CANVAS
Join us at Wellington Place for our month long celebration of art and the community 11 April – 6 May 2025.
Get ready for an explosion of colour and creativity as CANVAS arrives at Wellington Place! This month-long community arts festival, in partnership with Leeds Arts University, runs from Thursday, 10th April to Tuesday, 6th May 2025. It’s set to be an inspiring and interactive celebration of art and community, perfect for art lovers of all ages. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to keep the kids entertained during the Easter holidays!
The Leeds Arts University Exhibition
Preview event: 10 April
Open: 11 April – 6 May, 10am – 2pm
Wellington Central
The heart of CANVAS is an exhibition featuring the incredible work of Leeds Arts University’s Fine Art students. With six large-scale canvases on display, this exhibition will highlight emerging talent, inspire future artists, and show that a career in art is within reach. The exhibition space will be open daily throughout the festival.
Collaborative Colour
Open: 11 April – 6 May, 10am – 2pm
Wellington Central
One of the festival’s highlights is a collaborative artwork designed by Megan Burnell, a talented student from Leeds Arts University. Visit Wellington Place from 10am to 2pm daily during the festival, grab a pen, and add your touch to this enormous public art piece. It’s a wonderful opportunity for kids to experience the joy of creating art.
The canvas design will also be available as pocket-sized postcard keepsakes. You can colour them in during your visit or take them home as a memento of the event. The artwork captures the vibrant energy of Leeds city centre and features iconic landmarks – keep an eye out for Wellington Place’s Lifting Tower!
The Art Trail
10 April – 6 May
Various locations around Wellington Place
Explore Wellington Place through an interactive art trail showcasing artwork by Leeds Arts University students and alumni. Pick up a map from any of Wellington Place’s restaurants, cafes, or bars to discover the route, and enjoy the art displayed in each venue’s windows.
Art in the City Print Fair
Friday 2 May, 11am – 6pm and Saturday 3 May, 10am – 5pm
Tower Square
Celebrating local creative talent, Wellington Place is hosting an Art Fair in Tower Square in collaboration with Art House. Browse the fabulous stalls offering a range of prints from local creative talent.
Children’s Activities
Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 April and Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 April, 10am – 2pm
Wellington Central
Feeling inspired? Head over to the PLAY Tent! This creative space will be open from 10am to 2pm on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th April, and again on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th April. Kids can dive into open-ended play and craft activities, drawing inspiration from the exhibition themes to explore their artistic sides.
Tickets are free but booking is required – please click here to book.
Interactive Sketch club
26 April and 3 May, 12pm – 2pm
Meet Wellington Central
Join local artist Clifford Stead and explore the artwork around Wellington Place, let your imagination take hold and put pen, or pencil, to paper and let the creative juices flow! Tickets are free but booking is required – please click here to book.
