Top Craft Venues in Wakefield

Jasmine Pottery Studios is a small, family-run pottery studio in Wakefield city centre.

Since opening in April 2019 Jasmine Pottery Studios have been running workshops for adults (and children) in clay making, wheel throwing and pottery painting. They firmly believe that clay can be a great tool for improving well being, building social skills, self expression, motor skills and personal enjoyment.

And if you can’t make it into the city centre, Jasmine Pottery Studio also offers Clay at Home and Paint at Home Project Packs with step-by-step Youtube videos to follow along with from the comfort of your home.

Welcome to The Art House! The Art House provides time, space and support for artists, makers and creatives to develop their practice. This means that as well as hosting an-ever changing programme of interesting exhibitions, the “house that art built” is packed to the rafters with workshops, courses and classes.
Whether you’re looking for a gelli printing taster session, or an in-depth 6-week ceramics course (and everything in between), the chances are, you’ll find it at The Art House.

And while you’re there, check out the Art House Shop for quirky, arty gifts, and get yourself a tasty treat from the Coffee House.

Fancy learning a new skill in the grand surroundings of Pontefract Castle? Well, you’re in luck, because that’s exactly what you can do at the regular Have a Dabble sessions!

There are a wide variety of different crafts on offer, with each 3-hour session providing everything you need to create your own masterpiece. And at only £6.30 per person, Have a Dabble is an extremely affordable way to find out if a particular craft is for you.

If you’re visiting Pontefract Castle for a craft session, why not make a day of it and explore the fascinating ruins of the castle, or get yourself something tasty from the Castle Coffee Shop.

Have you visited Forever After yet? Situated in Castleford, this vibrant collective was created was as a way for local craftspeople to showcase their work, and a platform for shopping local for a whole world of handcrafted goodies including homeware, children’s clothing, artwork, greeting cards and loads more.

And because it gathers artists in one place, they’ve got plenty of talented people on hand to teach you, too! Forever After offers regular craft workshops throughout the year that cover a wide range of creative disciplines, from macrame and decoupage to painting and photography, and everything in between.

Crafty Owls is a friendly, independent paint-your-own pottery cafe and art studio in Ossett, dedicated to helping you create a fun and memorable experience.

Whether you are a total beginner and want to learn how to draw or paint as a novice, or you have some experience but want to broaden your techniques and approach to art, Crafty Owls’ classes cater for a wide variety of abilities in a relaxed atmosphere.

As well as regular event sessions, they also offer the ability to book parties (perfect for hen nights!). And if you have little creatives at home, they offer kids’ workshops, too.

For visitors, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park needs no introduction – amazing sculptures by international artists set amidst 500 acres of stunning parkland.

What you might not know is that YSP runs regular artist-led workshops and sessions where you can unleash your own inner creative. These workshops are designed to be accessible to beginners or those with little experience, as well as those further along their creative journeys.

During the warmer months, many of the workshops take place outdoors, taking inspiration from the natural world, as well as exhibitions and artworks in the park (upcoming events include Foraged Basket Making, and Summer Solstice: Draw Together In The Park).

Pop into Castleford Museum for an hour of crafting surrounding by stories and artefacts from the town’s heritage!

Castleford Crafts is a FREE monthly craft workshop, featuring a different craft each month. There is no booking required, so just drop in and flex your creative muscles!

While you’re at the museum, why not have a look at the permanent installations – including a whole host of Roman archaeological finds from Castleford’s time as the Roman town of Lagentium – or the temporary Community Cases, with an exhibition currently celebrating the town’s Burberry Mill, and especially the workforce’s women.

Situated on the banks of the River Aire at Queen’s Mill, Riverside Paint A Pot is a fantastic creative space where visitors can relax, have fun and embrace their creative side.

The sessions are led by artist-in-residence Ruth, who will be on hand to help create your own pottery masterpiece, guiding you through using the tools, helping with your design and providing a variety of patterns or pictures you can use on your chosen pot.

Special events include parties and Ladies’ Nights – complete with mini buffet and a glass of fizz!

Create at Caphouse is an uplifting experience every Friday afternoon, hosted at the National Coal Mining Museum.
There’s an incredible range of crafts, with a different focus each week – etching, weaving, sgraffito, cyanotype, watercolours… the list keeps growing, and so do your skill and confidence levels!
With no previous experience needed – and at only £5 per person – it’s a great way to try out new things and find a creative hobby you love.

While you’re at the Mining Museum, take the time to have a look round the galleries and discover the fascinating history of mining in Britain. Don’t miss temporary exhibition Rescue! which, as the name suggests, is all about how mine operators learnt from mining disasters to create the state-of-the-art Mines Rescue service.

A Touch of Craft is a popular new craft venue in Ossett holding a wide range of evening and weekend craft classes.

There is something for everyone – from decoupage to silversmithing, knitting to painting, all classes are run by experienced, passionate craft teachers who bring their wealth of knowledge to the complete beginner or the person wanting to fine tune their skills!

You can also book crafting parties, whether it’s a birthday, a baby shower, or just a get-together with a difference, the events are tailored to your specifications.

Want to try your hand at different creative crafts without spending a fortune on lessons or equipment? Well, Find Your Passion does exactly what it says on the tin!

These regular craft sessions – hosted at Wakefield Museum – help you discover a passion for a creative skill through easy and affordable (just £6.30 per person) workshops. Try your hand at everything from lampshade making, paper-cutting, wet felting and more.

Although the craft sessions take place in the evenings, why not arrive a bit early and spend some time enjoying the treasures of Wakefield Museum? You can even take part in the museum’s latest exhibition, Moving Stories, as the museum looks back at the stories they’ve told over the last 100 years and ask you to tell your own story!