Who is funding the project?
Dewsbury Creative Town Arts Programme, a Kirklees Council funded initiative has secured a grant of £29,750 from Arts Council England to further enhance its programme in the town.
What does the project involve?
The successful Kirklees Council bid includes a mix of collaborative projects aimed at providing opportunities for early career artists, and engaging residents to explore the story of Dewsbury’s changing landscape. The work will be delivered over a 12-month period and through a range of walks, film, conversations, craft, design, public art & digital media.
As part of the project, the team at Dewsbury Creative Town and Kirklees Council will work with key local partners to deliver the programme including Pioneer Higher Skills Centre at Kirklees College and the Kirklees Community Cohesion Team.
Who will lead on the project?
Artist -led organisation Manasamitra have been commissioned to engage the community in developing a series of podcasts and guided walks for people to explore the past, present and future of the town. The organisation which is also based in Dewsbury will deliver a wide range of exciting and original cross-cultural experiences as part of the programme.
In addition, Dewsbury-born visual artist Zachary Eastwood-Bloom has been commissioned to create designs for a series of artworks for the new Town Park. Zachary is particularly interested in engaging young people and sharing his process of combining handmade techniques with the use of digital technology. Zachary will also be mentoring Karen Stansfield, a Kirklees based early career artist and workshop facilitator.
Councillor Eric Firth, Cabinet Member for Transport and Dewsbury Ward Councillor, said:
“It’s fantastic news that the Council is boosting its investment in culture once again. Especially at a time of major economic and mental health challenges, unlocking the huge potential of the arts to enrich lives, communities, and local businesses. We want to ensure that residents from all backgrounds can enjoy the rich and diverse cultural highlights that Dewsbury has to offer and be able to participate in new cultural projects in their local communities. Bringing in creatives from Dewsbury is the perfect way to support the Dewsbury Creative Arts Programme, we will value this opportunity of working with Manasamitra and Zachary Eastwood-Bloom”
Kate Watson, Programme Manager for Dewsbury Creative Town, added:
“ We’re delighted to have been awarded funding from the Arts Council and this additional resource will enable us to deliver some exciting projects as part of the overall programme. The funding will also create a legacy for the programme in years to come by creating vital opportunities for early career artists, inspiring the next generation of creatives in the town and empowering residents to get involved in the future of the town.”
The Dewsbury Creative Town Arts Programme is a £200,000 initiative funded by Kirklees Council. It is produced by arts organisation Beam and includes a range of permanent and temporary public art interventions at various sites across Dewsbury. It also aims to provide residents, businesses, and community groups with an array of opportunities to engage with art and get involved in the commissioning process.
Dewsbury Creative Town Arts Programme is an innovative arts programme which forms part of Dewsbury Blueprint plans to honour the heritage of the town, build on recent investments and revitalise the town centre. It will bring a series of art interventions to the town centre, providing a unique platform for both emerging and established artists to be creative in the public realm. Its main aim is to enhance the town through permanent and temporary art in public spaces.
Dewsbury Blueprint is a 10-year plan that seeks to honour the heritage of this beautiful town and build on recent investments. It aims to bring more activity into the town centre, make it more attractive and improve accessibility. For more information visit www.kirklees.gov.uk/dewsburyblueprint
Beam
Kirklees Council has appointed arts organisation Beam to produce and deliver the Dewsbury Creative Town Arts Programme between 2020 – 2023. Beam promote, commission, and deliver transformative arts programmes to inspire communities, and support the development of great places. Based in Yorkshire and with over thirty years’ experience of delivering the arts in place, Beam work across the North and beyond with artists and communities to enhance places through the development of bespoke creative arts projects.
For further information regarding Beam visit: www.beam.uk.net