Vandals At Work is a York-based non-profit community arts organisation with a passion for street art and a belief that art should do more than just hang on walls and look pretty — it should inform, spark conversations and be a call to action. We believe art can be a powerful force for good in our community. We aim to enrich our city’s cultural landscape by organising exhibitions, auctions, and other events that enable us to raise money for local charities and help support the artists we collaborate with. To date, we've worked with more than sixty artists and have donated over £55,000 to three local charities, York Food Bank, York Mind and SASH (Youth Homelessness).

The Vandals At Work collective is made up of a growing network of committed individuals based in York and beyond. This year’s event returns to the Low Ousegate building in the centre of York, kindly donated by Mack & Lawler and opens on 11th July 2025. The event will span four storeys of the unoccupied building, featuring the work of an exciting group of world-class street artists alongside a cohort of local artists. Vandal Fest is the third in a trio of Vandal-themed exhibitions that celebrate the rich history and culture of graffiti and street art. This time around the emphasis is very much on the fun side of the movement, artworks that put a smile on people’s faces and raise a mischievous chuckle.

The event will be raising funds for SASH, a registered charity preventing homelessness in young people aged 16 to 25 throughout North and East Yorkshire.

The exhibition will run for three weeks from July 11th to 27th 2025. Opening on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week. Week 1: July 11–13, Week 2: 18–20, and Week 3: 25–27.

To find out more about Vandals at work visit vandalsatwork.uk

To find out more about the event visit Vandalfest.uk

Vandals at Work on Instagram @vandalsatwork.uk

To support this year’s fundraising project, participating artists have specially created and kindly donated unique works which will be sold in this timed online auction

Bidding opens on Thursday 17th July at 9am and lots will begin to close on Sunday 3rd August at 12 noon.

For all enquiries relating to the sale, please contact Stuart Stevens or Sharon McDonagh:
stuartrstevens@gmail.com
sharonmcdonaghartist@hotmail.com