Investments to Herd more culture into Kirklees
A fantastic week long spectacle with a ‘HERD’ of musical sheep is among plans for Kirklees Year of Music. Thanks to significant investments from Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The funding will support culture and heritage in Kirklees, including Kirklees Year of Music 2023 (KYOM23).
What funding have we received?
Arts Council England’s significant contribution of £800,000 will enhance our diverse and ambitious programme of events and activities. Bringing the benefits of music to more people. Whilst supporting music education and the local music industry in Kirklees.
We are also delighted to announce that thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, an investment of £99,785 has been awarded by the Heritage Fund. We are using the funding for a dedicated heritage strand, Sing & Sew, as part of KYOM23 and the area’s biennial textile festival WOVEN.
Sing & Sew
Sing & Sew tells the story of Kirklees’ industrial heritage. Starting with heavy woollen manufacturing in the 19th-21st centuries, to becoming a textiles innovation hub today. Sing & Sew will uncover the music, cultures and stories of migrant communities who made their homes in the area to work in the textiles industry.
By working with local young people to revive forgotten music traditions and teach sustainable textiles skills, this special year of cultural programming in Kirklees will encourage people to explore and celebrate their heritage.
What is HERD?
HERD is one of the major initiatives brought to life through this investment in Kirklees culture. This KYOM23 flagship project is a groundbreaking artistic collaboration involving the Kirklees community. Herd is inspired by and celebrates the diverse musical traditions and industrial history of the region. Composer Orlando Gough has created the music for HERD and leading arts production company, Artichoke is producing it. HERD will take place around Kirklees during July 2023.
The project includes hundreds of local schoolchildren. As well as members of music groups. The groups include brass bands, folk, choral and gospel choirs, boliyaan music, a Ney-anbān player, Carnatic singing and many other musicians. A flock of 23 large-scale musical sheep sculptures will ‘sing’ soundscapes. The sheep will appear in different locations across Kirklees 11-16 July 2023. Huddersfield-based artist Dave Young has designed the sheep, working with heritage craft practitioners, each with its own unique identity.
HERD will conclude with a finale in St George’s Square, Huddersfield on Sunday 16 July. Hundreds of participants will join together in a day of celebration. The project is a unique collaboration between artists, musicians, schools and community members.
Councillor Shabir Pandor, Leader of Kirklees Council said:
“We are thrilled to receive such significant investment into Kirklees. Which will mean we can progress our ambitious plans to showcase our rich cultural heritage on an international scale. Creating tangible new career pathways for budding talent in the region. We are grateful to Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their support helping us to realise our vision.’
Councillor Will Simpson, Cabinet Member for Culture at Kirklees Council added:
“This new funding will bring a range of exciting projects to Kirklees as part of both Kirklees Year of Music and WOVEN. HERD will not only help secure our place on the cultural map in the UK, but also provide amazing opportunities for local communities to be part of something truly spectacular.”
Pete Massey, Director Yorkshire, Arts Council England said:
“Arts Council England is delighted to be supporting The Herd and other Kirklees Year of Music events. The district has a rich musical heritage and remains a vibrant centre for contemporary music across many genres. We are delighted to see both the local authority and the Mayor of West Yorkshire also investing in what will be an amazing year which will bring many thousands of people together to make and enjoy music.”
Helen Featherstone, Director England – North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to be supporting Sing & Sew, a fantastic project that by working with local young people will celebrate the important cultural and industrial heritage of Kirklees, and contribute to an amazing year of activity. We know heritage has a huge role to play in instilling pride in communities, and this project is a wonderful example of how that can be done.’
Natalie Walton, WOVEN Curator said:
“WOVEN is delighted to be supported by The National Lottery Heritage funding in 2023. The Festival has grown from 3 years of community conversations, and the passion that the people of Kirklees have for their industrial textile heritage. This year’s festival balances the story of our textiles heritage, with themes of environmental care for the future of our planet. Our Mission to Mend is a call to action to look to the past of “make do and mend”, but to think about how these traditional skills can help us consider the future of textiles as makers and consumers.”
Helen Marriage, CEO / Artistic Director, Artichoke, said:
“After more than a year in the planning, we are delighted to be able finally to begin speaking publicly about HERD. Thousands of local people and schoolchildren are involved in the creation of this ground-breaking project, which will celebrate Kirklees’ industrial and musical heritage and people as part of Kirklees Year of Music. HERD was central to the grant applications to Arts Council England and The National Heritage Lottery Fund, and their success is a strong endorsement of the project. HERD will be a musical mashup of epic proportions, and will transform for ever the way sheep, sound and Kirklees are imagined.”