By KLTV Newsdesk –

Families invited to create alien creatures, planets and cardboard spacecraft for community art displays across Marsh

Alien creatures, cardboard spacecraft and imaginative new worlds are set to descend on Marsh this May half term as community arts group Marshian Arts prepares for the return of its popular arts trail.

The Huddersfield-based collective is inviting people of all ages to take part in a series of free creative workshops designed to help fill homes, windows and gardens with colourful artwork ahead of the Marshian Arts Trail, which runs from 6–21 June.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural trail, organisers are expanding plans for 2026 and encouraging more residents to become creators as well as visitors.

Community arts trail set to return bigger and bolder

In July 2025, work by local artists featured in 27 venues along Westbourne Road, alongside open studios, a photography exhibition, a craft group and a psychogeography walk.

Now organisers are planning an even larger celebration of creativity, with hopes of spreading the artistic atmosphere to more streets across the neighbourhood.

To help bring the “Out of this World” theme to life, Marshian Arts has organised three free drop-in workshops during the school holidays.

2025’s Inaugural arts trail was a huge success

Giant spacecraft and imaginary planets

The first workshop takes place on Saturday 23 May, when cardboard artist Richard Shaw will help visitors create large 3-D cardboard spacecraft to be displayed in windows and gardens around Marsh during the arts trail.

Participants will also have the opportunity to make smaller spacecraft to take home.

On Sunday 24 May, local artist Alice Farrar will lead a collage workshop where visitors can design their own planets and imagined worlds. Organisers say participants are encouraged to create “imaginary worlds, ideal worlds or their inner worlds”, using supplied collage materials or their own contributions.

Award-winning artist to lead alien creature workshop

The final session, on Sunday 31 May, will focus on creating extraterrestrial birds, butterflies and flying creatures from cardboard with award-winning local artist Serena Rogers.

Rogers recently contributed to a mural at the Harrogate Flower Show that helped secure a Gold Award in April 2026.

Organisers say the workshop will encourage participants to create “their own flights of fancy” to display throughout the neighbourhood during the arts trail.

Workshop details

All workshops are free drop-in sessions running from 2.30 pm to 4.15 pm at Marsh United Bowling Club.

Visitors are advised to allow at least 30 minutes to create their artwork, with the last entry at 3.45 pm. All ages are welcome, although under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.

More information about the workshops and the Marshian Arts Trail can be found on the group’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

This year’s arts trail is supported by One Community, Kirklees Council Members’ Area Budget, Dark Woods Foundation, Body Evolution Fitness (BE-FIT) and The Junction Pub.