By Jim Corah
With the main call outs for artists and fashion designs coming to an end earlier in April, attention turns to poetry, photography, and organising venues for Kirkstall Art Trail.
Kirkstall Art Trail returns on Saturday, 18 July and Sunday, 19 July 2026, and has received funding from Leeds City Council’s Inner South West Community Committee and Point North. A fresh call for donations will be launched on Monday, 27 April.
With artists’ submissions having been made, KAT organisers – led by Mandy Long, Mindy Goose and Jim Corah – are on the lookout for venues to host. Homes, businesses, public venues all make good venues, welcoming visitors as they explore Kirkstall and art.Â
Host venues are essential for Kirkstall Art Trail, where artists will be able to show cast their talent and creativity.
Display space is not all venues can provide, KAT are also looking out for accessible toilets around the trail. Previous hosts said “we loved being a part of it, thought it was really well organised and would definitely like to be part of it again.” Reach out by emailing info@kirkstallarttrail.co.uk.
As an organisation that promotes engagement with art, this year’s event features returning calls out.
The annual Capture Kirkstall photography competition returns, showcasing the area and how it is seen through the eyes of the public. The competition is open to all photographers using a DSLR or mobile phone, with three categories: Unexpected Kirkstall; People of Kirkstall; and Wild Kirkstall. The closing date for submissions is 21 June.
Having established the poetry trail over the last two years, poets are encouraged to submit a poem for visitors to discover attached to street furniture across Kirkstall. The Poetry Trail provides planned poetic persuasiveness permeating participants’ particular pondering.
2026 sees the launch of the inaugural Kirkstall Art Trail Poetry Competition, which has two prizes – a national prize for all entries and a local prize for poets with a Leeds postcode. Entries are £4 per poem, with prizes of £30 for the main competition and £20 for the LS Poetry Prize.
The deadline for both the Poetry Trail and the Poetry Competition is 31 May.
With funding secured and less than 100 days to the event, volunteers will be turning their attention to ensuring the “friendliest event on the calendar” (2018 participant quote) continues to encourage engagement and education in art in all its forms.
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