It has been great to continue to provide mosaic workshops in venues across North Yorkshire as part of the Rural Arts Heart and Craft Project. Over the last few weeks I have been making mosaic mirrors with participants from Stillington and Borrowby.

Here is a little more information about the project and how you can be involved.

Heart & Craft provides fortnightly art activities for the over 70s in eight communities across North Yorkshire, and is funded by Henry Smith Charity and The National Lottery Community Fund. Throughout the project, members have the opportunity to explore a range of mediums through our friendly and relaxed activities. In the past we’ve explored mosaic, drawing, jewellery making, fused glass techniques, ceramics, willow weaving, silk painting, printmaking and much more!

Through our new funding we have been able to expand the project further. This means the project is funded for three years until February 2026 and we have even more exciting additions to the project, including a specialist support worker, intergenerational activities, pop-up exhibitions and opportunities to explore other arts forms, such as music, dance and poetry.

Where to join in:
All Heart and Craft sessions are run twice a month at each venue until February 2026. New members are welcome to join if you are either:

Over 70 years of age.
Over 60 and under 70, but facing multiple disadvantages in life.
In year two of the project (February 2024) we will be looking for 8 additional village hall venues to join the project. If you are a member of a village hall committee in North Yorkshire outside of Hambleton, and would be interested in Heart and Craft, please get in touch with sorcha@ruralarts.org

Current Venues:
You can find all dates for workshops listed on our website here

Sessay Village Hall, (YO7 3NQ) Mondays, 10am-12pm

Contact Carole. T: 07443 583050, E: carolemtrow@btinternet.com.

Kilburn Institute, (YO61 4AH) Mondays, 2pm-4pm

Contact Julie H: jmharron@outlook.com

Dishforth Village Hall, (YO7 3JU) Tuesdays, 10am-12pm

Contact Anne S: annesturzy@btinternet.com

Husthwaite Village Hall, (YO61 4PF) Tuesdays, 2pm-4pm

Contact Lynn. T: 07810263346, E:the.coltons@hotmail.com

Borrowby Village Hall, (YO7 4QL) Wednesdays, 2pm-4pm

Contact Val S: val.117stephenson@btinternet.com

The Courthouse, Thirsk, (YO7 1QS) Thursdays, 10.30am-12.30pm

Contact Sorcha. T: 01845 526536, E:sorcha@ruralarts.org

Ampleforth Village Hall, (YO62 4DU) Thursdays, 2pm-4pm

Contact Lot D: cjdoucet@btinternet.com

Stillington Village Hall, (YO61 1JX) Thursdays, 2pm-4pm

Contact Yvonne M: yvonnem16@btinternet.com