Fun days planned to support York Minster Nights

Half term activities from 26 October to 3 November 2013

Art enthusiasts and families can enjoy a packed series of events and activities at York Minster’s autumn art week this half-term.

As well as opening its doors after dark for York Minster Nights, which runs each evening from 30 October to 2 November, the medieval cathedral has plenty to offer daytime visitors with a number of art-themed activities to coincide with the national Big Draw campaign.

Activities designed to encourage adults and children to pick up pencils and get drawing include a SketchCrawl on Saturday 26 October, a huge Big Draw artwork for people to contribute to and art themed Explorer Backpacks for children.

The SketchCrawl runs from 10.00am to 4.00pm and encourages skilled and amateur artists to join award-winning children’s book illustrator Lynne Chapman to draw in and around York Minster. Participants will work alongside each other to draw different aspects of the building from the intricate masonry to the stained glass.  The SketchCrawl is suitable for adults and accompanied children aged seven and above.

From 28 October to 1 November, The Big Draw will encourage visitors to create artwork on a grand scale with huge rolls of paper for everyone to sketch onto, taking inspiration from what they see around the cathedral. 

Younger visitors will also be able to enjoy York Minster’s family fun activities, including the Story Chest which can be found in the St Nicholas Chapel and special Monty the Monkey trails.  Visitors can also borrow Big Draw-themed Explorer Backpacks, which incorporate special artist materials alongside the usual explorer gadgets.

In addition to the daytime activities, York Minster will be opening its doors each evening from 30 October to 2 November for live street art as part of the city-wide Illuminating York festival. Visitors can see Leeds-based artist collective Black Rose painting live in the Minster’s awe-inspiring Nave, light a candle to help create a stunning spiral of light in the Chapter House as well as enjoying tasty treats from a National Trust pop-up café.

York Minster is open daily from 9.00am to 5.00pm.  Admission is £10.00 for adults and free for children, with each ticket valid for 12 months entry to the Minster.  The ticket includes access to the Revealing York Minster visitor attraction in the Undercroft, The Orb stained glass displays and exhibitions in the East End and access to the whole cathedral and Chapter House.

York Minster Nights runs from 6.00pm on 30 and 31 October and 7.00pm on 1 & 2 November, with last admissions at 8.30pm.  Admission is £5 for adults and £2.50 for children.  Ticketholders for York Minster Nights also receive a 50% discount off daytime admission to the Minster.

For more information and tickets, please visit www.yorkminster.org

ENDS

For further media information, please contact:

Jay Commins – Pyper York Limited

Tel: 01904 500698

Mob: 07810 546567

Email: jay@pyperyork.co.uk