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York Art Galleries York Theatres Cinema Fesitvals York North Yorkshire UK

York's arts scene is nothing short of dynamic. Historic theatres, acclaimed art galleries and new cutting edge contemporary art venues, a stunning riverside cinema and a packed year round festival programme come together to make York one of the UK's best for art, theatre and drama, festivals and independent cinema.

York Art Gallery

As you'd expect from one of the UK's top cultural hotspots, York's offering of art is impressive. Central hub is the longstanding York Art Gallery near York Tourist Information Centre on Exhibition Square. Art collections here range from 14th century Italian panals to the Dutch Masters of the 17th century.

On the contemporary side Hockney, Lowry and others are well represented. The gallery houses many special collections, including the William Etty (1787-1849) collection. Etty, a York born younger contemporary of Turner and Constable specialised in nudes. His portrait of Eliza Felix, a French actress, draws particular attention.

The vast collections of Decorative Arts, Studio Pottery and Paintings covering the full spectrum of Western European art make for constantly changing exciting exhibitions here at York Art Gallery. The gallery attracts big names such as Tracy Emin and outstanding temporary exhibitions borrowed from sources such as the National Portrait Gallery. Thanks to Yorkshire Librarian and ceramic collector Bill Ismay York Art Gallery holds one of the biggest collection of 20th century ceramics! Find out more and plan your visit via the York Art Gallery weblink right.

York Art Gallery, Exhibition Square, York, YO1 7EW. Tel. 01904 687687.

ArtSpace York & St Mary's Contemporary Art Venue

Down by York Castle Museum sits York's ArtSpace, a venue with both studio space and cutting edge contemporary art gallery. York and Yorkshire contemporary artists are featured heavily here, and some hard hitting themes are explored in exhibitions considering issues like the changing identity of class. Local acclaimed artist Richard Barnes receives due attention. Checkout the ArtSpace webguide for forthcoming exhibits including Barnes' York scenes and other local artists such as Judy Burnett.

Another York venue firmly on the York contemporary art map is the striking medieval St Mary's church which opened as a contemporary visual art venue recently in 2004. The 47 metre high St Mary's spire towers over York, and its medieval setting contrasts well with the annually commissioned contemporary art installation by acclaimed artists. See the St Mary's webguide right for this year's artist.

The ArtSpace York, 8 Tower Street, York. Telephone. (0044) (0)1904 671709.

York St Mary's, Castlegate, York, YO1 9RN. Tel. 01904 687687.

York Cinema - The Riverside Picturehouse

You'd be hard pushed to find a more attractively locatated cinema than York's Picturehouse. Situated alongside the River Ouse, with in-house cafe offering fine views of the river, York's Picturehouse is actually the renovated old Yorkshire Herald press works. Old and new architecture blend to great effect here at the Picturehouse which also has a Basement Bar serving as Internet cafe by day and York events venue by night. The Basement Bar hosts a weekly comedy club.

Film programme offerings are a mix of world, independent and mainstream cinema shown in the cinema's three auditoriums.

City Screen Picturehouse, 13-17 Coney Street, York YO1 9QL. Tel. 0871 704 2054. Checkout the York Picturehouse webguide for forthcoming films.

York Theatres - Theatre Royal & Grand Opera House

York's historic Theatre Royal has seen some changes through the years including new gothic frontage during the Victorian 1880s. The theatre's heritage however stretches way back to 1744, and today if you're on the hunt for the very best of contemporary cutting edge drama York's Theatre Royal is where to head! Checkout the Theatre Royal's webguide right for forthcoming performances. A relaxing cafe bar is on-site.

Converted from York Corn Exchange warehouse to Grand Opera House auditorium in 1902, like the Theatre Royal York's Opera House has a long history and became a centre for music hall and variety with the likes of Lillie Langtry and Cecily Courtneidge performing here. The period style is retained in the Opera House's spectacular interior and indeed the venue retains its links with music oriented performance. Epic modern day musicals are often performed here as well as concerts, comedy, bootleg musical extravaganzas and some opera.

York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard's Place, York, YO1 7HD. Tel Box Office. 01904 623568. Grand Opera House York Cumberland Street, York, YO1 9SW. Tel. 0844 847 2322.

See also the Friargate Theatre, Lower Friargate off Clifford Street, York, YO1 9SL. Tel. 01904 613 007.

York Festivals

York ranks easily with the best of the festival cities like Edinburgh. York Literature Festival, York Folk Festival, York Festival of Food and Drink, York National Bookfair, Jorvik Viking Festival and York Ghost Festival to name but a few of York's many year round festivals.

Checkout the York Festivals webguide right for a comprehensive guide to all of York's festivals. Many are held at York Racecourse.

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