A team of York primary school students have raised more than £2K for charity – and proved that creativity knows no age limits.
The 2026 YorKAOS (York Kids Art Open Studios) exhibition has raised an incredible £2,150 for local causes.
Held during February half-term at Spark York, the five-day event saw over 600 visitors pass through the doors to view original artwork created by children aged 5 to 11.
The exhibition, which was run by a committee of four 10-year-olds – Ada, Seth, Ellie, and Olive – concluded with a record 127 sales, resulting in a donation of £430 for each of their five chosen charities.
“We wanted to show that kids’ art is just as important as adults’ art,” said Ada Jobling, the 10-year-old founder of YorKAOS.
Beyond the gallery walls, the exhibition hosted a series of sold-out workshops led by professional Yorkshire artists. Young attendees had the rare opportunity to learn printmaking from Stephen Lee Hodgkins, B-movie monster drawing from Lincoln Lightfoot, storytelling illustration from acclaimed author Emily Sutton, and musically lead interpretive art from Beth Elsdon.
The event was supported by grants from the Elmet Lions and York Rotary, with additional support from Hiscox York.
The £2,150 raised will be split equally between St Leonard’s Hospice, The Snappy Trust, YorMind, The Island, and Explore York Libraries.
By providing a non-competitive platform for over 200 young artists, YorKAOS has established itself as a highlight of the York cultural calendar, bridging the gap between professional galleries and the next generation of creative talent.
