ArtisOn

ArtisOn runs from a converted building at High Burton on the edge of Masham, offering more than 250 art and craft workshops a year taught by a roster of some 100 working artists and makers. It was founded in 2010 by four friends, including Masham artist Ian Scott Massie and gallery owner Josie Beszant, who had already been running informal painting classes in the town. Courses range from wheel-thrown pottery and printmaking to bookbinding, calligraphy, woodworking and textile work, with sessions for both adults and children. ArtisOn operates as a not-for-profit community interest company rather than a private studio, ploughing income back into tutor fees and equipment. Its programme changes termly, and most workshops run as single days or short weekend courses rather than long qualifications, making them accessible to visitors passing through the Dales as much as to locals.