Kirklees Together

A contemporary piece of artwork inspired by the heritage of Dewsbury now welcomes shoppers, traders and the community as they visit the renovated Dewsbury Arcade.

As part of the Dewsbury Creative Town arts programme 2020- 2023, the Arcade Glazing Project was advertised to artists for them to create an engaging, bespoke piece of artwork that welcomes everyone into the historic building.

Following site visits, meetings with stakeholders, engagement with the community and public displays, renowned glazing artist Martin Donlin and his design was selected. His glass artwork has been featured in buildings across the UK, Europe and the USA. 

Martin Donlin said:  

“I wanted to create an elegant, graceful, forward looking artwork that looks back at the past with respect and forward to the future with optimism, including references to the culture, industry and architecture of Dewsbury.” 

“I hope the contemporary nature of the designs will encourage new visitors into the arcade and act as a welcoming beacon to locals, visitors and staff.” 

The designs for the arcade glass artwork have been developed from several ideas that have been cut up and layered as a collage. 

A sketch of Dewsbury Town Hall represents the fine Victorian and Edwardian buildings that make up the Conservation Area. 

A ribbon of blue flows across the design as a reference to The River Calder and the Calder and Hebble Navigation Canal, with references also made to the railway and coal mines.  

The diverse community is represented by a series of human figures with their colours a metaphor for foods and spices such as turmeric, chilli, oregano, kaffir lime leaf and pink peppercorn. 

Created by German company Glasmalerei Peters Studios – experts in fabricating glass and who have worked with Martin on various projects – the artwork has been expertly installed at the Grade II listed building by Halifax Glass Creative Glazing Solutions.  

It is a key feature to the entrance of the Arcade from Market Place. The interplay of colour and light casts inside the historic building and signals a new future for the arcade and wider town centre. 

Councillor John Hardie, Kirklees Council Cabinet Member for Regenerations, Highways and Transport, said: 

“The Arcade Glazing project is a fantastic example of how we can enhance the town’s ambitious future through art, linking our communities together through heritage and having a positive impact on everyone’s experience of the town centre. 

“Along with its stunning glass roof and restoring the traditional look of the arcade’s shop units, the regeneration of this much-loved building shows the importance of protecting and investing in our heritage so they can be enjoyed for many generations to come.” 

As one of the flagship projects of the Dewsbury Blueprint, the arcade had stood empty since 2016, until Kirklees Council purchased the building in 2020. 

The control of the building has now been handed over to Arcade Group and has become the UK’s first community-run shopping centre, leased and managed by the group. 

Work for the renovation of the arcade was funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Getting Building Fund, the government’s Towns Fund and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.  

Find out more information about Dewsbury Arcade on our website.