Part III: Intervention
History, traditional and culture are given new meaning at Scarborough’s Intervention. From Baff Akoto’s rich exploration of complex ancestries of African diasporic cultural expression, to Hope Strickland’s film I’ll Be Back!, which begins and ends with the story of the rebel slave Francois Mackandal, who was burned at the stake in 1758. These artists invite audiences to see the world anew, question what we’ve been taught and broaden our understanding of personal and shared pasts.
Artists: Asiko, Baff Akoto, Deb Covell, Ellie Davies, Gareth Phillips, Geoff Titley, Gjert Rognli, Guen Murroni, Hope Strickland, Ingrid Weyland, Kate Hrynko, Liz West, Marcus Lyon, Michelle Blancke, Monica Alcazar-Durate, Patty Carroll, Sarah Maple and Sujata Setia.
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Aesthetica Art Prize 20: Defining the Future of Contemporary Art marks two decades of pioneering contemporary art, bringing 50 international artists to four galleries across North Yorkshire – Skipton Town Hall, Mercer Art Gallery, Scarborough Art Gallery and Woodend Gallery.
Showcasing painting, photography, sculpture, video, mixed media and immersive installation, the exhibition explores urgent global themes; from the climate crisis and colonial legacies to identity, technology and social inequality.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Prize reflects on its role in launching careers, shaping discourse and amplifying new voices. These exhibitions highlight art as intervention, offering powerful, transformative encounters that challenge perception and imagine new futures for contemporary practice.
Image: Ellie Davies, Stars
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Part I: Future(s)
25th April – 27th September 2026
Skipton Town Hall, Skipton
Part II: Perception
2nd May – 6th September 2026
Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate
Part IV: Transformation
16th May – 19th September 2026
Woodend Gallery, Scarborough