Hovingham Hall Visit

16 Mar 2026

Join us for a private tour of Hovingham Hall, a beautiful family home, 17 miles north of York. It was designed and built by Thomas Worsley c1770 and was the childhood home of the late Duchess of Kent. The house has an important collection of furniture and pictures and...

Artwork of the Month: Engagement Ring by Cornelia Parker

15 Mar 2026

Engagement Ring Drawing (as long as it lasts), Cornelia Parker (2002) Cornelia Parker is probably best known for her large scale installations such as the exploded shed (Cold Dark Matter) and her crushed silver objects repurposed as Thirty Pieces of Silver. Her work...

Trip to Thorns Art Gallery at Semerwater

7 Mar 2026

Thorns Gallery Leaving Memorial Gardens at 9 am we will travel by minibus to Thorns Gallery, arriving at about 11 am in time for tea/coffee and biscuits. This is a rare opportunity to visit this contemporary art gallery opened in 2025 in a beautifully converted cattle...

Artwork of the Month: Saint Agnes by Cavallino

18 Feb 2026

Stillness and Strength: Cavallino’s Saint Agatha  Our programme of Gallery Talks will resume on Wednesday 11 March at 11.30 with a talk on Cavallino’s Saint Agatha from Maisie McDonough, one of the Gallery’s Duty Managers. Join us for a closer look at Bernardo...

Friends tour to Cornwall 2025

12 Feb 2026

The Minack Theatre, Penzance. Photo: Tim Lewy Unexpectedly glorious weather accompanied the Friends on their tour of Cornwall. Stopping off at Tewkesbury, many amongst the group enjoyed an informative and lively talk around the Abbey before our first stop-over in...

Wedgwood and Flaxman: a talk by Sir Tristram Hunt

12 Feb 2026

‘Wedgwood and Flaxman: A Creative Alliance’, a talk by The Honourable Sir Tristram Hunt, FRHistS, Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This lecture in the Tempest Anderson Hall, Yorkshire Museum, has been organised in connection with the exhibition on John...

LS Lowry: Two paintings in York Art Gallery

12 Feb 2026

Our speaker for Artwork of the Month, January 2026, was Jane Eddleston, a member of the Visitor Team at York Art Gallery. In her talk Jane reflected on the two paintings by L. S. Lowry in the Gallery’s collection, both currently on display in the Burton Gallery,...

Overnight visit to Stourbridge

4 Feb 2026

The Stourbridge area was a major centre of glassmaking for 400 years and was particularly well known for its fine lead crystal. Established by French refugees in the seventeenth century, the industry thrived for many years, until its decline in the latter part of the...

Talk on the Fulleylove Stained-Glass Window, St Lawrence Church, York

4 Feb 2026

Our speaker, Alison Gilchrist, is an accredited stained-glass conservator at Barley Studio, York. In late 2025 the Barley Studio were honoured to work on this very special memorial window from St Lawrence’s Church, York. Designed by the Arts and Crafts artist, Joan...

Talk: Flaxman as Sculptor and Illustrator

4 Feb 2026

A talk by Sir Nicholas Penny FBA, FSA, Director of the National Gallery 2008-2015. Flaxman as Sculptor and Illustrator. This lecture by Sir Nicholas, together with one by Sir Tristram Hunt in October, has been organised in connection with the exhibition, John Flaxman:...