Vision and Verse

An exhibition where visual art and poetry intertwine.

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Opens: Thursday 26 June Until Sunday 31 August 2025, 11-4pm

Open Viewing on Friday 27 June from 5–8pm, all welcome

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Craven Arts is proud to present Vision and Verse, the 2025 Members Summer Exhibition where visual art and poetry intertwine. This year, members have been invited to connect their artwork with a chosen piece of verse, poetry, or prose, offering visitors a deeper insight into their creative process, philosophy, or personality.

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Yorkshire’s rich literary landscape—from emerging voices to the words of the nation’s Poet Laureate—provides the perfect backdrop for these poetic pairings, adding a unique layer of local resonance to each exhibit.

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The gallery will be open Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 4pm, and entry is free.

All are welcome to the Open Viewing on Friday 27 June from 5–8pm—an opportunity to meet the artists, view the work, and enjoy drinks and nibbles in a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere.

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Spoken word Open Mic night

Celebrating our Vision and Verse exhibition

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Date: Friday 22nd August

Time: 7-9pm

Location: Craven Arts House

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An opportunity to read/perform your creative writing (poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, monologue, songs) to a supportive audience, to develop your writing and performance skills, and receive supportive feedback.

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All experience and abilities welcome. We only ask that you bring writing pieces that are a maximum 5 minutes. If you'd like to book one of 15 available slots please book here. The booking fee is £3.50 and includes a free drink on arrival. 

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Take your work to the next level, develop your confidence to read/ perform your poetry, prose, creative non-fiction, monologues, or songs in public, and receive feedback.

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Feedback from previous Open Mic events:

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'A fun night with like-minded writers. I was very nervous but feel so much more confident now I have exposed my secret writing to the public!' (Writer, Armargh Literary festival open mic, 2023)

'Never thought I'd do this but reading my poem about Emily Bronte for the first time to other people really gave me a buzz.' (Writer, 'Celebrating Emily', Keighley library 2018)

'Loved the friendly vibe and even read my story. Fantastic evening!' (Writer, Open mic Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester)

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Dr Nicola Hill worked for many as a Creative writing lecturer for the Open University, teaching both undergraduates and graduates. She has published novels and short stories and has a PhD in Creative Writing as well as an MA in CW from Manchester Metropolitan University and a BA in Fine Art from Leeds (Polytechnic). She is passionate about encouraging new and experienced writers to share their work and has run outreach sessions and open mic evenings with schools, community centres, universities, the Visual Impairment team in Calderdale as well as at literary festivals and local libraries.

Poetry launch

A SUITCASEFUL OF DOG - poems by Sue Vickerman

Friday 29th August, 6.30pm (doors open 6pm)

You are warmly invited to the celebratory launch of Sue Vickerman's sixth poetry collection - an event featuring laughter, tears, signed copies of Sue's book, and cake!

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Admission free.

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Shifting between comedy and drama, Sue Vickerman’s poems traverse loss, memory, and the strange rituals of everyday survival.

Sue Vickerman’s A suitcaseful of dog is a sharp, darkly funny, and unsentimentally lyrical collection that captures life’s absurdities and devastations with equal intensity. Moving between acerbic social observation and moments of piercing emotional depth, Vickerman’s poems traverse loss, memory, and the strange rituals of everyday survival. Whether recounting a disastrous dog-sitting, navigating the indignities of ageing, or unpicking the quiet violences of family and relationships, her language is crisp, unsparing, and rich with wit. A suitcaseful of dog is poetry that doesn’t look away—bold, pragmatic, and bristling with intelligence.  

     "Whether recounting a disastrous dog-sitting, navigating the indignities of ageing, or            unpicking the quiet violences of family and relationships, Sue Vickerman’s language is          crisp, unsparing, and rich with wit."

Sue Vickerman is a committed Yorkshirewoman, poet, novelist, playwright, translator, editor, life model, event curator and (very) occasional stand-up comedian. Five Arts Council awards over three decades have facilitated her publication of four works of fiction, two translations from German of literary works, and five volumes of poetry. A suitcaseful of dog is her sixth collection.

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suevickerman.uk

Progression

A Gathered Threads Exhibition

8th September - 5th October

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‘Progression’ grew out of both our previous exhibition, ‘Common Ground’, and our disparate textile practices. We started off by playing with materials adding threads to small, unfired clay pots. We used these as inspiration for further work, but each time, using a different person’s work as the starting point. This sharing of ideas via small projects over seven months has allowed us all time to appreciate each other’s work, fitting each item around other priorities. At the same time as this core collection of work was being created, our own practices have continued to evolve. Course assignments, artist networking, exhibition briefs and life events have contributed to our progression; our sharing of work has in turn fed back as concepts, technical advancement, emotional outlet, and the enjoyment of what we do.

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About Gathered Threads: We are a group of six textile artists who met at Bradford School of Art whilst studying for an HNC in Contemporary Constructed Textiles (also known as ‘The Bradford Course’). We fit our textile practices around other commitments: working, studying, volunteering, and caring for relatives. We also work separately - between us we exhibit with other art organisations, run various workshops, and participate in arts markets across the region. Despite diversifying so much, we still learn and draw inspiration from each other; admiring work, supporting challenges, encouraging technical and artistic flourishing.

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Ellie Taylor will be running a 'Making Progress' workshop on Saturday 13th September, 1-4pm. Book Your Place Online