Saltaire Arts Trail

Saltaire Arts Trail is back for 2023, running over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend from Saturday 27 – Monday 29 May, bringing the UK’s finest artists, makers and designers to the unique spaces of Saltaire and Shipley. The annual 3-day event - which has run since 2006 - is inspired by the cultural heritage, artists and creativity in and beyond Saltaire, and attracts thousands of visitors to the World Heritage Village.

The Open Village will show high-quality contemporary artwork by artists selected from across the UK in homes, businesses and creative spaces across Saltaire and Shipley. People can visit resident artists showcasing their own work in their homes and studios, while some of the area’s creative spaces - Shipley Print Studios, Wharf St Studios and Salts Works, home of the People Powered Press - are also hosting artists, running open studios, and offering drop-in activities over the weekend.

The Saltaire Makers Fair in Victoria Hall will host over 65 exhibitors across three rooms, in a showcase of fresh, contemporary art, craft and design for sale or commission, carefully chosen for its quality and originality. Entry is £3 (under 16s free).

A programme of exhibitions includes: Pollen Paintings by Freddie Yauner, an exhibition featuring live painting exploring biodiversity, farming and pollinators at Salts Mill; Wild Bee Cafe by Freddie Yauner and Max Fraser, a pollinator-inspired, hand-painted drinks kiosk touring Shipley in the week before the Arts Trail; and Habitat, an exhibition of textile installations at Wash House Garden by students from the FdA Textiles Practice course at Bradford College. Further exhibitions throughout the village showcase more local talent, including large-scale tapestry in the United Reformed Church by Chrissie Freeth, photographic project Mills Transformed by photographer Neil Horsley at Salts Mill, and the Annual Exhibition by Saltaire Art Group at Saltaire Methodist Church.

There are also chances throughout the weekend for people of all ages to get creative and learn new skills in a programme of free artist-led workshops including printing, weaving, drawing and crafts.

Information on the full programme will be published at saltaireinspired.org.uk and trail guides will be available to buy for £3 at various outlets in Saltaire and online from late-April, as well as throughout the Arts Trail weekend.