Kirkstall Art Trail is an annual celebration of art in the community, featuring local artists and creative organisations. For two days in July, venues throughout Kirkstall will host a variety of exhibitions, free workshops, and activities. Kirkstall Art Trail began in 2015. Now in its 10th year, the Art Trail is looking for artists, makers, and creative organisations based in West Leeds and the surrounding areas to take part in the weekend-long celebration of creativity.

The Art Trail provides a unique chance to showcase and sell your work in an unconventional setting. We encourage applicants to think creatively when displaying their pieces.

Our venues are very different from a gallery. It's not always possible to hang work on the walls. We ask that you engage with the public as much as possible. We encourage you to give demos or lead workshops and activities related to your work.

Who can apply?

The criteria are roughly outlined below:

• Based in Kirkstall, West Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire. We will prioritise artists from these areas. (This opportunity is only open to UK-based artists).

• Individual artists, crafters, and/or designers.

• Creative organisations and/or collectives.

• Workshop facilitators.

• Professional or amateur artists. 

• We encourage all newcomers to apply; the Art Trail is a friendly event. 

• We are especially interested to see artists who have got environmental sustainability at the heart of their practice.

• We are also open to applications that may not fit into any of the creative criteria above.

What type of work can I submit?

• Any form of visual art: painting, illustration, drawing, graphics, photography, mixed media, digital art, textiles, printing, ceramics/pottery, sculpture, glass, metalwork, jewellery, fashion/clothing, film/video, etc.

• We are also interested in other forms of art; please get in touch with the organiser if you want to discuss your ideas. 

• Workshops, demonstrations, and other activities.

• Please note that this is a family-friendly event, so keep this in mind when choosing work you wish to show. All subject matters are welcome. Event organisers reserve the right not to show anything they consider offensive.

What do I include in my submission?

The following is an overview:

• You can submit up to five examples of your work.

• A short artist bio written in the first person. We will use this on the website directory if you are successful. Mention things such as your art style and inspiration. There is a limit of 50 words.

• A clear description of what you intend to exhibit and/or your activity. 

• Whether you have a preferred venue, can provide your own venue, or you have no preference/not known. 

• Your social media and website, if you have them.

Key information about the Art Trail:

• It is free to apply.

• Artists must arrange their own Public and Product Liability insurance. 

• We list all artists and activities on our website. You can see last year’s directory on our website.

• There is more information about Kirkstall Art Trail in the FAQs on our website. 

• Please check that you have turned on the following email notifications in CuratorSpace. You may miss any messages from us if you don’t:
  • Tell me when someone sends me a message
  

  • Tell me when my submission is successfully received by a curator.

• If you need to get in touch with us, please use the 'Contact curator' tab at the top of this page. 

Accessibility

We want to remove the barriers to taking part in Kirkstall Art Trail. Whilst we cannot make every venue step-free, we do want to try and make adjustments where we can.

If you have access needs, please let us know. Your access needs do not have to be physical to ask for an adjustment. 

• We are here to answer any questions you may have about filling out your submission.

• We can provide a different application format if requested.

• If access is a concern over the event weekend, let us know so we can discuss options.

• Let us know how you prefer to communicate. We want you to receive information in a way you understand.

Timeline

• Applications opened: w/c January 6 2025

• Application deadline: Sunday, 6 April 2025

• Artists notified: We aim to inform successful artists by email within three weeks of the application closing date. 

• Art Trail: 19 and 20 July 2025