Creatives the world over have no doubt been mourning the loss of exhibitions, days out, productions and much more as the world battles through the Covid19 pandemic.  

Although uncertainty still reigns supreme, and we remain locked down once again, there are some glimmers of light to cling on to and many of us are starting to look forward to spring, summer and the possibility of freedom and some semblance of normality when the restrictions finally lift.  

With that firmly in mind, it's good for your wellbeing to start planning a few trips out and putting a few ideas into the diary. Here are seven cultural days out you can add to your planner for later in 2021...  

‍Yorkshire Sculpture Park  

With Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which is less than an hour's drive from Glossop, we have a rare gem right on our doorstep. The Sculpture Park is the leading international centre for modern and contemporary sculpture, and the largest of its kind in Europe. Set across 500 acres in the Bretton Hall Estate of West Yorkshire, the park hosts works by Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Andy Goldsworthy, Damien Hirst, David Nash and James Turrell.  

It's also a great family day out! To get children interested in sculpture in preparation, why not ask them to find out about some of the world's most notable works of public art, e.g. Cloud Gate in Chicago, First Generation in Singapore or Maman, situated outside the Guggenheim in Bilbao.  

(Barbara Hepworth: The Family of Man. Photo credit: YSP website)  

‍Another Place - Crosby Beach  

Drive out to Mariners Road at Crosby Beach in Liverpool, again, only an hour from Glossop, and you'll be confronted by the haunting figures of Another Place, by well known artist Anthony Gormley.   100 life-sized cast iron figures, spreading over 3km, stare silently out to sea. According to Antony Gormley, Another Place "harnesses the ebb and flow of the tide to explore man's relationship with nature". You can find out more from the Visit Liverpool page about the now-permanent installation.  

‍Chatsworth House  

The Chatsworth House Estate is home to one of the largest private collections of art in the country - the Devonshire Collection.  

There are lots of amazing works to be found inside the house, but if you prefer a sunny walk, the 105 acre gardens are home to some amazing pieces, including a monumental new sculpture called Natural Course that was installed in 2020, and created by Laura Ellen Bacon.   It's also a great day out for the family, one to ease the lockdown blues when it finally lifts. Find out more here.  

‍Manchester Street Art & Graffiti   

Manchester's street art is an ever-changing, ever evolving masterpiece, with huge paintings, wall art and graffiti to be found throughout the city. The Northern Quarter is a great place to start for amazing art, which includes murals, pavement art, sculpture and more.  

Why not take the kids and let them loose with your phone camera, and then print the pictures out to make a collage when you get home?  

StarDisc - Wirksworth, Peak District  

If you've never heard of the Stardisc Stone Circle, it's a real must-visit for creatives! Designed and created by Adrian Shingler, the StarDisc is a stone circle and celestial amphitheatre carved into black granite. Mirroring the night sky, the surface is inscribed with the star constellations and a depiction of our Milky Way.  

The drive out is a very pleasant one too, and the town is close to Matlock and Bakewell, meaning you can make a day of it with the family. A fabulous, FREE attraction, right on the doorstep!  

(Photo credit - StarDisc website)

‍WANDER Art Trail - Yorkshire Wolds   T

he WANDER Trail snakes an incredible 79 miles through the Yorkshire countryside, with art installations dotted along the journey as you venture along.  

You can download a special Yorkshire Wolds Secret Art app - with more details to be found on the website.  

Definitely one for outdoorsy types - take a packed lunch, have a drive out and you're off!  

‍Manchester Art Gallery - Grayson's Art Club  

If you missed Grayson Perry's brilliant Channel 4 series, we urge you to catch up and binge the episodes before you visit Manchester Art Gallery when it opens - not a bad way to spend lockdown, especially if you've exhausted Netflix!

The exhibition is called Grayson's Art Club, and showcases extraordinary pieces from ordinary people - and famous artists - all over the country. The website says: "All the works on display are very personal visual representations of lockdown, made by the public, well-known artists and celebrities for Grayson's Art Club. This celebration of creativity in people's homes chronicled the changing moods of Britain in isolation, providing a unique record of this globally experienced extraordinary time".  

We promise you won't be disappointed!  

‍Where are you planning to go when the restrictions lift? Tell us about your ideas in the comments.