UK public invited to take part in largest-ever exhibition of the nation’s hobbies

Artangel announces the nation's largest hobby exhibition, The Hobby Cave, inviting the UK public to showcase their passions.

Hetain Patel © Sam Bush.

The UK public is invited to participate in The Hobby Cave, an unprecedented exhibition celebrating the nation's hobbies. Led by award-winning artist Hetain Patel and Artangel, this ambitious project aims to showcase the diverse range of hobbies that people across the country are passionate about. From costume makers to wood carvers, robotics engineers to origami specialists, the exhibition will feature thousands of handcrafted objects loaned by hobbyists from various backgrounds.

Miniatures by Lee Smithson (Sheffield) © Lee Smithson.

Commissioned by Artangel, The Hobby Cave seeks to highlight how individuals express their identity and creativity through their favourite pastimes. Through curated presentations at 13 locations across the UK, starting in London in summer 2024, the exhibition will explore the profound impact of hobbies on people's lives. At the heart of the project is a new film by Patel, which showcases the creativity and passion behind these hobbies in a cinematic manner.

Fiesta Transformer by Hetain Patel (2013). © Hetain Patel.

Hetain Patel's lifelong passion for handmade things and his upbringing in a culturally Indian household inform his work on The Hobby Cave. The project aims to transcend conventional categorisations of identity, inviting people of all backgrounds to share the objects and activities that shape their identity. With support from national partners and leading arts organisations, The Hobby Cave promises to be an exceptionally memorable and inclusive celebration of creativity and self-expression.

The public can submit details about their hobbies at thehobbycave.org.uk.