13 children’s dresses handmade from lifejackets the artist gathered from the Lifejacket Graveyard, Lesvos. Each dress represents 1 of the 13 million child refugees worldwide. Today as a consequence of the war in Ukraine, this number is now 15 million.
The dresses signify the absent body, evoking memory, absence and loss. Dirty, torn, patched together, a mixture of faded oranges, pinks and reds, at first glance they look like any small 3/4 year old dress a young child may wear, your child, my child, any child…
The scales, an ancient symbol of justice, signify the weighing of the body and soul, embodying the difficult question: “What is the differential value of a Western life compared to the value of the life of the refugee, arriving at the border of the Western world?”
The piles of sand at the bottom of each dress represent physical/ real, political/ fictional, and cultural/ symbolic borders and - like sands - are forever shifting and changing over time. Man-made boundaries, including linguistic, economic and social, conspire to create further division.
See the artwork on the 1st floor mezzanine between 3 and 29 September.
There is a performance of music composed by Charlotte Bray on Friday 12 Sep at St Mary's Church as part of Hay Music - Bray, inspired by Burraway’s art installation has responded to the migrant crisis with her very first string quartet. Tickets are available through Hay Music
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO THE CONCERT WITH HAY MUSIC
This takes place in the Clore Learning Space every other Monday from 11am until 4pm.
Please bring your own materials
The sessions cost £18 for the full day from 11-4pm and £12 for a morning or afternoon session only.
The morning session starts at 11am so please arrive at about 10.45am
The afternoon session starts at 1:45pm so please arrive at least 10 mins beforehand
Print Club is run by our resident printmaker - Aidan Saunders - AKA Prints of Hay.
Print Club costs £6 per session - Some materials will be provided and there will be access to the printing press when accompanied by Aidan.
This club will develop according to the needs and requirements of the members of the group - so why not come along and become a part of Print Club.
DONATIONS FOR MATERIALS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED - WE HAVE A DONATION BOX
Fungi Town is a free, family-friendly event taking place in Hay-on-Wye on the weekend of UK Fungus Day (3–5 October 2025) dedicated to the unbelievable, weird and wonderful world of mushrooms, toadstools, lichens, moulds and yeasts.
Led by a team of volunteers and enthusiasts, the event will bring together leading experts, growers, artists, and businesses for an exciting lineup of talks, workshops, films, exhibitions, feasts, art and more.
Fungi Town is the first event of its kind in the UK - a fungal takeover of an entire town! Hosted in the beautifully renovated Hay Castle, and by shops and venues across Hay, this is a community-led and playful celebration of mushrooms in all their amazingness.
Whether you're a curious newcomer or a lifelong fanatic, join us for a weekend of discovery, creativity and connection — all inspired by the magic of fungi.
Fungi Town 2025 | Explore Fungi Events Now
Join seasoned guide, Head of Nature at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, and self-declared ‘mushroom tickler’ Dan Ryan, for a family-friendly fungi hunt through the hills above Hay. Whether you’re a curious beginner or experienced mycologist, all are welcome.
Dress for the weather, wear sturdy boots and, if you have them, bring a basket, small containers, penknife and hand lens.
NB: This isn't a forage for food, but a chance to get a closer look at Hay's rich fungal diversity, and collect specimens to display in the castle.
Meet in Oxford Road Car park for 11:30 departure - FREE
This event is part of Fungi Town, a celebration of all things fungi in Hay-on-Wye.
A short film telling the incredible story of a five-year mission to convert former Norfolk chicken sheds into a mushroom farm. Using less water, space, and minimal resources, this breakthrough method could reshape the future of food production.
This film will be on a loop in the Richard Booth Room at Hay Castle.
This event is part of Fungi Town, a celebration of all things fungi in Hay-on-Wye.
From fungi leather to packaging, discover how scientists and designers are working with nature’s secret engineers to tackle real world problems, with Dr. Peter Wellham (Really Clever Co.) and Adam Davies (Ty Syml).
Discover how the humble fungi is revolutionizing modern design and technology at Hay Castle's Fungi Town. This talk will showcase how people are harnessing nature's secret engineers to create sustainable solutions for real-world problems. Explore the incredible potential of mycelium—the intricate root structure of fungi—to replace environmentally harmful materials like plastic foam and animal leather. Learn about the science behind these innovative biomaterials, which can be grown quickly and with minimal environmental impact, offering a compostable alternative for everything from high-end fashion to protective packaging.
This event is part of Fungi Town, a celebration of all things fungi in Hay-on-Wye.
Dive into the past, present and future of nature’s forgotten kingdom with Professor Katie Field from Sheffield University.
As a Professor of Plant-Soil Processes at the University of Sheffield, Katie Fields is an expert on the ancient and vital relationship between plants and fungi. Her research explores how these symbiotic partnerships, known as mycorrhiza, were instrumental in the colonization of land by the first plants over 450 million years ago. She studies how fungi continue to shape our ecosystems, influencing everything from nutrient cycles to global climate. Her talk would likely delve into the history of these interactions and their potential for addressing modern challenges like climate change and food security.
This event is part of Fungi Town, a celebration of all things fungi in Hay-on-Wye.
Join artist and printmaker Yuli Gates for a hands-on introduction to the art of lino printmaking — with a twist. In this workshop, you’ll learn traditional carving and printing techniques while exploring the fascinating process of creating natural printmaing inks from mushrooms, as detailed in the book and website: The Mushroom Color Atlas.
Yuli will guide you step-by-step through designing, transfering, carving, and printing your own lino block. You will learn how to print on paper or fabric.
If you wish to bring your own fabric to print on, it it encouraged: go home with a new t-shirt, tea towel, tote bag, or pillow case (This will not be provided, so if you'd like to bring your own, please do so. The reccomendation is a light colour, and a smooth fabric with minimal texture)
Along the way, you’ll also discover how to forage or source fungi for pigment, prepare them for ink-making, and use their earthy, organic tones to create truly unique prints.
Whether you’re an absolute beginner or looking to expand your creative toolkit, you’ll leave with your own hand-printed artwork, an understanding of mushroom inks, and the confidence to continue printing at home.
This event is part of Fungi Town, a celebration of all things fungi in Hay-on-Wye.
Hear Marlow Renton of Wild Food UK describe and introduce wild edible fungi and answer your questions.
FREE BUT TICKETED
Please note that this event takes place at The Globe in Newport Street and not at Hay Castle
This event is part of Fungi Town, a celebration of all things fungi in Hay-on-Wye.
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FREE BUT TICKETED
Please note that this event takes place at The Globe in Newport Street and not at Hay Castle
This event is part of Fungi Town, a celebration of all things fungi in Hay-on-Wye.
Drawing on the Zen tradition of calligraphy, Zen Brushwork works primarily with ki, or energy. Using a large brush, the intention is to let go of thinking and allow the whole body to connect with the physical act of making a mark: to become one with the brush.
The focus of the practice is to relax body/mind and allow ki to flow freely, through energy raising exercises - yokiho - and sitting meditation - zazen.
In the course of the day we will work with mujibō, the Zen line, ensō, the Zen circle, and complete the day by brushing Mu Tō Zai, ‘No East, No West - No Difference’, on Japanese paper.
Cost: £40 waged, £30 unwaged.
Ink, brushes and paper will be supplied. No experience necessary.