Activities and events

The Colleges Festival of Arts

Monday 16 November 2026 10am - Saturday 21 November 2026 9.30pm

Organiser: Campus West Colleges
Open to: Everyone

Festival of Arts is a week-long celebration of university talent. We have a jam-packed programme, so whether you have an existing passion or want to try something new, you are invited to get involved and enjoy all that York’s arts scene has to offer. All staff and students are welcome and we’d love to see you there!

Weeklong Events: Want the chance to win £100 worth of prizes? We’re inviting all students and staff to enter our rubber duck decorating competition. Whether you’re entering as an individual, flat, society, or team, come to James Lodge or Goodricke Nucleus on Monday 16th from 10-12am. Visit the Langwith Nucleus to see Out of Office, a new installation reflecting on change, history, and the evolving face of the Colleges at York. York Art Gallery are offering all UoY students £5 entry to their latest exhibition, between the 16th and 20th November. Valid UoY ID is required!

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Festival of Arts - Poetry Open Mic

Monday 16 November 2026 12.30pm - 1.30pm

Organiser: Campus West Colleges
Open to: Everyone

Come along to our relaxed lunchtime poetry open mic! Listen to some spoken word poetry, or sign up to perform if you’d like to read something! We’ll also have a book & poem swap in the space, if you have a poetry book you’d like to swap for something new, a zine you’ve made, or a poem on paper you’d like to share! You don’t have to be a poet or a performer to come along. ALL WELCOME - bring your lunch, bring your autumnal poems, bring your friends! (you might make some new ones!)

For performers: We’ll have a minimum of 10 x 3-minute slots available, let us know if you’d like to perform on our RSVP form. We’ll have some spaces available on the day, and invite those speaking to join us at 12:15 pm to get signed in and run through the format.

No reservation is required to attend this free event.

Location: The Vedge, Alcuin College (A/D/050)

Festival of Arts - Music Showcase

Monday 16 November 2026 1.30pm - 3pm

Organiser: Campus West Colleges
Open to: Everyone

Join us for an afternoon showcasing York student's music talent in the Vedge at Alcuin College.

Festival of Arts - Felt Keyring Workshop

Monday 16 November 2026 2pm - 4pm

Organiser: Campus West Colleges
Location: V/JCR Vanbrugh Junior Common Room (Vanbrugh College, Campus West)
Open to: Everyone

Join Sewing Society in Alcuin Vedge to learn how to make felt keyrings

As part of The Colleges Festival of Arts, Sewing Society are hosting a workshop on making felt keyrings in the Derwent College Common Rooms. Reserve your place to join the session and leave with your own homemade felt keyring.

You must reserve your spot at this free event.

Our Festival of Arts events are open for all staff and students at the University of York to attend.

Location: The JCR, Vanbrugh College (V/N/034A)

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Festival of Arts - Relax with bookbinding

Tuesday 17 November 2026 12pm - 2pm

Organiser: Campus West Colleges
Location: HX/JJ JJs Common Room (Halifax College, Campus West)
Open to: Everyone

Join DEB Bookbinding in Halifax JJs for a presentation of the processes involved in bookbinding.

JAs part of The Colleges Festival of Arts, join bookbinder and University of York staff member DEB Bookbinding for a masterclass where you'll learn the processes involved in making a notebook from scratch so you can try for yourself at home. Note: You will not be making a notebook at this session.

You must reserve your spot at this free event.

Our Festival of Arts events are open for all staff and students at the University of York to attend.

Location: JJs Common Room, Halifax College (HXS/008)

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Festival of Arts - Gamalan Concert

Tuesday 17 November 2026 2pm - 4pm

Organiser: Campus West Colleges
Location: B/R/016 Wentworth Graduate College Hub (Biology Building, Campus West)
Open to: Everyone

Join the University's Indonesian Gamelan music ensemble for an informal performance in the Wentworth College Hub

Watch Gamelan Sekar Petak, Europe's longest running gamalan ensemble, perform a traditional performance in the Wentworth College Hub. Want to find out more about the University's gamalan history? Read Issue 5 of The Record, the College Music Scheme's regular newsletter, for an interview with gamalan musician Will.

You must reserve your spot at this free event.

Our Festival of Arts events are open for all staff and students at the University of York to attend.

Location: The Hub, Wentworth College (B/R/016)

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Festival of Arts - Print Your Own Bookmark

Wednesday 18 November 2026 11am - 1pm

Organiser: Campus West Colleges
Location: D/L/051 Printing Room (Derwent L Block, Campus West)
Open to: Everyone

Join the Thin Ice Press at the Campus Press in Derwent College and print your own bookmark

As part of the Colleges Festival of Arts, come to the University's printing press in Derwent College and print your own bookmark with the help of the Thin Ice Press, York's Centre for Print. Each bookmark takes around 1 minute to print and you can come to make your bookmark at any point during your selected hour slot.

You must reserve your spot at this free event.

Our Festival of Arts events are open for all staff and students at the University of York to attend.

Location: Derwent College (D/L/051)

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Festival of Arts - Handmade Jewelry Workshop

Wednesday 18 November 2026 2pm - 4pm

Organiser: Campus West Colleges
Location: HX/JJ JJs Common Room (Halifax College, Campus West)
Open to: Everyone

Join one of our student artists in Halifax JJs to learn how to make handmade jewelry

As part of The Colleges Festival of Arts, student artist Aleksandra Brostrem is hosting a workshop on how to make your own jewelry in JJs Common Room at Halifax College. Reserve your place to join the session.

You must reserve your spot at this free event.

Our Festival of Arts events are open for all staff and students at the University of York to attend.

Location: JJs Common Room, Halifax College (HXS/008)

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Festival of Arts - PhD Student Presentations

Wednesday 18 November 2026 2pm - 4pm

Organiser: Campus West Colleges
Location: James Lodge (James College, Campus West)
Open to: Everyone

As part of the Festival of Arts, Join two University of York PhD students as they present talks on their current studies, including on how Sherlock Holmes has been reimagined through exploring various pieces of merhcandise.

Our Festival of Arts events are open for all staff and students at the University of York to attend.

Festival of Arts - The Big College Ceilidh

Wednesday 18 November 2026 3pm - 5pm

Organiser: Campus West Colleges
Location: D/L/036 Lecture Room (Derwent L Block, Campus West)
Open to: Everyone

Join the Caledonian Society in Derwent College for a traditional Scottish Ceilidh

As part of the Festival of Arts, the University of York's Caledonian Society is hosting a Ceilidh Workshop. Ceilidhs are traditional Scottish gatherings where Ceilidh dances are performed to live folk music. They are fun, social, relaxed, and are taught and called during the dance, so there is absolutely no prior experience necessary. Scottish reeling is fairly active, so wear comfy shoes and bring a water bottle!

You must reserve your spot at this free event.

Our Festival of Arts events are open for all staff and students at the University of York to attend.

Location: Derwent College (D/L/036)

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Festival of Arts - Art Market

Thursday 19 November 2026 1pm - 3.30pm

Organiser: Campus West Colleges
Location: J/HALL James Hall (James College, Campus West)
Open to: Everyone

Come to the Festival of Arts Art Market for a range of stalls held by artists and crafters based here at the University

Our Art Market is hosted in James Hall (G/N/045) on November 19 at 1pm. All sellers at the market are either students, staff, or alumni from the University of York with products ranging from handmade journals and watercolour prints to stained glass, sculpture, and crochet. Check out our list of stalls to see what will be on sale and find out about the artists!

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Festival of Arts - Centre for Print Tour

Thursday 19 November 2026 2pm - 3pm

Organiser: Campus West Colleges
Open to: Everyone

As part of the Festival of Arts, we are teaming up with the Thin Ice Press for a tour of the York Centre for Print. Meet a member of the Colleges team at the Merchantgate Bus-stop before going to the centre. Admission is in two groups, one meeting at Merchantgate at 2pm and the second group meeting at 2:30pm.

You must reserve your spot at this free event.

Our Festival of Arts events are open for all staff and students at the University of York to attend.

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Festival of Arts - The History of Printing

Friday 20 November 2026 1pm - 2pm

Organiser: Campus West Colleges
Location: D/SCR Derwent Senior Common Room (Derwent A Block, Campus West)
Open to: Everyone

Join Helen Smith from the Thin Ice Press in Derwent College for a talk on the history of print.

Our Festival of Arts events are open for all staff and students at the University of York to attend.

You must reserve your spot at this free event.

Location: The Hub, Wentworth College (B/R/016)

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Festival of Arts - Collage Workshop

Friday 20 November 2026 2pm - 3.30pm

Organiser: Campus West Colleges
Location: B/R/016 Wentworth Graduate College Hub (Biology Building, Campus West)
Open to: Everyone

As part of The Colleges Festival of Arts, student artist Claire Blackman is hosting a workshop on Collage in The Hub at Wentworth College. Reserve your place to join the session and learn the different design principles and methods involved in collage.

Our Festival of Arts events are open for all staff and students at the University of York to attend.

You must reserve your spot at this free event.

Location: The Hub, Wentworth College (B/R/016)

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