Yorkshire Sculpture Park WELCOME FAMILIES ysp.co.uk/families
Welcome to Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP). We hope you have an amazing family day. Enjoy great art, indoors and out, and walks around beautiful lakes and in historic woodlands. Try tasty food in the restaurant or café and find a range of souvenirs and gifts in the shop. YSP is over 500 acres in size – that’s about 500 football pitches so don’t expect to see it all in one day!
WHAT IS YSP? YSP is an outdoor art gallery. Here, you can explore the work of the world’s greatest artists against a backdrop of inspirational parkland, scenic lakes and enchanted woodland. – Get up close to our outdoor sculptures, you can even touch them. All we ask is that you don’t climb or sit on them. – Look out for fascinating wildlife around the different habitats in the Park. YSP is home to lots of different animals, from Highland cattle to herons. – Enjoy the open air – walk around the historic landscape, play hide and seek in the woods or hop across the stepping-stones. – If the weather’s not so good, visit one of our five indoor galleries where you’ll find interesting temporary exhibitions, or relax and have lunch together in the café or restaurant.
Magdalena Abakanowicz, Ten Seated Figures, 2010 courtesy the artist and Galerie Scheffel, Germany; Malborough International Fine Art, London. Photo Jim Varney
– Don’t forget, staff are here to help and will answer your questions.
TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR VISIT, PICK UP ONE OF OUR FREE LEAFLETS: What’s On Today & Map This leaflet lists all of the temporary exhibitions you can see on your visit. Fold out the leaflet for a large map with all the information you need to help you navigate YSP, including the locations of car parks and toilets. Wild Leaflet This leaflet is great for the wildlife enthusiasts in your party. Learn about the different wildlife habitats at YSP and discover a variety of animals, birds, insects and plants which make YSP their home. Family Leaflets Look out for family activity leaflets which accompany most of our major exhibitions and feature inspiring activities to do together. Events Leaflet Pick up an events leaflet to find out what’s on, from family sculpture workshops to wildlife walks. Henry Moore, Draped Seated Woman, 1957–58 courtesy London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Reproduced by permission of The Henry Moore Foundation. Photo Joan Russell
Welcome to Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP). We hope you have an amazing family day. Enjoy great art, indoors and out, and walks around beautiful lakes and in historic woodlands. Try tasty food in the restaurant or café and find a range of souvenirs and gifts in the shop. YSP is over 500 acres in size – that’s about 500 football pitches so don’t expect to see it all in one day!
FACILITIES The YSP Centre (above) is a great place to begin. There’s a restaurant, a shop and toilets with baby changing facilities. There’s also an information desk where you can ask staff to help plan your visit. YSP Learning (above right) is used by school groups during term time and for family activities at weekends and during holidays. YSP Learning also has a great café for families, an information point and toilets.
Magdalena Abakanowicz, Ten Seated Figures, 2010 courtesy the artist and Galerie Scheffel, Germany; Malborough International Fine Art, London. Photo Jim Varney
You can pay for your parking any time and at any of our car parks, you just need your vehicle registration number. We rely on car parking fees to deliver the education programme, internationally renowned exhibitions, projects in local communities, and also to maintain the 500-acre estate. MOVING AROUND THE PARK
In both the restaurant and café you’ll find highchairs and family-friendly food and drink. There’s also unlimited tap water to keep you refreshed. If you’ve brought your own food, try one of many picnic areas across the site; look at the map for locations.
If you are using a buggy or a wheelchair we suggest you travel on the pathways throughout the Park. Staff at the Information Desk are happy to advise you on the best route. You can hire a mobility scooter or wheelchair free of charge (subject to availability).
If you’d like a souvenir of your trip, visit the shop where you’ll find a range of affordable children’s items. We also stock beautiful children’s books, toys and art supplies.
If you plan to visit Longside Gallery then make use of our free shuttle bus which departs the Walk of Art, just outside YSP Centre, every 30 minutes (during exhibitions only). Unfortunately we cannot take pushchairs on the bus.
Bringing the family dog? That’s fine; just remember dogs must be kept on a lead and aren’t allowed inside buildings.
YSP Centre and YSP Learning & Café. Photos Jonty Wilde
OTHER THINGS TO DO TOGETHER DURING YOUR VISIT – Watch the clouds go by. The Deer Shelter Skyspace by James Turrell is a five-minute walk from YSP Centre and a great place to do this. – Shut your eyes and listen to what you hear, is it a sound from nature or something else? – See how many sculptures you can spot at any one time, there are over 60 sculptures in the open air. – Make family shadow sculptures. – If it’s a weekend or school holiday why not visit Seizure by Roger Hiorns. This sculpture is near the Underground Gallery and is a room full of blue crystals.
Family in the Country Park. Photo Joan Russell
– Draw sculptures that interest you. – Take a walk around the lakes and look out for herons and other birds. – Find historical estate features like the Shell Grotto and share stories about being at the seaside. – Are you up for a challenge? Why not jump on the free shuttle bus up to Longside Gallery (during exhibitions only) and walk back together through the fields, enjoying the landscape and sky as you go. – Take photographs of the sculptures outside from unusual angles.
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE? Visit ysp.co.uk for lots of information about YSP. You’ll find links to films, resources and much more.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park West Bretton, Wakefield WF4 4LG +44 (0)1924 832631 ysp.co.uk Please note, the postcode takes you to our red car park at YSP Learning. Look out for signs to the main entrance for YSP Centre.
VISIT THE YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE TRIANGLE Henry Moore Institute, The Hepworth Wakefield, Leeds Art Gallery and Yorkshire Sculpture Park are only a 30-minute drive, bus or train ride from each other. Which means you can enjoy an afternoon, a day or a weekend at all four great venues and see world-class exhibitions. Find out more and plan your trip at ysculpture.co.uk
Henry Moore Institute & Leeds Art Gallery 12 miles 26 mins
17 miles 27 mins
The Hepworth Wakefield 7 miles 21 mins
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Cover: Sophie Ryder, Sitting, 2007 courtesy the artist. Photo Jim Varney
Yorkshire Festival supported by