The Art Exchange

🎨 CALLING ALL BOTANICAL & NATURE ARTISTS! 🌿✨

We have an absolutely lovely mix of creatives lined up in the big room for the next Artwalk Wakefield on Wednesday 29th July, and we are working on making the space feel even more dreamy.

To bring that vision to life, we are specifically looking for an artist to exhibit whose work has a strong botanical or natural base. Whether your focus is lush greenery, wildlife, floral studies, or anything deeply connected to the natural world, we want you in the room with us! 🌸🍂

If your artwork celebrates nature and you want to join our vibrant creative community for the July Artwalk, we would love to hear from you.

👉 How to apply: Drop us a DM right now with a couple of examples of your work, or email us directly at [email protected] to get involved.

Let's make the big room something truly magical. 🖼️🌾

🌟 TONIGHT IS LOOKING FABULOUS! 🌟

The stage is set, the vibes are high, and we are ready to welcome you all tonight starting at 6:00 PM for the Northern Green Gathering Fundraiser!

Come down to The Art Exchange CIC for brilliant live music, amazing ethical stalls, a massive raffle, and the absolute best community spirit.

Let's pull together, have an epic night out, and save our festival art!

Grab your tickets right here on Eventbrite:

👉https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1992716814635?aff=oddtdtcreator

See you all very soon!

🕊️ Refugee Week at The Art Exchange CIC 🕊️

We have a few incredibly special events lined up this week in partnership with Wakefield Council to celebrate culture, connection, and community.

Due to recent and current events, we don’t feel it is safe or appropriate to advertise the full details, times, or specific schedules publicly. Our absolute priority is keeping our studio a safe, welcoming, and protective sanctuary for everyone involved.

However, if you are a supporter, a community member, or someone who would love to join us in a safe space for art, music, or mindfulness, please don't hesitate to reach out. 🥺

👉 Get in Touch: Drop us a private message directly or email us at [email protected] and we will gladly share the details with you privately.

Thank you for understanding and for helping us keep our community safe. ❤️✨

🎨 CALLING ALL NEURODIVERGENT TEENS: WE NEED YOU! 🎨

Are you (or is your teen) looking for a creative space that actually gets it? A place where you can drop the mask, create massive things, and be surrounded by a tribe that speaks your language?

Applications are officially open for our National Lottery Funded creative programme, and we are looking for the next wave of ND teens to take over the studio.

This isn’t some boring, restrictive school art project. This is a professional studio environment where your unique brain is your biggest artistic asset—and you get to work entirely at your own pace.

✨ Why this is different:

1-on-1 to Start: We don't throw you straight into a crowd. Every student starts on a completely one-to-one basis with us. We stay 1-on-1 until you feel totally comfortable and confident enough to transition into working alongside our small, friendly groups.

Tailored for You: We adapt the studio to your specific sensory needs, comfort levels, and artistic goals.

Total Creative Independence: It’s a safe, pressure-free hub to build massive social confidence and artistic autonomy at a speed that suits you.

Professional Toolkit: Get your hands on high-quality materials, heavy textures, and professional equipment to bring your exact vision to life.

Zero Cost: Thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund, this entire programme is fully funded.

📍 The Details:

Where: The Art Exchange CIC, Westgate Studios, Wakefield

When: We work around you! A time to suit your schedule.

Cost: £0 (Fully Funded)

Who: Neurodivergent teens ready to build something epic.

Spaces are limited because we refuse to crowd the studio—we keep it calm, focused, and high-quality.

Let’s see what you can create when the world finally gets out of your way. 🌈✨

📩 How to claim a spot: Drop us a DM right now or email [email protected] to book your initial 1-on-1 chat and session!

It's been our absolute pleasure to support Longboat Group in commissioning this huge piece at kirkgate railway station as well as providing Marie Keen with studio space to make it happen.

I think we can all agree Marie has done an amazing job, a huge well done it looks fabulous!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B8xiTaRTP/

✨ THANK YOU, WAKEFIELD! ✨

What an absolutely incredible night at Artwalk Wakefield last night! The sun was shining, and we were completely blown away by the wonderful community of artists and viewers who came out to support us.

We absolutely loved sharing our exhibition and that special nod to the Northern Green Gathering with you all. Seeing everyone engage with the art was pure magic.

A huge, heartfelt thank you goes out to the incredible people who made the night—and our epic Open Mic—happen:
🐝 Bazza Bee's Open Mic Jamboree for your continual, unwavering support.
🎸 Russ and Neil Clink Clarkson for keeping the tunes flowing and the energy high.
🙌 And, of course, our favorite two Terry's Welshtwakey John and Terence Costello who always go the extra mile to support everything we do.

Between you all, you created an absolutely brilliant Open Mic atmosphere that we won't forget anytime soon. We are so lucky to be surrounded by the best community.

Until the next one! 🎨🎶🍻

✨ TODAY AT ARTWALK WAKEFIELD: Experience the Unseen! ✨

Pop down to The Art Exchange CIC (Studio A4, Westgate Studios) tonight starting from 5:00 PM for an unforgettable evening of art, community, and live music!

Here is what we have waiting for you:

🎨 Invisible Realities by Kate Wray (5pm - 8pm)

Step into an entirely new dimension of art. Kate, a visually impaired artist, shatters traditional boundaries with her plaster tactile canvases. Inspired by ultraviolet, infrared, and gamma-ray spectrums, these high-contrast, heavily textured works are designed to be touched. They sit in perfect harmony with the rest of the space to give sighted visitors a unique, eye-limiting experience.

💡 Reclaiming the Light: An Artwalk x NGG Special (5pm - Late)

In collaboration with Daz Trei , Heather J Pearson, Antje Rayner and a little help from our Friends, we’ve transformed salvaged materials scavenged from Newlands Park (with a huge thanks to Farmer Ted!) into imaginative, sculptural eco-lights.

🎤 Open Mic Night (From 8:00 PM)

At the strike of 8pm, the studio transforms! Grab a drink from the bar and enjoy our live Open Mic night, hosted by the brilliant Russ from SkipRat.

Whether you are here to feel the art, absorb the music, or just soak up the creative vibe, it is going to be a spectacular night. See you there!

TactileArt LiveMusicWakefield WestgateStudios