The Pledges to the Landscape event at Keighley Creative . Photo: Bob Smith Photography
Keighley children’s learning and creativity was celebrated this week as a major project comes to a close.
On Monday we hosted a special event to showcase the Pledges to the Landscape project, a collaboration between Keighley Creative and Yorkshire Peat Partnership.
The event welcomed lots of people who wanted to find out more about this project that uses art to teach local children about the importance of our local landscapes, plants and animals.
Naseem Darbey, artist and project lead on Pledges to the Landscape
Project leads, Naseem Darbey and Lucy Lee, welcomed children that had participated in the project and their families alongside some key members of the local community including the Principal of Keighley College, Kevin O’Hare, and the Mayor of Keighley, Councillor Gulfraz Hussain.
Attendees were also given the first viewing of a special film about the project that has been made by professional filmmaker, Finn Varney.
King Charles’ Seeing is Believing programme is one of the most well-established and widely respected leadership projects in the UK. Recently the programme included a visit to Keighley Creative to encourage local business leaders to better understand the challenges facing the community.
The project invited locally-based people to come along to visit our premises and meet our team and Tim Dewey, Chief Executive of Keighley-based brewery Timothy Taylor’s, took them up on the invite. Tim wanted to find out more about people and organisations working locally and consider how Timothy Taylor’s might be able to help.
As Tim explained:
“I was fortunate to be able to join Business in the Community’s ‘Seeing is Believing’ day in Keighley earlier this year. It certainly served its purpose, opening my eyes to some of the great initiatives going on in the town, including the inspiring work at Keighley Creative.”
During the visit, Tim recognised the positive impact that our work has on the community so Timothy Taylor’s saw an opportunity. They wanted to help the town in a direct and practical way, so they decided to donate £2000 to us, which we have spent on laptops for the team.
Riaz Meer, Executive Director at Keighley Creative thanked Tim for their support:
“The generous donation from Timothy Taylor’s has made a vital difference to our work as a charity. It has proved a step change for us, providing our small team with the IT equipment they need to improve their efficiency and better serve the artistic and creative needs of the town. Our partnership with Timothy Taylor’s is something we value highly, and we enjoyed collaborating with them in the recent flowerpot trail. Having close and positive relationships with local businesses is something we at Keighley Creative welcome and encourage.”
Tim has also offered to mentor Cat Murray, our Events Manager, who is keen to take on personal development opportunities and encourage the relationship between the Keighley Creative and it’s funders.
Tim is happy to support what we do, as he explained:
“As a major employer in Keighley, I felt ‘seeing’ was not enough, and that Timothy Taylor’s should do its part to assist the charity. Therefore, I was delighted to be able to offer some financial and practical support and pleased to hear that the funds we donated were put to such good use.”
For more information on our work and how we support Keighley people, please email admin@keighleycreative.org or call 01535 957980.
Tracy Uren, who has been appointed events producer at Keighley Creative. Photo: Bob Smith Photography
Keighley Creative are pleased to announce the latest member to join their team. Tracy Uren has been taken on to fill the vacancy of Events Producer and is here to help Keighley Creative organise and run its popular and engaging events and projects.
The team are relishing Tracy’s experience as a Keighley lass having worked in with people and art in the local community for many years.
Tracy’s career started working in schools in Keighley as a playleader, teacher and early years specialist with a strong focus on the arts. Then she moved into working as Learning and Outreach Officer for Bradford Museums and Galleries. Her role was to help audiences connect with the collections and temporary art exhibitions, which included planning and delivery of the Schools Education Programme.
“My role for Bradford Museums directly links to the work I will be doing at Keighley Creative. I organised key events for museums and galleries such as the Yorkshire regional launch of ‘The Big Draw’ and the Schools Linking Project celebration day, which was developed to help promote community cohesion.”
Tracy worked in this role for 10 years and then moved to work for Bradford Council working on various re-development projects across the Keighley & Bradford District.
Riaz Meer, Executive Director said:
“Keighley Creative is thrilled to have Tracy join our team as Events Producer. Tracy is Keighley through and through and will be an amazing champion for our town and the work of Keighley Creative. Her know-how and drive will be a huge asset to the charity as we build towards 2025 and beyond.”
It is clear to see Tracy’s passion for working with people and the arts, not just through her career but also in her free time, as Tracy explained:
“In my spare time I volunteer as an arts activity co-ordinator with ‘Wednesday Leisure Club’ in Keighley. My passion is helping others to connect with their inner creative, so when I stumbled across ‘Keighley Creative’ whilst out shopping, I knew I wanted to be part of it. I’m genuinely proud to be part of something that is making a positive difference to my hometown!
On Wednesday 16th October 2024, we opened our new exhibition “Nature and Imagination” but, following lots of interest, we are pleased to announce that the exhibition will continue for a month until Wednesday 13th November 2024.
Arts for Brain Health is one of Keighley Creative’s core programmes offers workshops to people that may benefit from a weekly group providing creative opportunities. The Wednesday group, runs drop-in sessions every week, from 10.30am till 12.30pm. It welcomes those that may be affected by loneliness or social isolation and offers a safe and welcoming space to anyone who may like to come along.
The project facilitators, Ailsa and Carine, recognised quickly that the work being produced by attendees showcased a range of skills and talents and that the artwork produced was worthy of its own exhibition so they asked attendees to shares their ideas on the themes of imagined outdoor spaces and personal maps and journeys. Many attendees of the Wednesday group submitted work illustrating what nature means to them and the “Nature and Imagination” exhibition was born.
The exhibition also features artwork made in Keighley Creative’s sessions at the Airedale Centre for Mental Health.
Artwork created by people from the Airedale Centre for Mental Health
The opening event welcomed lots of different people from around the Keighley and Bradford district and the exhibition has now been extended to open on:
Mondays from 10am till 12.30pm Wednesdays from 10am till 4pm Until Wednesday 13th November 2024
There is no cost to attend and no booking required.
This event has been made possible by Bradford Council Mental Wellbeing Fund.
Come along and enjoy this varied and thought-provoking exhibition and find out more about Keighley Creative’s Arts for Brain Health programme.
For more information please email ailsa@keighleycreative.org or call/text Ailsa on 07423 154855.
This August/September, a stunning exhibition of our studio artists work was displayed at Craven Arts in Skipton.
The exhibition highlighted the diverse artistic practices within the collective and brought together a range of mediums and styles that reflect the individual strengths of each member.
Exhibitors included Anji Timlin, Sean Jukes (ala Rambling Art), Dripsy, Jane Fielder, Martin Cosgrove and Leonie Briggs.
The event was part of the Summer Breeze Festival and Craven Arts Festival of Creativity.
The exhibition ran from 21st August until 14th September, but don’t worry if you missed it, as our studio holders will be exhibiting their work to the public again soon.
On Saturday 30th November 2024 from 10am till 3pm, alongside a Maker Fayre, our artists’ studios will be opened up and studio holders will be showing visitors around their creative spaces.
This September, some new pieces of art popped up in and around Keighley. These were all part of the Keighley Flowerpot Trail organised by the Sue Belcher Centre at Bracken Bank, in partnership with the Bronte Parsonage Museum, Timothy Taylor’s Community Action, Keighley Town Council, Keighley Lions Club, Bradford Council and the One in a Million charity.
One particular flowerpot was decorated by one of our talented studio artists, Leonie Briggs, and is on display at Taylor’s on The Green pub on Church Green in Keighley.
Flowerpot at Taylor’s On The Green, Keighley – designed by Leonie Briggs
The Flowerpot Trail runs from Cliffe Castle to H. Brook DIY store on Lawkholme Lane, through the Town Centre and up into Haworth.
For more information on the Flowerpot Trail, please visit the Keighley Lions website:
Walkers prepare to Light up the Night in the event organised by Keighley Town Council and Keighley Creative. Photo: Bob Smith Photography
This was the aim of a recent community walk organised by Keighley Town Council and Keighley Creative. The walk was organised as a part of Keighley Walking Festival and the theme was “Light Up The Night”.
The walk welcomed anyone who would like to come along and together we walked 2 miles round town.
Walkers prepare to Light up the Night in the event organised by Keighley Town Council and Keighley Creative. Photo: Bob Smith Photography
The walk followed a craft workshop the previous Sunday where attendees were invited to make their own light-up flower torch using recycled materials.
Some of the illuminated flower torches made by participants in the Light Up The Night workshop.
The walk welcomed people from all ages and backgrounds to join the campaign and help make Keighley’s streets feel safer.
Walkers prepare to Light up the Night in the event organised by Keighley Town Council and Keighley Creative. Photo: Bob Smith Photography
Thank you to Louise Soothill from Keighley Town Council for leading the walk and to all those who came along.
And thank you to Bob Smith Photography for the photographs.
On Saturday 24th August 2024, local engineer and STEM ambassador, Alisha Bell, ran a special event at Keighley Creative.
The event was titled Engineering and Arts Exploration and Alisha and the team welcomed local families to come along and join in the fun activities exploring Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths through arts and crafts.
A highlight of the event was a visit by Toylab, encouraging children to create their own unique creations from reusing old and broken toys.
There were also various other activities and experiments for local children to get involved in, illustrating how fun and exciting science and engineering can be!
The event also exhibited the work of local artists who had created special pieces to showcase the engineering heritage of Keighley, with paintings from Leonie Briggs, Jane Fielder, Nicola Smith, Andrea Shevloff, Andy, Anne Marie, Serena Redferne, Judy Sale and Nicola Storr.
The Engineering and Arts Exploration exhibition is on display in our gallery area and will up for the next few weeks. Feel free to pop in to our premises on Cooke Lane to have a look.
The Engineering and Arts Exploration project was funded by The Leap, partnered with the Arts Council England, Creative People and Places and Bradford Council and hosted and supported by Keighley Creative.
Keighley Creative Maker Fayre and Open Studios event. Photo: Bob Smith Photography
On Saturday 17th August 2024, our studio artists were thrilled to welcome more people than ever before to their open studio event.
Nearly 100 people came to visit, had a tour, met the artists and viewed their huge range of artwork and creativity.
Sean Jukes aka Rambling Art (R)Jane Fielder (L)Naseem Darbey (L)Bill Parker (R)Visitors enjoying exploring the studios
The artists that hosted included Jane Fielder, Dripsy, Naseem Darbey, Jonathan Britten, Martin Cosgrove, Sean Jukes aka Rambling Art, Bill Parker and Leonie Briggs.
The first floor studios were opened up to the public whilst a makers fair went out downstairs. Local creatives had stalls selling their handmade products and visitors enjoyed browsing and shopping.
Black Craft by CKDripsyCharles HumphreysMiss Hue DesignsHoping SewOakfield CraftsAnna Gouws ArtworkKat Rose Illustration
Goods on sale included jewellery, paintings, quilts, prints, homewares and gifts. Stallholders included Black Craft by CK, Charles Humphreys, Miss Hue Designs, Oakfield Crafts, Anna Gouws Artwork, Dripsy, Kat Rose Illustration and Hoping Sew.
Due to the success of the previous events another one has already been booked in for Saturday 30th November 2024. The event will again include artists opening up their studios as well as a makers fair, perfectly timed for Christmas shopping.
To apply for a stall at the next one, please follow the link below:
Pippa Vellacott, four, shows off the wind chime she made at the creative nature event at Cliffe Castle organised by Keighley Creative Photo: Bob Smith Photography
On Saturday 17th August 2024, 100s of Keighley people came along to Cliffe Castle park and joined in some fun, creative sessions run by Keighley Creative that focused on learning about the environment.
Families who attended were given the opportunity to join in with all sorts of activities and everyone was welcomed to get stuck in, no matter what their age or ability.
Approximately 350 visitors took part in various activities using and celebrating nature including making journals, sharing stories, making wind chimes, taking a story stick for a walk and adding their self-made pom-poms to the “Blanket Bog Blanket”.
Some of the comments from families that attended included:
“My kids really, really loved it all. It was so nice to see so many people getting involved.”
“Pom-pom making is so satisfying and calming.”
“I made a journal and I’m going to record in here every day of the summer holidays.”
“Making wind chimes was a very therapeutic activity.”
The creative nature event at Cliffe Castle organised by Keighley Creative Photo: Bob Smith Photography
Local artist, educator and project lead, Naseem Darbey, was thrilled that the event was such a success and said:
“It was a family celebration enjoyed by all and we got so much positive feedback evidencing how much the workshops were loved. People left with their nature gift bags stuffed full of all their own fabulous handmade goods including journals, wind chimes, pom-poms and recipes, and even stories to share. Cliffe Castle park was buzzing and it was fab to see so many smiles.”
The Pledges to the Landscape event was a celebration of a ongoing project run by the charity alongside Yorkshire Peat Partnership (YPP), and funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Community Climate Grants. Local school children from Year 5 at Eastwood, Victoria, Riddlesden St. Mary’s, Worth Valley, Holycroft and Merlin Top primaries were involved as classes were given their own “micro-peatbogs” to look after and then took part in interactive art workshops in the classroom.
The aim of the Pledges to the Landscape project and the event was not only to get creative but to help educate participants about the environment around them and particularly the importance of Yorkshire’s peat bogs, their plants and wildlife.
Lucy Lee from Yorkshire Peat Partnership with the “Blanket Bog Blanket”. Photo: Bob Smith Photography
Spokesperson from YPP, Lucy Lee, said: “Our unique landscapes, peatlands and their plants are truly beautiful but they are also critical to the preservation of our natural environment. It’s important that we all learn about how important bogs are so we are keen to get children involved from as young an age as possible.”
The workshops have been designed and delivered by Naseem, who visited the schools and helped children study their own classroom “micro-bog”. She encouraged pupils to be inspired by the plants that were growing in the bog and to study them using hand-lenses and identification cards. They then used their senses to observe and their drawing skills to record what they had discovered.
Naseem said: “The children that have been involved in the classroom project learnt about the importance of the plants and landscapes around them and how their preservation is essential. We looked at the past, present and future of these environments to help the children understand how they work and they documented the peatbogs using drawing materials. They tried different drawing techniques which helped the children really engage with the bog and they created some beautiful art in the process.”
Showing off the Worth Valley Primary School bog at the creative nature event at Cliffe Castle are, from left, Naseem Darbey, Victoria Townson and Lucy Lee. Photo: Bob Smith Photography
As Naseem continued: “The sessions provided by YPP and I were designed to engage the children by having fun, being creative and sometimes getting messy! This hands-on approach really helped the children understand their local environment and has hopefully inspired the next generation to contribute to the conservation of our peatlands.”
The project has been funded by Bradford Council, the Mayor of West Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Community Climate Grants.
Newly appointed Creative Director, Paula Clark finished by saying: “As a newcomer to Keighley Creative I am so excited by the energy and enthusiasm of the people of Keighley to get involved in this creative and collaborative community project. It’s also fantastic to see the commitment of the talented Keighley Creative team and Yorkshire Peat Partnership to make meaningful projects like this happen. I’m looking forward to everything that is to come next!”
For more information on your local peatlands, please contact Yorkshire Peat Partnership. For more information on arts and crafts workshop offerings from Keighley Creative and Naseem Darbey, please email admin@keighleycreative.org
