Current Exhibitions & Events
Previous Exhibitions & Events
Signed Songs Workshop
with Paul Whittaker OBE
Saturday 28th February 2026 | 2-4pm
Craven Arts House
Places Cost: £10, including refreshments £5 for under-18s, students and those in receipt of state benefits. Book your place here.
Enjoy a taste of music, signed song, laughter and deaf awareness with Paul Whittaker OBE.
Paul will talk about his life and experience of being a deaf musician and lead us in signed songs and music games. Everyone is welcome – of any age or ability and with or without any previous experience of music, deafness or signing.
You’ll be moved and inspired whilst having a lot of fun along the way You’ll learn that signing songs isn’t just about signing the words but about expressing the rhythm and emotion of the music too.
This workshop has been organised by Settle’s Langcliffe Singers to raise money for an exciting Dales-based project. The choir has commissioned locally-born composer Vahan Salorian to write an original piece of music depicting the seasons in the Dales, inspired by hundreds of interviews with farmers, auctioneers and schoolchildren. The piece will be premiered on 4 July 2026. The performance will be signed by Paul Whittaker OBE.
To book your place via the Langcliffe singers website visit: https://www.langcliffesingers.org.uk/the-season/
Places Cost: £10, including refreshments £5 for under-18s, students and those in receipt of state benefits.
About your Tutor:
Paul has been profoundly deaf all his life yet pursued a career as a musician. A pianist and organist, he has a music degree from Wadham College, Oxford, a postgraduate performance diploma from the RNCM and holds ALCM and ARCO diplomas. In 1988 he founded "Music and the Deaf", a charity to help deaf people enjoy music, which he ran for 27 years.
In 1992, Paul began giving signed theatre performances, working on shows such as Les Misérables, Cats, Phantom of The Opera, West Side Story, Carousel, My Fair Lady, and many more. He has also signed for The Sixteen Choir, Rambert Dance Company, Opera North, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and at the Edinburgh International and Aldeburgh Festivals. In 2007, he was awarded an OBE for Services to Music and holds Honorary degrees from the University of Huddersfield and the Open University. In 2010, he gave the first ever signed BBC Prom - Sondheim at 80 - in the presence of Stephen Sondheim and with performers such as Judi Dench, Bryn Terfel, Simon Russell Beale and Maria Friedman.
IWD
Celebrating International Women's Day
Sunday 8th March | 5 - 9.30pm
Craven Arts House
Enjoy an evening of poetry, music, storytelling and celebration as we mark International Women’s Day with the launch of Half of These Are About You, a debut poetry collection from Kortu Valentine that explores love, loss, identity, and the quiet rites of passage that shape our twenties.
Experience the intimate, story-driven poems, as the book traces heartbreak, nostalgia, displacement, and self-discovery — the moments we survive, and the ones that stay with us.
The event will feature readings from the collection, followed by an open mic showcasing local women’s voices in spoken word and music.
Event Schedule:
5.00pm - Doors Open
5.30 - 6.15pm - Half of These Are About You launch & readings
6.30 - 9.30pm - Open Mic - Music and Poetry
This is a Pay What You Feel event. Book your place here.
De-stash
De-stash: Things We Gather
Saturday 14th March | 11.00 am - 4.00pm
Craven Arts House
De-Stash Your Art & Craft Supplies
Do you have a collection of art supplies, fabrics, or tools that are gathering dust? Give them a second life at our upcoming event, “De-Stash: Things We Gather.” This is a dedicated space for the creative community to buy, sell, and swap high-quality materials. Whether it's paints you didn't vibe with or beads from a past hobby, someone else is looking for exactly what you have!
£15 per table
Turn your "clutter" into someone else’s treasure.
Spaces are limited, so book your spot today!
Previous Exhibitions & Events
From the Earth: NYOS 2026 Exhibition at Craven Arts House
Friday 27 March – Sunday 26 April 2026
Meet the Artist Event: Friday 27 March, 5pm
Craven Arts House is proud to present From the Earth, a major Spring exhibition featuring over thirty artists from North Yorkshire Open Studios (NYOS). Ahead of opening their studio doors to the public in June, participating artists will showcase a diverse collection of work exploring the theme From the Earth from 27 March to 26 April 2026.
The exhibition brings together an inspiring range of 2D and 3D artworks, including glass, ceramics, paper, print, painting, textiles, bronze, and mixed media. Each piece is accompanied by a short written insight from the artist, offering visitors a glimpse into the techniques, materials, and ideas that shape their creative process.
Drawing on subjects as vast as tectonic shifts and as intimate as moss-covered boulders, the exhibition reflects the many ways artists interpret the natural world. From moon cycles to ancient landscapes, From the Earth invites audiences to consider the forces, histories, and textures that lie beneath our feet.
The exhibition will run Thursday–Sunday, 11am–4pm, until Sunday 26 April 2026.
About North Yorkshire Open Studios
North Yorkshire Open Studios is an annual event celebrating the region’s vibrant creative community. In 2026, artist studios will be open to the public on 7–8 June and 13–14 June.
More information: www.nyos.org.uk