Three years of creativity in Dewsbury
The Dewsbury Creative Town Arts Programme, which has essentially kicked off the Dewsbury Blueprint, has seen three years of great investment in local art.
The project’s aim has been to revitalise the town centre, with a range of permanent and temporary public art installations all around Dewsbury. This has included providing fantastic learning opportunities for aspiring artists, supporting the creative industry not just now but for the future.
Most of all, through the work of many creatives with strong local connections, the project has brightened up Dewsbury town centre and marked the start of much investment to come.
Where can I see the artwork?
You’ll find works of art have popped up all around Dewsbury town centre.
You’ve probably seen the Dewsbury letters, a sculpture by Emmeline North, in pride of place outside the town hall. She’s also designed the large mural, titled ‘Urban Rewild’, which is located near the bus station. If you use the underpass below Rishworth Road, you’ll walk through colourful tiled artwork called ‘Tessella’ by Saba Rifat. And our latest addition, three pieces titled ‘Tapestries’ by Lenny & Whale, can be seen on Bond Street as you walk up to the train station.
How have local people been involved?
Each work of art has provided people who live and work in Dewsbury, as well as local businesses and community groups, with lots of opportunities to engage with art – and even to get involved in the commissioning process. As well as supporting local artists, this programme of work has been about celebrating local people and the town’s history.
All the artists who’ve been commissioned as part of the Dewsbury Creative Town Arts Programme have been encouraged to engage with people who live and work in Dewsbury, and will be seeing the artwork every day for years to come. As a result, in this artwork you can see elements of local stories, local industry and even local faces.
What happens now?
Our work on the Dewsbury Blueprint continues, and many of our larger-scale regeneration projects are now seeing major milestones. Although the ‘Creative Town’ project is drawing to a close, there may be more opportunities to incorporate local art into various new developments and continue this celebration of local art, heritage and culture.