Heckmondwike schools work with local artist to create mural for new town square
As we prepare to open the new market square in Heckmondwike, a mural by local artist Emmeline North has just been unveiled.
New Square will be an exciting new space, providing a flexible area for events and for people to socialise once fully completed. It is also a major part of the Heckmondwike Blueprint – our masterplan for regeneration of the town centre over the next decade and beyond.
Over the past few months Emmeline North has carried out workshops with two local schools, Holy Spirit Primary School and Heckmondwike Grammar, to produce artwork that will add a vibrant touch to the space.
The children were encouraged to take inspiration from science and to celebrate the work of Joseph Priestley, who was a local chemist in the 1700s. They used small water balloons with a cage and vessel to capture creative images. Both schools thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the project, and following the workshops, Emmeline North used the creative images to help her design the mural.
Next steps will see New Square opening in just a few weeks’ time, with a fun-filled event planned for 19 April, including the first local farmers’ market at their new location. People from far and wide are expected to go along, see the new space, and enjoy the vibrant stalls and local produce.
These works are part of the Heckmondwike Blueprint. To find out about other projects that will follow visit: https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/heckmondwike-blueprint/index.aspx
Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration, said;
“The changes we’re making in our town centres – not just here in Heckmondwike but across Kirklees – are all about creating fantastic spaces that will survive and thrive for future generations. That’s why it’s so fantastic to see young children being a part of our plans to regenerate Heckmondwike, and to see their creativeness represented in the newly developed New Square for years to come.
“I very much look forward to seeing New Square open to the public in a few weeks’ time, and I hope local people will enjoy the new artwork and all that this space has to offer.”
Lewis Hemingway, Voice & Influence Worker said;
“The young people involved in our sessions spent some time going through the work of Joseph Priestley. We focussed on the discovery of carbonation, which is part of the inspiration for the mural and then drew their ideas. Their drawings show how they imagined gas changing to liquid and full of colours they thought would represent each gas!”