The Art Exchange

✨ THANK YOU, WAKEFIELD! ✨

What an absolutely incredible night at Artwalk Wakefield last night! The sun was shining, and we were completely blown away by the wonderful community of artists and viewers who came out to support us.

We absolutely loved sharing our exhibition and that special nod to the Northern Green Gathering with you all. Seeing everyone engage with the art was pure magic.

A huge, heartfelt thank you goes out to the incredible people who made the night—and our epic Open Mic—happen:
🐝 Bazza Bee's Open Mic Jamboree for your continual, unwavering support.
🎸 Russ and Neil Clink Clarkson for keeping the tunes flowing and the energy high.
🙌 And, of course, our favorite two Terry's Welshtwakey John and Terence Costello who always go the extra mile to support everything we do.

Between you all, you created an absolutely brilliant Open Mic atmosphere that we won't forget anytime soon. We are so lucky to be surrounded by the best community.

Until the next one! 🎨🎶🍻

✨ TODAY AT ARTWALK WAKEFIELD: Experience the Unseen! ✨

Pop down to The Art Exchange CIC (Studio A4, Westgate Studios) tonight starting from 5:00 PM for an unforgettable evening of art, community, and live music!

Here is what we have waiting for you:

🎨 Invisible Realities by Kate Wray (5pm - 8pm)

Step into an entirely new dimension of art. Kate, a visually impaired artist, shatters traditional boundaries with her plaster tactile canvases. Inspired by ultraviolet, infrared, and gamma-ray spectrums, these high-contrast, heavily textured works are designed to be touched. They sit in perfect harmony with the rest of the space to give sighted visitors a unique, eye-limiting experience.

💡 Reclaiming the Light: An Artwalk x NGG Special (5pm - Late)

In collaboration with Daz Trei , Heather J Pearson, Antje Rayner and a little help from our Friends, we’ve transformed salvaged materials scavenged from Newlands Park (with a huge thanks to Farmer Ted!) into imaginative, sculptural eco-lights.

🎤 Open Mic Night (From 8:00 PM)

At the strike of 8pm, the studio transforms! Grab a drink from the bar and enjoy our live Open Mic night, hosted by the brilliant Russ from SkipRat.

Whether you are here to feel the art, absorb the music, or just soak up the creative vibe, it is going to be a spectacular night. See you there!

TactileArt LiveMusicWakefield WestgateStudios

✨ TODAY AT ARTWALK WAKEFIELD: Experience the Unseen! ✨

Pop down to The Art Exchange CIC (Studio A4, Westgate Studios) tonight starting from 5:00 PM for an unforgettable evening of art, community, and live music!

Here is what we have waiting for you:

🎨 Invisible Realities by Kate Wray (5pm - 8pm)

Step into an entirely new dimension of art. Kate, a visually impaired artist, shatters traditional boundaries with her plaster tactile canvases. Inspired by ultraviolet, infrared, and gamma-ray spectrums, these high-contrast, heavily textured works are designed to be touched. They sit in perfect harmony with the rest of the space to give sighted visitors a unique, eye-limiting experience.

💡 Reclaiming the Light: An Artwalk x NGG Special (5pm - Late)

In collaboration with Daz Trei , Heather J Pearson, Antje Rayner and a little help from our Friends, we’ve transformed salvaged materials scavenged from Newlands Park (with a huge thanks to Farmer Ted!) into imaginative, sculptural eco-lights.

🎤 Open Mic Night (From 8:00 PM)

At the strike of 8pm, the studio transforms! Grab a drink from the bar and enjoy our live Open Mic night, hosted by the brilliant Russ from SkipRat.

Whether you are here to feel the art, absorb the music, or just soak up the creative vibe, it is going to be a spectacular night. See you there!

☀️ HOME EDUCATION SUMMER TERM ART CLUB ☀️

Are you looking for a fun, creative, and hands-on addition to your home education schedule this summer? Bring your young creators along to our brand-new 7-Week Summer Art Term, designed specifically for home-educated children aged 5 to 12 years old!

inspired by Wednesday's Artwalk Wakefield every Friday, we’ll dive into a different artistic adventure—from building upcycled sculptures and exploring optical illusions to painting "invisible" neon lightwaves and launching our very own mini festival. It’s a fantastic way to develop new skills, explore unique materials, and connect with other local home-ed families. 🚀✨

📅 The Details:
Term Dates: 1st June – 21st July 2026
When: Every Friday from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Who: Open to ages 5–12 (A fantastic multi-age activity for siblings!)
Where: The Art Exchange CIC, Studio A4, Westgate Studios

💰 Cost:

Weekly Drop-in: £8 per session
Full 7-Week Term Bundle: £50 (Save £6!)

🎨 What’s on the Schedule?

Week 1: Neon Nature & Magic Wands 🪄
Week 2: 3D Paper Engineering: Brain & Heart Maps 🧠❤️
Week 3: The "Unseen Spectrum" UV & Plaster Texture Painting 🌌
Week 4: Reclaimed Sculptures (Eco-Art Challenge!) ♻️
Week 5: Mind-Bending 3D Optical Illusion Art 🕶️
Week 6: "Silly Public Incidents" Comic Strip Drawing ✍️
Week 7: Grand Finale: Artwalk Exhibition & Open Mic Showcase! 🎤

Spaces are limited to ensure everyone gets plenty of creative support and workspace. Don't miss out on adding a splash of color to your summer term!

👉 How to Book: Drop us a message directly or email us at [email protected] to secure your child’s spot today!

🎨 PORTFOLIO BUILDING: THE ART OF THE PORTRAIT 🎨

Are you looking to take your artistic skills to the next level, prepare for GCSE/A-Level art, or build a stunning visual portfolio?

Join us for this specialised 7-Week Portfolio Course designed specifically for young artists aged 10 to 16 years old. This term, we are focusing on Portraits—moving far beyond standard drawing to explore advanced techniques, unique mediums, and conceptual thinking.

It’s the perfect environment to challenge your creativity, experiment with raw materials, and create high-quality, standout pieces for your personal collection or educational applications.

📅 The Details:

Term Dates: 1st June – 21st July 2026
When: Every Thursday from 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Who: Open to ages 10–16
Where: The Art Exchange CIC, Studio A4, Westgate Studios

💰 Cost:

Weekly Drop-in: £8 per class

Full 7-Week Term Bundle: £50 (Save £6!)

🖼️ What You’ll Create & Explore:

Week 1: Structural Portraits (Mastering graphite, charcoal, & facial proportions

Week 2: Tactile Feature Canvases (Sculpting 3D facial elements with plaster) 🦺

Week 3: The "Unseen Spectrum" Self-Portrait (Expressive infrared & UV color theory) 🌌

Week 4: The Fragmented Profile (Mixed-media & upcycled cardboard assemblage) ♻️
Week 5: The "Anaglyph" Alter-Ego (Overlaying dual personalities using 3D line work) 🕶️
Week 6: Narrative Portraiture (Capturing candid character studies & "silly public incidents") ✍️
Week 7: Professional Curation & Presentation (How to mount, photograph, and pitch your portfolio) 📂

Whether you want to learn classical structure or dive into abstract, tactile textures, this course will give you the tools and confidence to speak proudly about your work.

👉 How to Book: Spaces are limited to ensure focused studio time. Drop us a message directly or email us at [email protected] to book your easel!

🎨 CALL FOR ARTISTS: Exhibit at The Six Chimneys! 🎨

Are you looking for a high-footfall venue for the next Artwalk Wakefield on Wednesday, 27th May?

We are looking for artists who would like to showcase their work in the iconic Six Chimneys (Wetherspoons)!
It is a fantastic opportunity to get your art in front of a massive local audience in one of the city's busiest spots.

Interested?
If you’d like to exhibit here, please get in touch with us as soon as possible!
Popular venues like this go incredibly quickly, so don't miss out.

How to apply:
👉 Drop us a message or email: [email protected]
👉 Or register your interest officially at: https://artwalkwakefield.org/exhibit

Let’s get your work seen in Wakefield! 🖼️✨

🌿 Big News: We’re teaming up with Northern Green Gathering! 🌿

We are beyond proud to announce that we’ll be working alongside the Northern Green Gathering for their absolutely awesome 2026 festival! Taking place at Newlands Park from August 13th to 16th, this is going to be a weekend fueled by sun, cycles, and serious creativity.

🎨 Check out the Art! Our very good friend Chris Black created this year’s poster, and we are obsessed with it. It perfectly captures that magical, eco-conscious vibe we're all about.

🤝 Want to get involved?

There are so many ways to be part of the magic:

Artists: Join our residency to build large-scale eco-installations.

Stewards & Volunteers: Help keep the festival running smoothly and soak up the atmosphere!

Whether you want to create, help out, or just enjoy the live music and local beers, we’d love to have you with us.

✨ Find out more and grab your spot here:

👉 https://nggonline.org.uk

See you in the fields! 🧙‍♂️☀️

✏️ Life Drawing Tonight! 🍷

Drop the screen and pick up a charcoal stick—it’s Thursday, which means Life Drawing is happening from 7pm–9pm!

Whether you’re a pro or haven't picked up a pencil since school, everyone is welcome. There is no booking required, so you can just rock up, grab a board, and get into the creative flow.

On the menu for tea: We’re serving up a big, warming bowl of Mediterranean vegetable pasta. It’s the perfect fuel for a night of sketching! 🍅🫑🌿

See you at the studio!