The history of Kirkstall Art Trail
Kirkstall Art Trail launched on Saturday 18 July 2015. The event hosted over 40 artists across 22 Kirkstall venues, with an estimated 500 people visiting on the day. The event has grown in size over the years, now including the Sunday, allowing visitors to fit more in over the whole weekend.
The Art Trail continues to be a big part of the Leeds creative calendar, with only a break on activities between 2020 and 2022 due to the Covid pandemic. In 2023, the Art Trail relaunched, welcoming visitors back to Kirkstall.
In 2026, over 100 artists took part, hosted across 25 venues. Take a tour around previous maps to see how the event has grown since 2015.
“The Art Trail is such a brilliant opportunity to showcase the incredible talent and creativity across our community and a lovely way to shine a light on the amazing places and organisations that make Kirkstall so special.”
Participating artist, 2026
Kirkstall’s heritage sites
The historic Kirkstall Village area (within Leeds LS5) is the location for the Art Trail. Kirkstall is home to Kirkstall Abbey, which is widely described as one of the best-preserved Cistercian monasteries in the country. Founded over 800 years ago, Kirkstall Abbey is a Grade I listed building and a scheduled ancient monument. Abbey House Museum, situated in the former gatehouse, dates back to the 12th century. The museum hosts a wealth of local historical knowledge. Once inside, you can stroll Victorian streets and explore shops, houses, and the local pub. Both sites have made fine backdrops to showcase artists, workshops, and events for the Trail.
Another site that Kirkstall Art Trail partners with is Hollybush. The environmental volunteering centre has been running for over 40 years. The Hollybush building dates back to at least 1700 when the site was a farm. The farm, under the ownership of Joseph Whitwell in the 1860s, was the first to pioneer forced rhubarb. Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb now has Protected Designation of Origin – much like Champagne, feta cheese, and Jersey Royal potatoes.
St Stephen’s Church also plays host to artists for the trail. Designed by the architect R. D. Chantrell, it was built in the Gothic Revival style and opened in 1828. It is one of the many ‘Commissioners’ churches’ built in the early 1800s when industrial towns had outgrown their churches.
The people behind Kirkstall Art Trail
KirkstallKirkstall Art Trail is run entirely by a committee of nine volunteers, with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. Many of us are active in the wider Kirkstall community too, beyond our roles on the committee. We’re made up of:
- ages spanning the decades
- a mix of genders
- a variety of occupational backgrounds – health care, education, design, project management
- practising artists
This diversity shapes how we work. Practical experience in organising and managing projects sits alongside a first-hand understanding of what it takes to make and exhibit art, bringing different perspectives drawn from lived experience.
Our tasks are as wide-ranging as fundraising, artist selection, venue booking, volunteer recruitment, and running the website and social media that keep Kirkstall informed throughout the year.
New committee members, and volunteers who can only spare a weekend, are always welcome. Visit the Volunteer with us page for details.
Find out more about the Kirkstall Art Trail organisers and Meet the Team
Our aims and objectives
Encourage engagement and education in all forms of art
- Create opportunities for people to learn new creative skills.
- Help visitors find inspiration and enjoyment through their interaction with artists and the Art Trail.
- Support community and school-based projects where professional artists deliver workshops, with resulting work exhibited as part of the Art Trail.
These aims help people discover new creative skills, and give artists a route to share their knowledge through community and school-based projects.
Promote inclusivity and provide a welcoming environment
- Encourage artists from all backgrounds to take part, where they feel that art is for them.
- Give encouragement, guidance, and support to new artists, to help build their confidence.
- Give space for established artists to share their work and knowledge with others.
- Make the event as welcoming and accessible as possible – for example, by giving visitors detailed accessibility information so they can make their own decisions.
These aims help make the Art Trail a space where artists of all backgrounds and experience levels feel supported, and where visitors can plan their visit with confidence.
Promote community cohesion and create connections
- Create a positive impact in Kirkstall and the surrounding neighbourhoods.
- Offer a rich experience that enhances people’s wellbeing and brings communities together.
- Invite people to get out in the locality, be sociable, and form lasting friendships and connections.
These aims help bring people together, strengthening a sense of community across Kirkstall and the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Provide an opportunity for artists to show their work in unconventional settings
- Create and build partnerships with organisations that provide venues for the event, including heritage sites such as Kirkstall Abbey, local community spaces, schools, allotments, sports and social clubs, and the church.
- Create a supportive neighbourhood network that empowers local residents to take part by opening up their homes as mini art galleries.
These aims help to create unique opportunities for artists to show their work in unusual settings and for visitors to view art outside of a traditional gallery.