What is Kirkstall Art Trail?
Kirkstall Art Trail began as an annual event in 2015, taking place over a weekend in July.
Kirkstall Art Trail has grown over the years, with even more venues, artists, activities and visitors. It continued to be a big part of the Leeds creative calendar until 2019. The Covid pandemic forced a break on activities from 2020 until 2022. In 2023, the trail relaunched, welcoming over 1,400 visitors to Kirkstall, with the number increasing in 2024. Kirkstall Art Trail is once again establishing its yearly creative mark on Kirkstall. And as a wider cultural highlight within Leeds and Yorkshire beyond.
Our Aims
The aim of the Kirkstall Art Trail is to encourage engagement and education in art in all its forms. It is a free event for visitors and artists to meet and inspire each other.
The event has had a huge impact on the community. From promoting community cohesion, creating connections, and combating loneliness. It has also helped give a boost to artists who are starting out, whilst giving space for more established artists to share their knowledge.
Kirkstall Art Trail’s main beneficiaries are the residents of Kirkstall – the area is ranked 33 in the Index of Multiple Deprivation, 2019 (1). As well as the surrounding areas of west Leeds and further afield.
The visitors and artists involved in Kirkstall Art Trail are from all ages and social backgrounds. Kirkstall Art Trail has successful partnerships with a variety of organisations. Working with local schools, allotment gardens, social and sports clubs, retail, and places of worship.
The Art Trail in 2025
A small committee of volunteers manages the operation of Kirkstall Art Trail. Led by Mandy Long (Chair), Mindy Goose (Secretary), and Jim Corah (Treasurer). Committee members take on individual projects to bring Kirkstall Art Trail together.
In 2024, we recruited over 100 artists, performers, and workshop facilitators. With almost 40 venues hosting them across the LS5 postcode area (2). A variety of venues host the artists, ranging from residential, historic, and retail.
After their success in 2024, three new projects will be returning:
- the photography competition,
- the poetry trail and competition,
- and the sustainable fashion show.
We are also working on planned projects, with artist-led community workshops in two areas of Kirkstall. These will develop art based on the experiences of residents.
Kirkstall Art Trail has a demonstrable impact on the community and for artists who take part. This earned it the description of the “friendliest event on the calendar” (3).
Why should you sponsor us?
TThe Trail is only made possible by the generosity of individuals, businesses, and our funders.
Sponsorship helps us to create an exciting programme. It makes a real difference to the impact that the Trail has, the number of people we can reach out to, and the amount of activities and artist support we can deliver. This includes the creative workshops and legacy art projects within the Kirkstall area. We would like to collaborate with local businesses to achieve this. Your sponsorship will help support the three core aims through our event:
- encouraging engagement in art,
- bringing communities together,
- boosting art and culture.
Sponsorship Options
We have different tiers for sponsorship set out below:
£50
A thank you on our website’s ‘Our Supporters for 2025’ page.
Included in promotional material displayed at venues.
£100
All the benefits of the tier above, plus:
Acknowledgement and feature on social media.
£200
All the benefits of the tiers above, plus:
The opportunity to advertise on or at venues (with your provision of your own marketing materials).
£300
All the benefits of the tiers above, plus:
Logo on printed map (timeframe permitting).
£800
All the benefits of the tiers above, plus:
Named as a project sponsor.
£1,500+
All the benefits of the tiers above, plus:
Featured on our website as a top sponsor, with brand logos and links to your website.
Named as a main sponsor.
Notes
1 Kirkstall is in the Leeds West parliamentary constituency. Ranked 33 in the House of Commons Library Index of Multiple Deprivation, 2019 (1 = most deprived). https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/constituency-data-indices-of-deprivation/
Kirkstall Art Trail 2024: In 2024 the event drew more than 2,000 visitors. Two artists led resident-focused projects in two separate areas of Kirkstall.
2 Kirkstall Art Trail 2023. The event recruited over 75 artists, with 28 host venues across Kirkstall, and drew in more than 1,400 visitors. For our legacy project in 2023, a local artist worked with the Kirkstall Crusaders football club, creating a mural overlooking their football pitch. The cost of putting on Kirkstall Art Trail in 2023 was £3,500. This included promotional costs (printing, design), workshop materials, administration costs, and public liability insurance. There is also great value in the volunteer hours estimated at over 1,200 hours over six months.
3 Recorded visitor impact from across several years.
2024
Feedback from visitors included: “Thank you for organising such a brilliant weekend. You must all have worked so hard, and I send you hearty congratulations. I met so many interesting people and saw so much impressive and varied artwork, and in such a wonderful range of settings too. WELL DONE”. “The website looks fantastic! Artists and venues really clear and great overall identity and ease of use. Thank you, it looks so professional!”
Feedback from host venues: “We loved being a part of it, thought it was really well organised and would definitely like to be part of it again.”
Feedback from artists included: “Can I extend my thanks to you and the KAT24 team for the superb organisation of the event and the brilliant communication and publicity that was so evident. I had an excellent two days, met new artists and had great conversations with people visiting the art trail.”
2023
Feedback included: “This place is amazing,” quoted by a 4-year-old at St Stephen’s Church. “Lovely exhibition. Thank you for sharing your craft in such a beautiful display. All the best for establishing your new setup in the UK.” “So wonderful to see your work and chat about creativity and processes. Thank you.” “The work looks fantastic. What an amazing bunch of young people to work with,” Louise Mortimer, workshop facilitator. “Great exhibition, lovely to see the kids’ work.”
2019
Kirkstall Art Trail was described as “friendliest event on the calendar”. Statements collected from emerging artists highlighted the confidence boost it has given them at the start of their careers. Plus, visitors receiving the opportunity to take part in art have been an education and a pleasure.