The Art Exchange

🏖️ OUT OF THE STUDIO 🌊

We are stepping away for a quick break to recharge before our busy autumn term gets underway!

Emails & Enquiries: We will begin catching up on messages and responding to booking enquiries from Thursday 3rd September.

Studio Reopening: Our doors will officially reopen on Monday 7th September as our full autumn schedule kicks off!

✏️ Life Drawing Update: Tony will still be running Life Drawing as normal while we are away, so don't miss out on those sessions!

You are still very welcome to drop us a message or email in the meantime to hold your spot for our upcoming art clubs, portfolio sessions, and Artwalk submissions. Please bear with us while we're away—we’ll get back to everyone as soon as we're back at our desks! 🎨✨

See you all in September!

✨ FREE/FUNDED NEURODIVERGENT TEEN ART PROGRAMME ✨

We are thrilled to announce that our specialised creative programme for neurodivergent young people returns this September, proudly supported using public funding by The National Lottery Community Fund!

Designed for Autistic, ADHD, Dyspraxic, and other neurodivergent teens, this relaxed, low-pressure studio group offers a safe space to explore fine art mediums, meet like-minded peers, and express themselves at their own pace.

🌟 WHAT MAKES THIS SESSION SPECIAL?

🧠 Sensory-Aware Space: Low lighting options, quiet breakout areas, and flexible seating options.

🎨 Self-Paced Creativity: No forced schedules or pressure to perform—explore painting, sculpture, illustration, and printmaking freely.

🤝 Small, Supportive Group: Highly limited numbers to ensure a calm, welcoming environment.

🆓 Fully Funded: Free of charge thanks to National Lottery players!

🗓️ WHEN: various times and days (Starting September 2026)

👧 AGES: 11–18 Years

💰 COST: FREE (Registration required)

📍 WHERE: The Art Exchange CIC

⚠️ LIMITED PLACES AVAILABLE FOR SEPTEMBER INTAKE

Because we keep group sizes small to preserve a comfortable, calm environment, places fill up very quickly!

🎟️ HOW TO REGISTER:

Drop us a direct message or email us to express your interest and secure a place for the September term.

📢 PLEASE NOTE: Kate is currently away on annual leave until 3rd September. You are very welcome to message us now to get on the registration list, but please bear with us—we will get back to confirm all spots as soon as she returns! ☀️

🎨 YOUTH PORTFOLIO BUILDING COURSE (AGES 10–16) 📐🖼️

Is your teenager looking to build a standout art portfolio for GCSEs, A-Levels, college applications, or personal growth?

Our brand-new Thursday evening studio sessions are specifically designed for secondary school students wanting to level up their technical fine art skills! From high-contrast charcoal drawing and lino printmaking to 3D sculpture and acrylic painting, students will create 3–4 portfolio-ready studio pieces alongside detailed sketchbook development.

🗓️ WHEN: Thursdays, 10th September – 22nd October

⏰ TIME: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

👧 AGES: 10–16 Years

💰 PRICE: £8 per class | £50 for the full 7-week term (save £6!)

📚 TERM PROGRAMME:

✏️ Week 1 (10 Sept): Tonal Value & Still Life Studies (Henry Moore)

🎨 Week 2 (17 Sept): Mixed-Media & Expressive Portraiture (Jean-Michel Basquiat)

🖌️ Week 3 (24 Sept): Macro Botanical Painting & Color Theory (Georgia O’Keeffe)

🖼️ Week 4 (01 Oct): Relief Lino Printing & Editioning (Käthe Kollwitz)

🗿 Week 5 (08 Oct): 3D Wire & Plaster Sculptural Forms (Alberto Giacometti)

✒️ Week 6 (15 Oct): Perspective & Fine-Line Architectural Ink Studies (M.C. Escher)

📁 Week 7 (22 Oct): Portfolio Curation, Sketchbook Assembly & Presentation

📍 WHERE: The Art Exchange CIC (Venue A4)

🎟️ HOW TO BOOK:

Spaces are limited to ensure individual, 1-on-1 feedback and support! Drop us a DM or email to reserve a spot for the term or individual sessions.

📢 PLEASE NOTE: Kate is currently on annual leave until 3rd September. You are very welcome to message or email us now to register your interest, and please bear with us—we will confirm all bookings as soon as she returns! ☀️

🎨 KIDS AUTUMN ART CLUB IS HERE! ✂️🖌️

Unleash your young artist’s creativity this September and October! Our popular Friday afternoon art sessions are back, exploring famous artists through fun, hands-on projects designed for ages 5–12.

From Yayoi Kusama’s polka dot clay sculptures to Picasso’s crazy cardboard portraits, every week features a brand-new masterpiece to make and take home!

🗓️ WHEN: Fridays, 7th September – 23rd October

⏰ TIME: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

👧 AGES: 5–12 Years

💰 PRICE: £8 per class | £50 for the full 7-week term (save £6!)

✨ WHAT’S ON THE MENU:

✂️ Week 1 (11 Sept): Henri Matisse – Wild Cut-Out Monsters & Plants

🍄 Week 2 (18 Sept): Yayoi Kusama – Polka Dot Clay Sculptures

💫 Week 3 (25 Sept): Alexander Calder – Wire & Bead Balance Mobiles

🌌 Week 4 (02 Oct): Vincent van Gogh – 3D Textured Starry Skies

🪷 Week 5 (09 Oct): Claude Monet – Water Lily Oil-Resist Paintings

🖼️ Week 6 (16 Oct): Pablo Picasso – Cubist Cardboard Self-Portraits

👑 Week 7 (23 Oct): Frida Kahlo – Wearable Botanical Crowns & End-of-Term Mini Gallery Showcase!

📍 WHERE: The Art Exchange CIC (Venue A4)

🎟️ HOW TO BOOK:

Spaces are limited to keep group sizes hands-on and friendly! Drop us a message or email to secure your child’s spot for the term or drop-in sessions.

📢 PLEASE NOTE: Kate is currently away on annual leave until 3rd September. You are welcome to message or email us now to hold a spot, but please bear with us—we will get back to confirm all bookings as soon as she returns! ☀️

It's a hive of activity at The Art Exchange , there's a community of artists working busily away to create wonderful art for the Northern Green Gathering, and we are so excited for the set up it's going to be an amazing festival if you want to join us you can get your tickets here 👇

https://nggonline.org.uk/wordpress/ticketing/

🎷 TONIGHT AT 9PM: ARTISTRY LIVE AT THE ART EXCHANGE CIC! 🎶✨

Finish your Artwalk evening with the live debut of Artistry (Luiza Dimitriu, Steve Regan, and Phil Lewis)!

Expect a smooth, soulful blend of timeless classics, improvisational jazz rhythms, and deep atmospheric grooves to carry you through the night.

📍 The Art Exchange CIC (Venue A4)

🕘 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Grab a drink, unwind, and soak up the sounds. See you there! 🍸🎹

✨ ARTWALK WAKEFIELD AT THE ART EXCHANGE CIC (A4) ✨

Join us this Wednesday, 29th July for a evening packed with botanical art, vibrant installations, and live music! Here is what we have lined up for you:

🎨 EXHIBITIONS & INSTALLATIONS (5pm – 9pm)

🌿 FORCED by The Northern Bunch (Mollie): A stunning, candlelit floral installation inspired by Yorkshire’s historic rhubarb forcing sheds. Built with moss, rich foliage, and vivid pink blooms, it’s a magical celebration of resilience and transformation.

🌸 Kirsty Hodgson Art: A beautiful series of original watercolor paintings and prints showcasing singular flowers and delicate floral displays.

🖼️ Present Place by Ian Keeble: Evocative mixed-media paintings exploring local spaces, nature, and human connection through layers of paint, drawing, and texture.

🌿 COPPER BOTANICALS 2026 (5pm – 11pm)

💍 Antje Rayner: Whimsical, sustainable jewelry handcrafted from reclaimed and salvaged wire. Explore her botanical collection at the venue (and B7 Studio)—plus, keep an eye out for a spectacular walking installation by Lucy Lou bringing these wearable sculptures to life!

🎷 LIVE MUSIC DEBUT (9pm – 11pm)

🎶 Artistry (Luiza Dimitriu, Steve Regan & Phil Lewis): Close out your night with the live debut of this fresh jazz and soul collective. Expect smooth, soulful melodies, atmospheric grooves, and timeless classics to carry you through to 11pm.

📍 Find us at venue A4 on your Artwalk map! We can’t wait to welcome you in.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the Northern Green Gathering fundraiser! Thanks to your amazing support, we raised much-needed funds to bring some truly wonderful art projects to life at NGG this year.

Here are a few fabulous photos from the night taken by Stephen Walton aren't they brilliant? 📸✨