Cinder Track and Dalby Forest Feature in New North York Moors Arts Festival

A new month-long festival begins in April to showcase the diverse and vibrant arts and cultural scene that exists across the North York Moors.

The Beacon for the Arts Festival, which is being staged by the North York Moors Arts and Culture Partnership, will see a programme of talks, workshops, performances, exhibitions and art trails, many of which will be free to attend, at an array of venues and artist studios stretching the length and breadth of the National Park and beyond. Its hoped the festival will highlight how the National Park is more than just a beautiful landscape, by being a destination for creativity all-year-round.

Many of the events will explore how art can help people forge a stronger connection with wildlife, nature and the landscape. The Inspired by…gallery will be staging the Art of Being exhibition, focussing on the connection between creativity and mental health. In the surrounding grounds of Danby Lodge National Park Centre people will also be able to explore the new permanent ‘Moments’ ceramic trail created by artist Aphra O’ Connor.

Over at the Sutton Bank National Park Centre people will be able to go on a walk with DaisyAgeArt and create a collage afterwards symbolising their connection with nature; or join a Birds and Words workshop, creating a poem in the form of a hanging mobile inspired by the birdlife seen locally.  Here, too, people will be able to walk through the ‘Words in the Landscape’ trail which includes three art installations using form and words to explore a birds’ perspective of Sutton Bank.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust will be showcasing its Old Friends sculpture trail on the Cinder Track near Scarborough, part of the Wild Eye project connecting nature and art; while Dalby Forest will be displaying the poems and creative writing produced as part of The River Project exhibition.

Springtime will be celebrated with a Blossom Week at Nunnington Hall where, as well as enjoying the sight of the orchards in full bloom, people will be able to craft their own origami flower and follow a trail of poems in the gardens.

Thirsk will not only be staging its new mini book festival called Bookmarked but also showcasing the work of the Yorkshire Art Collective at the Zillah Bell Gallery.

In Whitby, the Pannett Art Gallery will be running various events as well as holding a special exhibition dedicated to printmaking.  

For those keen to get creative themselves, there are plenty of hands-on workshops, including sessions to create colourful kites with the help of artist Sue Walpole; or opportunities to make art using alcohol ink or woodburning techniques at Skatebeck in Moorsholm.

There will also be plenty of Easter-themed family activities including sessions at Sutton Bank National Park Centre where Stellar Creates will help youngsters create happiness-inspired art; or Hutton Buscel where artists are planning a whole host of events from egg painting through to card making.

Importantly, the wealth of local talent will be showcased at artists’ studios, such as international costume designer, Sue Wilmington of Littlebeck, who will be sharing the designs she has produced for many of the best-known operatic and theatre productions, including Phantom of the Opera.

At Ryedale Folk Museum, photographic art combined with the spoken word will be the focus of a new exhibition called Farm/Mill/Bake where stories of Yorkshire’s farmers, millers and bakers producing bread will be told amid a display of distinctive images.

The programme line-up also features music including three performances of a new composition by Scarborough artist Sarah Dew called Birds of Heart and Sky, celebrating some of the most vulnerable birds in the UK, at different venues across the North York Moors.

Alternatively people can go to St Mary’s Church in Lastingham for a performance by the North York Moors Chamber Music Festival musicians or the Inspired by… gallery for a performing arts day involving local singers, songwriter John Drake and actors bringing to life North York Moors folklore.

Sally Ann Smith, Arts and Culture Partnership Advisor, comments: 

“The North York Moors, as well as the towns and villages on the edge of the National Park, harbour a very rich artistic landscape, from the artists and performers who find inspiration in the natural surroundings through to the many ways that people can come and get creative themselves.

“We believe that both the quality and abundance of arts and culture deserve to be celebrated through a Festival, and it's truly inspiring to see the incredible collaboration between artists, venues, and businesses in bringing together such an exciting and diverse programme for all to enjoy.”

More programme information is available at https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/artsfestival