Funkytown is a new light installation by Helen Thomas and Tony Wade. The artwork was co-created with people from CoActive, Empath Action, Wakefield Studio of Sanctuary, and pupils from Lawefield Lane Primary School.

The designs are inspired by windows and architectural details in the Upper Westgate Heritage Action Zone. The artwork invites you to look up and notice the windows above street level.

Funkytown takes its name from the 1980 disco smash hit by Lipps Inc and references Westgate’s social history of nightclubs and dancing. This Light Up Wakefield artwork is funded by Historic England and supported by Wakefield Council for the Upper Westgate Heritage Action Zone.

Helen and Tony are artists based in Wakefield. Their work shares a common interest in noticing often overlooked details in our everyday surroundings. You can see more of Helen’s work at www.toastedorange.co.uk and Tony’s work at www.tonywadeart.com.

Funkytown is situated in a ground-floor window on Westgate and is viewed from the street.

Open 3pm-8pm   

Steve Petrovic will be showing at the Dolce Vita restaurant on Smyth Street. He will have framed unframed watercolour paintings many at discounted prices. This is Dolce Vita's very first Artwalk so please support their involvement - Artwalkers receive a 10% discount off total bill for dining and also just drinks at the cocktail bar (*offer only available 29th Nov from 5pm to close).

Open 5pm-9pm   

Portrayals of Extrareality is a showcase of works created by Joanna/Fizzy (she/they) and features her canvas trio made with support from Unlimited through their Wakefield Micro Award and they were created at Our House. Combining elements of graffiti, portraiture and vivid colour, the artwork is an exploration of the artist’s mental health and autism. An array of drawings in the artist’s current style will also be displayed.

Open 5pm-8pm   

A display of Wakefield places which provided material for some of George Gissing's novels and stories.

Please note the centre is on the first floor with stair access only.

Open 6pm-9pm   

Flexing our art space muscle with over 8 artists currently exhibiting at the Polka Hop including work from Hearts Alive Tattoo Studio, Helen Field, Wendy Ward, Wakefield Art Club, Linda Golding, Heather J Pearson, Carrie Scott Huby, Michael Burke and Lizzy England. We have music, great ales and food all day open from 12 while 11pm.

Open 12pm-11pm   
More details at http://www.thepolkahop.co.uk

Fine artists from Hearts Alive Tattoo Studio showing a myriad of styles and mediums collectively, featuring work by Adam Hanley, Dean Boreham, Katriona MacIntosh, Laura Jayne Hanley and Dan Mulherin

Back Gallery   
Open 12pm-11pm   

Drop in to speak to the YSP Team about Light Organ, a new installation in YSP's Chapel open throughout the winter. This joyful and interactive artwork brings sound to life with colourful, glowing lights generated by the sounds you make.⁠ ⁠Pick up a What's On guide to plan your visit and learn more about this magical artwork, on display at YSP until 21 January 2024.

All Saints Walk   
Open 5pm-8pm   
More details at http://ysp.org.uk

We're a family-run studio that’s passionate about making pottery available for everyone. Why? Because we believe the therapeutic and uplifting qualities of clay making and pottery painting should be accessible to all ages, abilities and budgets. In our Wakefield studio we’ve got all the tools and equipment you need to get stuck in, including our very own kiln to bring your pottery creations to life. We run workshops in pottery painting, clay making and pottery wheel experiences for both adults and children.

Almshouse Lane   
Open 5pm-9pm   
More details at https://jasminepotterystudios.com/

Hope, a representation of Parkinson’s Disease, by Ted Kennedy.

Event Space   
Open 5pm-8pm   

Exhibition of work by Wakefield Camera Club, a group of enthusiastic friendly photographers willing to pass their knowledge on to others. The Club meets every Monday at the Brookhouse Club and encourage all to get involved.

Event Space   
Open 5pm-8pm   

A group of artists based in the Newmillerdam area, exhibiting a collaboration of works including but not exclusive to installation art, pottery, paint and poetry. This group exists to promote the arts, to encourage new artists, to support more established artists and to foster wider community participation. It welcomes the development of venues in the Yorkshire area for artists to share their work. We value and celebrate the power of the arts in all areas of life, their healing capacity and the way they help us communicate.

Susan McCartney and Michael Yates will also be reading their poems at 7pm.

The Art Exchange (All Saints Walk)   
Open 5pm-8pm   

Margaret Hall is a self taught artist and I love to paint landscapes in acrylic currently working on a series of portraits on canvas.
Never sticking to one thing, Margaret also does little gouache paintings, goes out Urban Sketching and plein air landscape painting too.

The Art Exchange (All Saints Walk)   
Open 5pm-8pm   

Two Yorkshire artists who are fascinated with all things pinhole. Pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved. The works exhibited are a collaboration with co-active, Bob and Rose wil be around on art walk night to show you how they use pinhole cameras and answer any questions you have.

The Art Exchange (All Saints Walk)   
Open 5pm-8pm   

Artist Tony Wade has been working with local schools to create lanterns to illuminate the dark nights. These will be on display at Wakefield Cathedral for one night only.

Open 6pm-8pm   

Sophie Amelia is a surface pattern designer for home interior products and accessories. Her practice is process led, specialising in screen printing and celebrating traditional print making processes within her work. Authentic Expressions is Sophie Amelia’s latest collection made for neurodivergent women and femme-aligned people who want to celebrate their authentic identities.

Open 6pm-8pm   

A group exhibition by CoActive Arts.

Open 6pm-8pm   

Set out on a legendary quest through the impossible worlds of fantasy, from fairy tales to some of the finest fantasy authors, filmmakers and game producers today in Fantasy: Realms of Imagination. This unique exhibition tells the story of the development of fantasy from the earliest works up to the present day, looking at how the genre developed and why people have always been drawn to it either as an escape from reality or as a chance to reflect on our world. Fantasy: Realms of Imagination is hosted in partnership with the British Library Living Knowledge Network and will be at Wakefield Library until 23rd December 2023.

Open 9am-7pm   
More details at https://experiencewakefield.co.uk/event/fantasy-realms-of-imagination/

Meet Thomas Waller Gissing and learn about the Guided By Gissing Project, the Timekeepers History Research Club, our community costume library, take part in silk painting and learn about the new theatre project about Alice Gostick.

Project Space (2nd Floor)   
Open 5pm-8pm   
More details at http://www.empathaction.org

Born in 1964 in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Working in the creative sector most of my life has been a blessing doing something I love. I am curious by nature and am constantly evolving and learning. I explore lots of avenues including portraiture, landscapes, still-life, botanical illustration embracing new challenges. I work in the pursuit of many ideals and concerns, creating paintings drawn from life and my imagination. I will be displaying a small selection of my work as Linda Golding's guest artist in Westgate Studios.

Studio A1   
Open 5pm-9pm   
More details at https://soulcreative.co.uk/

The Big Room Arts Studio plays host to a Christmas Fair of craft makers.

Studio A4 (The Big Room)   
Open 5pm-9pm   

Needle felting, wool sculptures and influenced by the local Yorkshire fauna and landscape, with a dash of folklore.

Studio A4 (The Big Room)   
Open 5pm-9pm   
More details at https://www.facebook.com/yorkshireharecrafts

Open Studio showing a selection of both new and older works & "the art tombola".

Studio B13   
Open 5pm-9pm   
More details at https://www.instagram.com/hjfcrafty_artist

Showing recent short films linked to work exhibited in London in November and December 2023.

Studio B14   
Open 5pm-9pm   
More details at https://www.instagram.com/artartcollab

Open Studio showing works in progress.

Studio B15   
Open 5pm-9pm   

I’ll be showcasing ‘Hello, Can You Hear Me?’ in my studio space - it’s an audio exhibit featuring ten lost local tales that can be dialled up via a period telephone. I’ll also be offering to tell any of the tales live throughout the evening!

Studio B16 (Story Trails)   
Open 5pm-9pm   

Still Life Oil painter, currently exhibiting in galleries across the country. Open studio, new studies, paintings in progress and framed works on display. New work updates on Instagram - @paulstoneart

Studio C7   
Open 5pm-9pm   
More details at https://www.instagram.com/paulstoneart