Art at the Adventurers with Clavis Mentis

Clavis Mentis are running an outdoor arts session in the garden of Merchant Adventurers' Hall on Wednesday 2 September, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. It's a relaxed afternoon in the Hall's garden, and the idea is simple: you bring your own sketchbook and materials and draw outdoors. The artists on hand offer gentle guidance, tips and encouragement, but they leave everyone the freedom to work in their own way.

Clavis Mentis is run by Anna and Yulia, two sisters and artists from Ukraine who founded it. They're passionate about building a creative community and about the idea that creativity isn't reserved for professional artists: everyone has the ability to create. That's the spirit they bring to the session — it's more about the act of drawing and the company than about producing a masterpiece.

The setting carries its own weight. Merchant Adventurers' Hall is one of the finest medieval guild halls in the world, a Grade I listed landmark at the heart of York since 1357, run by the York Merchant Adventurers Company for more than 660 years. Beyond its architecture, it houses the Merchants' Coffee House and continues to host weddings, corporate events, awards evenings and dinners.

So, if you fancy a few hours of drawing in one of the city's most historic gardens, bring your sketchbook and your own materials. It runs from 12:00pm to 4:00pm on Wednesday 2 September at Merchant Adventurers' Hall.