In the months leading up to Kirkstall Art Trail 2026, community projects took shape across schools and local groups, feeding into the free event’s programme of art, performance and creative activity throughout Kirkstall. The projects – a schools vinyl record project and a community Bunting Festival – brought together students, artists and residents, with the results displayed at Kirkstall Abbey Church during the Art Trail.
Dreamscape Discs
High school age students hadn’t been well represented at the art trail in previous years, so for 2026 the trail reached out to Abbey Grange Church of England Academy and Lawnswood School to offer some of their keenest year 8 artists the chance to work on a project involving art practice and materials not typically used in the classroom. A further aim was to bring students from different schools together.
Local artist Jamie Steward, with Kayle McCoy and Jemima Spence of United Art Project, worked with the students over three sessions decorating pre-loved vinyl records around the theme of ‘Dreamscapes’. Twenty-five students took part across the two schools, bringing together pupils who would not otherwise have the opportunity to work together. Steward then drew together the students’ ideas to produce the theatre flats for the fashion show, which formed the backdrop for the catwalk entrance at Kirkstall Abbey Church.
Artist and illustrator Claire Hubbard volunteered at the school sessions and has since joined the Kirkstall Art Trail committee. Hubbard created an illustration capturing the students’ reflections and feedback on the project, both positive and negative, which was displayed alongside the discs and mural backdrop.
The project was funded by Leeds City Council’s Inner South West Community Committee.
Speech bubbles in the illustration read: “Drawing with Posca pens was FUN!”, “I could use more TIME to complete my design”, “I enjoyed using NEW art supplies”, “The theme [Dreamscapes] was a bit CONFUSING”, “It was good meeting other students from a different school”, and “I liked working on a different CANVAS”.
Bunting Festival
A separate Bunting Festival brought together bunting made by schoolchildren and members of the local community, coordinated with local partner We Belong Here, led by Natasha Joseph. The bunting was displayed at Kirkstall Abbey Church throughout the trail. This project was funded by Point North.
