YorKAOS (York Kids Art Open Studios), is a free public art exhibition that will be held at SPARK in York city centre during the February half-term holiday in 2025 (Tuesday 18 February, 11:30AM – Saturday 22 February 2025). The exhibition was founded by eight-year-old Ada Jobling, who was inspired by the York Open Studios event early in 2024. YorKAOS aims to provide a platform to showcase the artistic talents of children aged 5 to 11 from the York area.

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Ada was motivated by the desire to share the joy of art with her peers and give them an opportunity to exhibit their work. She assembled a committee with her friends HS, Seth, and Mabel, all primary school students in York who are enthusiastic about art.  Together they are passionate about showcasing the amazing artwork of their fellow students to the wider community.  

The committee has been working diligently to make Ada's vision a reality. They secured SPARK as the venue and partnered with Explore York to use their four main libraries (city centre, Acomb, Clifton, and Tang Hall) as art drop-off points during the last two weeks of January. The committee received a grant from Elmet Lions to support the promotion of the exhibition, ensuring that every primary school in York receives posters and flyers.

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YorKAOS welcomes various forms of visual art, including painting, drawing, photography, collage, and video. Artists can submit any artwork as long as it is no bigger than A3. The exhibition will include a video wall to display digital photography and videos. 

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Artists need to register on the website www.yorkaos.art before they drop off their art at their local library.

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YorKAOS will raise money for three charities: St. Leonard’s Hospice, BBC Children In Need, and Explore York Libraries and Archives. Artists can choose to sell their work during the exhibition, with all proceeds going to these charities.  A pay-as-you-feel system will be in place, with a minimum price of £10 per artwork.

YorKAOS has been engaging with the community to promote the exhibition. Ada, Seth, and Mabel were interviewed on BBC Radio York's Daytimes show with Joanita. BBC North Yorkshire also published an article about YorKAOS on their website. The committee created digital posters and flyers to distribute to schools and produced a short YouTube video explaining the exhibition.

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YorKAOS is more than just an art exhibition; it is a testament to the power of youthful creativity and community spirit. It is a platform for young artists to exhibit their talents, raise money for good causes, and inspire others with their imaginations.  

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Visit YorKAOS at SPARK during the February half-term of 2025 to witness the creativity and talent of York’s young artists!