch

Comedy night at The Bonding Warehouse, 7pm, Friday 13th June, £10 tickets.

Tickets

York Photographers Events in June

The Photo Books Social Club. 13th May, Free, Moxy Hotels. Tickets.

York Creatives Blends: Photography Writing. 18th June, £5, Thin Ice Press. Tickets.

More about York Photographers

Making Waves

Launch event: Sunday 8th June 2025: 6 -l 9pm free, all welcome.

Art exhibition on both floors of City Screen Picturehouse. Art for sale and meet the artists.

MAKING WAVES LIVE!

Sat 21 Jun 2025, 4 - 10pm

Sounds of the Solstice! Post-Festival of Ideas celebration of live music, comedy, poetry and performance art by some of our favourite past performers and exciting new discoveries.

All tickets here

Micklegate Arts Trail!

31st May - 15th June, 12- 5pm, free - no booking required

Local traders host local artists in York's longest art gallery! Art, music and spoken word events. LAUNCH DAY: Saturday 31st May, 12 till 5 pm.

Find out more

About Time Too!

Saturday 14th June, 7.00 pm.

A lively programme of music and spoken word to round off a day of time-related talks at St Olave's church for the Festival of Ideas.

Tickets

An Unremarkable Wood’ Symposium

Thursday, June 12, 10am - 6pm, £40

Creative Centre, York St John University

Chrysalis Arts Development and York St John University present a one-day symposium exploring creative relationships and processes that aim to reset connections with place, nature and artists’ responses to the ecological crisis.

Tickets

+ Field-cum-Woodland: rethinking the unremarkable in remarkable ways

Fri 6 June, 11am–2.30pm, £15 (£7.50 if you book to attend ‘An Unremarkably Woodland’

Marton Wood, Marton cum Grafton

Exploring boredom as a tool to disrupt embedded narratives about the woodland, its inhabitants, and human relationships. Through listening, noticing, creative experiments, and sensory exploration, participants will attempt to engage with the landscape in new ways.

More info

Want more? Check out these other events this month!

Patch Print Club | Acting Workshops | Degree Show | Festival of Print

Join 596 York based creatives on our free platform to access our Community Forum

• Create an entry in our directory to be found for local collaborations and jobs

• Join the arts forums to connect with people in your artistic discipline

• Utilise our database of resources and access the hive mind of local knowledge.

Sign up for free

Sarah and John discuss getting into the creative world, a few issues with the title ‘Chair’ (if anyone has any better titles, they haven’t come to any conclusions yet..) and what the future of York, and York Creatives, might look like.

John is a Creative Producer and Consultant for immersive and interactive media projects. He works with the University of York’s groundbreaking XR Stories project, which brings together creatives and technologists to explore new storytelling. As York Creatives new Chair, John will lead the strategic development of the organisation, working closely with Sarah.

If you want to find out more about John, or where York Creatives is headed, he welcomes messages via the York Creatives platform Circle.

This episode was recorded in the XR Stories Lab at The Guildhall.

The York Creatives podcast is back!

Sarah Williams is a writer, writing coach, tutor, and general enthusiast for all things literary.

The novel that she is currently working on is a literary fiction novel in which a woman leaves society forever to travel to the rainforest where she is followed by the embodiment of evolution.

Since moving to York just over two years ago (she's gotten this wrong a few times and said three!) she has jumped into the writing and creative scene. She founded Written in York at the beginning of 2024 with the aim of connecting and uplifting writers and event organisers in York and she runs an ongoing critique group that meets every two weeks.

Since the beginning of 2025 she has steadily been taking over the role of Managing Director at York Creatives. Her ambitions with the new phase of York Creatives is to uplift grassroots creatives, facilitate events that allow York Creative members to try different mediums and to serve the incredible legacy that York Creatives already has in the city of York.

If you want to find out any more about the writing scene in York, or where York Creatives is headed, Sarah welcomes messages via the York Creatives platform Circle, or on Instagram @Written.in.York

This podcast was recorded at Patch, at The Bonding Warehouse in York. A neighbourhood workspace with offices, co-working, meeting and event space and even a podcast studio! If you'd like to try a day at Patch for free visit www.patch.work/book-a-trial-day and make sure to say you heard about Patch through the York Creatives Podcast.