City Of Sculpture

Wakefield's reputation as a city of sculpture is headline news...

Wakefield is a surprising centre of sculpture. We are gutsy advocates of art and renowned for remarkable artists.

In fact, two of the greatest artists of the 20th century were born and bred here - Barbara Hepworth in Wakefield, and Henry Moore in Castleford. Both were inspired by the landscapes of our district, as countless others have been and continue to be.

We also proudly boast that our two museums dedicated to this art form, The Hepworth Wakefield and Yorkshire Sculpture Park, have both won the Art Fund 'Museum of the Year' award – the world's biggest museum prize, and we're the only city outside of London to have two winners.

But it's not just sculpture that runs through the lifeblood of the district; all the visual arts are celebrated here. 

Take a walk on the art side every two months, when Wakefield's Artwalk joins together galleries and creative studios, with pubs, shops and pop up sites - each offering art, music, performance or poetry.

And don't forget to stop by The Art House. The house that art built is home to more than 50 artist studios, gallery spaces, and even a café and shop.