ArtWalk is back making art and creativity accessible to all as you walk, through The Ridings Shopping Centre in Wakefield which connects to an outdoors walk onto the heart of Westgate and winds around our beautiful home city of Shakey Wakey, home to The ArtHouse.
From retail outlets to community hubs, creative arts workshops and free activities from table tennis to large indoor chess and an outdoor car park allotment – it’s rare that a shopping centre is home to such independent and creative flair, not to mention free performances from local talent, tea meet-ups for the elderly, mental health groups, crafts clubs, car boot sales and even an outdoor space for markets inside All Saints Yard.
That’s not to mention plenty of places to meet, craft and eat! And we return to our new base as we walk around the centre which has art, sculpture, nature and even Instagram-friendly angel wings for one of our favourite free events for all ages, The ArtWalk! From free workshops to exhibitions, to performances and art on offer to buy, enjoy and inspire – no one size fits all – and that’s what’s great about the diversity and friendliness of Yorkshire creatives!
Our accessibility reporter Digitally Active Dan who attends CoActive Arts charity inside The Ridings, watches sport, and loves performing will be participating in ArtWalk again this month with his self-advocacy group for adults with learning disabilities before a WordFest performance on Saturday inside The Ridings Make Space hub next to Poundland where CoActive and Stride Theatre are based!
Can you believe it’s that time again already…….?
Artwalk is back just a couple of months after the last one and here’s just some of what’s on this time:
One thing that could be of interest for people is on the top floor of the Ridings there is a self-advocacy group called Speak Out Go Out and they are going to be walking posters as they will wear something on their body to show what they are, and what they want to do, which is to be able to speak up for themselves and when they go out, they want to be safe and not bullied. Their unit is based on the floor where the Reel Cinema is and they will be there from 5-7pm as that’s the time they do their sessions.
Artwalk September 29th 2021
Fiona Grady – Meeting Points
Fiona Grady is a site-responsive artist. Her colourful geometric artworks are architectural interventions that transform the physical spaces they are situated within. Her new piece ‘Meeting Points’, commissioned by Artwalk Wakefield, is composed of translucent coloured vinyls and will be installed onto the skylight windows of Wakefield’s Ridings Shopping Centre.
Supporting independent creativity in Wakefield
Since launching in 2008, Artwalk has offered Wakefield’s creative community opportunities to exhibit their work, meet, and sell to a growing number of visitors.
A bi-monthly evening of art, performance, music, heritage and socialising, the events are hosted across a variety of independent venues in Wakefield City Centre (when allowed by government guidelines) and via our website and social media platforms online. Artwalk offers a range of free events for all to enjoy, but it also gives our creative community a vital opportunity to share their work, meet fellow artists and connect with audiences. Like many other cultural festivals, events and venues, throughout 2020 and early 2021, Artwalk Wakefield had to adapt our programme to a virtual one. But that hasn’t stopped us from shining a spotlight on local artists, celebrating inspirational projects and giving our communities access to art.
