North Wales is a region with a colourful cultural background that is widely celebrated. It continues to move forward and act as a trailblazer, producing some of the finest galleries and museum curations in the UK. Immerse yourself in all North Wales has to offer and lose yourself in these incredible venues.

MOSTYN

Behind a traditional Edwardian façade, in the beautiful seaside town of Llandudno, is MOSTYN, the largest contemporary art gallery in Wales. Traditional spaces merged with stunning modern architecture house six galleries which present regularly changing exhibitions by artists and makers from Wales and across the world. Over the summer the gallery’s internationally renowned Open exhibition shows finalists selected from submissions from all over the world, with the winner receiving a large cash prize.  Visitors are invited to vote for their favourite to win the £1,000 Audience Award.

Many people don’t know that the gallery is a registered charity. Generating over half of its income from trusts, donations and commercial activities, income generated supports the exhibition and public engagement programmes. Upstairs is an independent café, recently under new management and fast becoming a popular place for coffee lovers.  The light and airy ‘Oriel Café’ serves locally roasted coffee, hot and cold drinks, cakes and light lunches. There’s a treasure trove of contemporary craft and print this summer at MOSTYN shop. A new retail showcase ‘Discover & Explore’ features ceramics, glass, jewellery, printmaking and textiles from makers inspired by science and travel. Throughout the year, the shop presents a wide range of contemporary craft, supporting hundreds of independent artists and makers, many of them small businesses based in Wales.

www.mostyn.org

2019 Summer – Autumn Exhibitions

  • The 21st MOSTYN Open exhibition, selected from over 750 submissions from across the globe, and with a £10,000 main prize now – 27 October 2019
  • The Welcome: a new exhibition by printmaker Ann Bridges, now – 29 September 2019
  • Discover & Explore: A new retail showcase presenting contemporary makers inspired by science and travel, now – 29 September 2019

The Ruthin Craft Centre

One of the most important galleries for Contemporary Craft in Wales, The Ruthin Craft Centre houses three gallery spaces with changing programme of exhibitions throughout the year. Objects in ceramics, silver, textiles, glass amongst others are presented by both Welsh artists as well as prominent makers from the UK and overseas.

The retail gallery has a tempting display of contemporary craft for sale and to collect, while Café R offers delicious home-cooked food sourced locally. Visitors can also enjoy seeing artists at work in one of the on-site studios. The centre also runs a programme of educational courses, gallery talks and workshops throughout the year.

www.ruthincraftcentre.org.uk

Temporary displays at the Ruthin Craft Centre include:

  • Basketry – Function & Ornamen exhibit, now through the 13th of October
  • Aelwyd – towards a contemporary Welsh interior, now through the 13th of October

Oriel Mon 

Located in Llangefni in Anglesey, Oriel Mon (Ynys Môn) is a museum and arts centre. The history gallery provides an insight into the island’s culture, history and environment. The Art Gallery has a changing programme of exhibitions, encompassing art, craft, drama, sculpture and social history. Until November 2012 Wales’s most important Iron Age find, the Celtic objects from Llyn Cerrig Bach, have been loaned to the museum from the National Museum of Wales for display. It also houses a series of permanent displays, including the world’s largest collection of the works of Llangefni born Welsh artist, Sir Kyffin Williams and the works of wildlife artist Charles Tunnicliffe.

www.kyffinwilliams.info

Temporary displays for 2019 include:

  • U-Boat exhibition commemorating the war at sea, on now through 5th of January 2020
  • Crossing beaches – the Sian and Ken Owen art collection, on now through the 19th of January 2010

Recents Posts

Staying put

The staycation has been growing in popularity for a [...]