RICHMONDSHIRE Council business and community officer Kate Loughlin and the Pop-Up Gallery’s Sue Dewhurst are now planning the Dales Festival of Art following their successful funding bid.

In preparation for the festival, there will be four workshop days, one each in January, February, March and April, each hosted by two different professional artists. Each day will cater for different elements. The artworks created will then be used to form part of the Art Trail at the Dales Food Festival in May.

Mrs Dewhurst said: “I am honoured to have been asked to create a sibling event to something as iconic as the Dales Festival of Food and Drink.”

The workshop programme will start on Saturday, January 26, in the Oak Room, Thornborough Hall, Leyburn. Josie Hasket will host the art of willow weaving between 9.15am and 10.45am and 11am until 12.30pm. The afternoon will see a rag-rug making master class with Heather Ritchie from 1.30pm until 4.30pm.

February’s workshops will be for the Catterick Garrison community with a workshop hosted in conjunction with Army Welfare Services as well as one for injured and sick Army veterans. April’s workshop will be aimed towards older members of the community.

All participants in the workshops will be invited to exhibit their work as part of a grand art trail around Leyburn over the May Bank Holiday weekend. Additionally, local professional artists will have their own market place at the festival and there will be ten subsidised drop-in workshop sites throughout Leyburn for visitors to have a go at themselves.

Mrs Dewhurst said: “For people to be able to come along, learn a new skill, make something, and then have the opportunity to show that work and possibly even sell it, is absolutely fantastic. We have a wealth of artists in this area, many of whom are extremely generous in sharing their time and skills with others and this is something I think we can tap into to.”

Leyburn businesses are being encouraged to get behind the Dales Festival of Art and make the most of the chance to show off their specialities.

Business and community officer Kate Loughlin said: “Hopefully, this event will encourage visitors to stay longer and spend in the shops and businesses in Leyburn itself.”

Booking is essential at £5 per person to help towards the cost of materials. Due to the nature of the workshops, they will only be available to those aged 16 or above. Details of a younger persons’ workshop for March will be announced shortly. To book a place, e-mail Sue Dewhurst via thepopupgallery @btinternet.com.