Victoria Art Gallery joins nationwide Wild Escape art project

15 March 2023

This spring and summer, Bath’s popular Victoria Art Gallery will be joining an exciting nationwide art project.  

Called The Wild Escape, the project aims to connect children across the country in a shared love of both art and wildlife. It’ll run from January to July 2023, and is being led by the national art charity Art Fund. Additional support is being provided by Arts Council England.

What’s it all about?

The Wild Escape is inviting children from Bath and throughout the UK to create a unique piece of art based on their favourite animal. The budding young artists are invited to use their imagination, to create a piece which depicts the animal ‘escaping’ back to its natural habitat. 

Once the project ends in July, all the pieces will be brought together in one huge collective piece of art. It’ll imagine a better future for wildlife, both on our doorstep and further afield. Pieces will also be exhibited for Earth Day 2023, held on Saturday 22nd April. 

Kevin Guy, the leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, talked to the Bath Echo about the exciting plans for The Wild Escape project:

“We’re delighted to be joining museums and galleries across the country in this exciting project.

“The Victoria Art Gallery is inviting local schools and families to get involved in a special programme of creative activities celebrating UK wildlife.

“I hope young visitors to the Gallery will enjoy exploring the collections and learning about our amazing wildlife and the importance of protecting it for the future.”

How to get involved

If your child attends a primary school in Bath, there’ll be chances for group visits to the Victoria Art Gallery. During each of the Wild Escape sessions, the children will be encouraged to make sketchbooks to record their observations and create collages of animal habitats.

If you’re visiting Bath during the Easter holidays, you can also bring your little ones along to free drop-in sessions at the gallery. There are a number of workshops planned, where children will be making everything from colourful fish collages to beautiful hanging butterflies. 
And lastly, the gallery is planning a themed trail centred on nature in all its glory. This includes special displays of paintings, drawings, sculpture and ceramics, all drawn from the VAG’s extensive collections. So whenever you visit, you’ll have the chance to join in the nature-themed art celebration.  

You can find out more about what’s on at Bath’s Victoria Art Gallery over on its website

And if you’re heading to Bath soon to check out its fantastic arts and culture scene, make sure you book somewhere fabulous to stay. 

We have a choice of elegant self-catering apartments in Bath city centre. This includes a number of properties just across the Pulteney Bridge from the Victoria Art Gallery – Argyle Upon Avon, Pulteney Bridge View and our Argyle Riverview Flat. You’ll be within just a short stroll of the gallery and the countless attractions of Bath city centre.