Workshops & Activities 2025

Makers Fair Artists Demonstrations

Your chance to talk to the artists and makers about their craft, ask questions and get inspired!
Please note that some participatory activities may include a small charge.

Amy Stringer (ceramics): Try your hand at carving Japanese Kurinuki vessels from lumps of clay.

Annabel Talbot (ceramics): Watch Annabel as she throws tiny porcelain pots on the wheel.

Jane Middleton Art (printmaking): Create your own monoprints using inks and Chinese papers.

Jane Charles, Smallbean Stitchings (textiles): Learn how Jane creates her cotton reel trees using hand embroidery and appliqué.

Jas Lewis Henman (textiles): Explore how needle felting techniques are used to create Jas’ work.

Kate Rhodes (jewellery): Discover how Kate uses saw piercing to create the delicate details in her jewellery.

Sara Hood Fine Art (ceramics): Chat with Sara as she brings her ceramic sculptures to life over the weekend.

Tabby Textiles (textiles): Join Becky as she demonstrates her spinning wheel and weaving fabric on her table loom.

Rag Weaving with Bradford School of Art

FREE drop-in activity for all ages/abilities.

Join Bradford School of Art textiles students to learn how to weave with rags to create colourful, tactile textiles.

Make and Mend – Little Craft House x Craft For Climate

FREE drop-in demos and mini workshops on recycling in textile art, rag rugging, visible mending and patchwork.

Saturday: We are delighted to be hosting up-cycle artist Sarah (of Seven Hands) for a demonstration of her work. Alongside this you can make your own upcycled textile brooch. This is a drop-in session, no booking required.

Sunday: Come and create an upcycled shoulder bag. Join one of our workshops (11am & 2pm) to hand sew a bag from a pair of jeans. No sewing experience required and all material provided. Booking required via The Little Craft House website – these workshops will be run on a pay as you feel basis with funds going to the Craft for Climate project.

Monday: It’s Mending Monday! We will have the sewing machines out and experienced menders at the ready to help you with the tricky projects you’ve been meaning to get round to. Drop in with your mending project, no booking necessary.

Meet the Bloomers

Wash House Gardeners Create an Edible Forest Garden! Come down and find out what’s going on at the old wash house garden. Learn about some of the new plants going in and the edible delights to look out for in the coming seasons.

You can even join in if you can spare an hour or two each month; all those involved are volunteers and the Wash House Bloomers welcome new volunteers for 2025.

There will be plants for sale by donation and a nature quiz for young and old.

Olivia Joy Paper Flowers Workshops

Join local artist Olivia Joy Flowers for these creative, hands-on workshops where you’ll make stunning paper flowers. Perfect for beginners and experienced crafters alike, these sessions will guide you step by step through the process of transforming paper into a lifelike bloom. Olivia will demonstrate each stage of flower creation, providing personalized tips and expert guidance to help you achieve botanical realism.

All materials and templates included‚ no prior experience needed! Just bring a steady hand and a bit of patience.

Sat 24 May, 10.15am – 12.15pm (Daffodil Making) – Fully booked!
Mon 26 May, 10.15am – 12.15pm (Poppy Making) – Fully booked!

These workshops are now fully booked
£30 per session per person. Recommended age 16+.

Saltaire Art Gallery presents: Art Talks by Saltaire Art Gallery Friends and Associates

A series of short art talks by friends of Saltaire Art Gallery.

3:30 pm Adam Willoughby (Art Collector): Art Collecting for Beginners
3:45 pm Mireille Botros (Artist): The Role of Art Creation in our Wellbeing
4:00 pm Nina Hunter (Artist, Gallerist and Art Educator): How to Create Great Art / How to Buy Great Art
4:15 pm Paula Dunn (Artist): From Studio to Gallery – Artist Journey

Pay what you feel. Pre-booking advised – book via Saltaire Art Gallery.

Art & Design Workshops with Shipley College

FREE drop-in activity for all ages.

Shipley College’s brilliant BTEC Art and Design students are bringing a burst of creativity! Free, hands-on children’s art and craft workshops designed to inspire young imaginations. Explore exciting materials, take home a masterpiece created by your child, and learn from our friendly student artists.

Come and create!

Seated & Standing Dance Workshops for the over 50s with Ascendance

These workshops are part of Unseen – a new exhibition celebrating Bradford’s diverse dance community, featuring a specially commissioned documentary film that captures the extraordinary journeys of people who dance, made with local filmmaker Pishdaad Modaressi, and a community artwork, created in collaboration with artist Serena Nassini.

Seated & Standing Dance Workshops for the over 50s.
Advance booking essential  – book here via Ascendance website

Willow Workshop with Diane Buckley/Fiddlesticks

FREE drop-in activity for all ages.

Create your own small willow sculptures to take away.

Saltaire Art School Taster Workshops

FREE drop-in activity for children and adults.

Join Saltaire Art School tutors for free taster sessions from their highly popular curriculum.

Plus, artist Peter Wood brings the Saltaire street view to life with a live painting demonstration throughout the day. Represented by Castle Fine Art, Peter’s work is held in many private collections worldwide, and his impressive background includes exhibitions, teaching, and numerous prestigious awards.

Collage Workshop with Gold Lark

FREE bookable activity. Suitable for all ages. Children may collaborate with an adult.

Join experienced textile and jewellery artist Faye Hall for a free, hands-on workshop. In a 30-minute session, Faye will guide you in creating your own brooch or earrings using a rolling mill, aluminium, textile scraps, balsa wood, paint, and collage — drawing inspiration from her playful compositions and bold colour palettes.

Spaces are limited, so early booking is recommended.

> Book here via Gold Lark Jewellery website