Hot weather this weekend
The weather is expected to be hot this weekend. Please look out for friends and family who may be more vulnerable in the heat and make sure you stay safe in and around water. Get more advice on our hot weather page.
Find out what exhibitions are on at the Mercer Art Gallery.
Aesthetica Art Prize 20: Defining the Future of Contemporary Part II: Perception
Dates: 2 May to 6 September 2026
Aesthetica Art Prize 20: Defining the Future of Contemporary Art marks two decades of pioneering contemporary art, bringing 50 international artists to galleries across North Yorkshire: Skipton Town Hall, Mercer Art Gallery, Scarborough Art Gallery, Woodend Gallery and York Art 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.