Holmfirth Arts Festival June to September 2024
One of Yorkshire's best small festivals
2024 will be the first year of a planned three year programme of activity around the theme of Flow, inspired by the importance of the River Holme which flows through the Pennines (the backbone of England) and plays a fundamental role in the area’s historical development, economic growth, and cultural identity.
Flow:
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Recognises the valley’s passion and reputation for creativity, hospitality, environmental sustainability and its unique Pennine landscape (a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI)).
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Raises awareness of the climate emergency.
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Celebrates diversity and the generosity of many Holme Valley residents in providing homes for Ukrainian refugees.
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Is accessible and inclusive.
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Commissions and presents new work by local and national artists.
DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAMME HERE
TICKETED PROGRAMME 2024
FREE/PAY AS YOU DECIDE PROGRAMME 2024
Starting 12 June
Big Weekend 15 & 16 June
events running to September
Meet at Sands Car Park, Huddersfield Rd, HD9 3JL
Amble along the riverside and enjoy music and creative activities inspired by the nature around you. Relax under a large gazebo with free cake and drinks. You might also like to bring your own packed lunch. There is no charge for this event but booking is essential as numbers are limited. This will be a fully accessible walk for people with mobility issues and/or disabilities and their assistants and families. Wheelchairs are welcome. For more information please contact access@holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk
Co-op Cafe, Market Street, Holmfirth, HD9 7AX
by holme valley
u3a digital photography group.
This exhibition represents modern day images from the seven townships that make up the The Graveship of Holme – Austonley, Cartworth, Fulstone, Hepworth, Holme, Upperthong and Wooldale. The Graveship dates back to Saxon times, but under the Norman feudal system, it became one of the areas that made up the Manor of Wakefield. In recent times, administration of the Graveship was in the hands of the Constable, whose current interests, in addition to maintaining over 1000 years of history, relate to springs, roads, quarries and peatpits. Arthur Quarmby of Holme held the position for many years. After his retirement and the subsequent election, Jimmy Dickinson of Longley Farm took his place, along with the oversight of England’s last active turbary – a peat digging area – at Cook’s Study, just above Cartworth Moor. Commissioned by Holmfirth Arts Festival
FREE (donations welcome)
Featuring Hade Edge Band, HD9 Community Music, Banda Na Rua, Vocal Expressions, Cafe Orchestra, Fretmates, FISHING4COMPLIMENTS and Mason Whittle
Holmside Gardens, Town Gate, Holmfirth, HD9 1AB
Norridge Bottom, Holmfirth, HD9 7BB
Parish Churchyard, Town Gate, Holmfirth, HD9 1HA
Methodist Church Gardens, 104 School St., Holmfirth, HD9 7EQ
Valley Voices is the title for this year’s series of musical
performances showcasing the great talent of the Holme Valley’s homegrown musicians across four sites. We will have a marquee in Holmside Gardens, we will run open mic slots in Norridge Bottom throughout the day and we will round off with the Dear Sunflowers parade and performance. Be sure to bring your inner artist and explorer to River Holme Connections’ gazebo where you can get creative and learn about the biodiversity of our beautiful River Holme, and, just across the river, bring your inner Shrek to the Moors for the Future Partnership’s Bogtastic Van, where you can delve into the important ecosystems of our blanket bogs. Events during the Big Weekend are supported by
British Sign Language interpretation
FREE (donations welcome)
Departs from Methodist Church Gardens, 104 School St., Holmfirth, HD9 7EQ
дорогі соняшники. Inspired by Ukrainian folk artist Maria Prymachenko’s vivid, colourful depictions of animals, plants and people, the Dear Sunflowers parade, combines music, puppetry, masks, banners, embroidery and printmaking by local people into a vibrant celebration of cultures from around the world. The parade features music from Banda Na Rua and Hade Edge Band alongside parade making by The Children’s Art School, Square Peg Activities, Ability Options, Sharing Memories, Netherthong Brownies and many other local schools, groups and families from the Holme Valley who participated in parade making after this programme went to print.
Holmside Gardens, Town Gate, Holmfirth, HD9 1AB
дорогі соняшники. As a finale to the Valley Voices day, creative arts charity, 6 Million+, celebrate their 10th anniversary with a special performance again based on the folk art of Maria Prymachenko which brings together together artists, volunteers, refugees and members of the Ukrainian community in a spectacular musical performance. Commissioned by Holmfirth Arts Festival
FREE (donations welcome)
Holmside Gardens, Holmfirth, HD9 1AB
Rajasthan’s elite street circus present the best of India’s performers from the legendary entertainment communities. Featuring Iran, the incredible gravity defying acrobat and Govinda, the fakir with his jaw-dropping skills, both of whom can be seen in Disney’s live-action remake of Dumbo – released in 2019. A colourful, vibrant, fast-moving extravaganza of intrigue, drama, feats of daring, music, laughter and surprise.
Departing Methodist Church Gardens (roaming) 104 School St., Holmfirth HD9 7EQ
FREE (donations welcome)
Holmside Gardens, Holmfirth, HD9 1AB
Birdie is a beautiful show set in a mesmerising upcycled mobile home where actors fight climate change. Homie meets Birdie, who’s struggling to navigate a world filled with plastics, but with Homie’s help, Birdie embarks on a journey towards freedom, inspiring everyone.
FREE (donations welcome)
Town Gate, Car Park, Holmfirth HD9 1HA
A willow tree, fiery acrobatics and dance feature in this highly visual family-friendly show. Forests packs a powerful punch, challenging forestry
practices, our over-consumption of timber, the destruction of rainforests, and the displacement of indigenous peoples. Performers climb and manipulate the tree, the acrobatic dance sees them throwing, clambering and trampling one another, whilst ropes entangle and bind, before the tree is finally felled amid an explosion of tree-less origami birds. Forests confronts the systemic racism driving the creation of treeless land, whilst striving to inspire a future of courageous, strong young people.
FREE (donations welcome)
Upstairs at Nowhere, Norridge Bottom, Holmfirth, HD9 7BB
A film by John Coombes with a soundtrack of stories and poems by Holmfirth Writers’ Group in a continuous showing from 10am-4pm.
Drop in for a drink, a tasty snack and about 30 relaxing minutes of delightful words and images.
FREE (donations welcome)
Acoustic trio, The Bees Knees, will be letting the music flow with tunes and songs which explore flowing water. The music, ranging between folk, pop and good old singalongs, will bring smiles and get toes tapping as it weaves through the Holmfirth streets.
Musicians:
Eddie Armitage (The Swing of Things, Three Wise Men) –
fiddle/mandolin
Andy Burton (Satellite Arts, FEB, The Remnants) -accordion/fiddle
Chris Deering (FEB, The Remnants) – guitar
FREE (donations welcome)
Earthworks New Mill Community Gardens
Bring your school class or your community group to Earthworks New Mill Community Garden for bird themed storytelling and story sharing.
Explore the gardens to discover the community crafted bird trail based on an old folk tale about kindness. Join in and make a bird to add to the ever growing flock.
Lose yourself in the words of the garden library and enjoy a handmade herbal tea.
To book a 1 hour slot on 5th July,
10am-11am, 11am-12 noon, 12 noon-1pm or 1pm-2pm, contact Sarah at sarah.branson@btinternet.com
Participation is free but we request a £35 booking fee for group bookings.
The garden is open to visit all day on Friday 4, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July. Just pop by.
Settle down for Fireside Tales from 6pm on Friday evening and stay on Saturday evening to delight in a new theatre performance Common Ground by Mikron Theatre at 7pm on Saturday evening.
Commissioned by Holmfirth Arts Festival
FREE (donations welcome)
Earthworks New Mill Community Gardens, Sude Hill, New Mill, Holmfirth HD9 7ER
Join Mikron for a theatre show which takes us on a ‘hill-arious’ ramble through the history of land access in England, as they explore rambling and our rights of way from ze Norman Conquest to loitering in lockdown, via The Mass Trespass at Kinder Scout. The Pendale and District Ramblers are looking forward to celebrating ‘in stile’ on their 50th anniversary walk, but the path has been blocked by the landowner. How will they find their way through?Their quest for freedom and fresh air won’t be easy, as they navigate bulls, beavers, and wandering sheep. Grab your boots and waterproof for a meander with Mikron on a hike through history.
This play has integrated audio description. Touch tours are available – just ask a member of the team when you arrive. Bring a picnic, a chair and blanket. Refreshments available.
PLUS SUPPORT:
Little and Often
With a prestigious background in musical theatre and rock n roll, this Huddersfield based duo have worked alongside many legendary artists such as Jim Steinman, Kenny Everett, Antonio Banderas, Gareth Gates, The Bachelors, The Osmonds, Terry & June, Keith Harris and Orville, They have worked in some amazing settings such as Hyde Park and the Albert Hall. Fun is Little and Often’s priority, presenting an energetic set of motown hits performed and delivered with loving care.
FREE (donations welcome)
The performance is audio described
Departs Honley Junior and Infant School, Jaggar Lane, Honley, HD9 6BT
By Star in the Sky Ceremonies. Join in the fun by making a lantern. Parade to music with local school children and their families through the streets of Honley in a watery flowing themed lantern procession. Linger in the serene lantern trail installation in Honley People’s Park/Jaggar Lane Recreation Ground or head to the Honley Community Centre for a hot drink and a jig. We are still raising money to realise this final community event in our programme. Please go to www.holmfirthartsfestival.
co.uk/supportus to donate what you can.
Commissioned by Holmfirth Arts Festival
PARTICIPATORY PROGRAMME 2024
Use printmaking techniques to create bold and vibrant banners inspired by the Ukrainian artist Maria Prymachenko. Carry them in the parade created by arts organisation 6 Million+ on Saturday 15th of June.
We have 6 x 2hr sessions available on these dates:
morning, afternoon or after-school /evenings Mon 8, Thurs 11, Fri 12, Mon 15, Thurs 18, Mon 22, Thurs 23, Fri 24, Mon 29, Wed 1, Thurs 2, Fri 3, Mon 6, Wed 8, Thurs 7, Fri 8, Mon 13, Wed 15, Thus 17, Tues 20, Thus 22 and Fri 24 May.
On Tuesdays 9, 16, 23, 30 April and 7, 14 May only daytime sessions are available (no evenings/after school).
Sessions can be adapted the session to suit group needs.
Participation is free but we request a £35 donation towards materials for each participating group.
To book a place for your school/community group please contact Bev director@holmfirthartfestival.co.uk
Sunday 26 May and Sunday 2 June 2pm to 4.30pm at The Civic Holmfirth.
Thursday 30 May 10.30 – 12.30, 1.30 – 4.00 at The Civic Holmfirth
FREE for individuals (donations welcome) £35 contribution to materials for a small group
Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
Photo: Malcolm Johnson
Book via the link https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/dearsunflowers/e-zlblqp
To book a 1 hour slot
10am-11am, 11am-12 noon, 12 noon-1pm or 1pm-2pm contact Sarah at sarah.branson@btinternet.com
Participation is free but we request a £35 booking fee for group bookings.
The garden is open to visit all day on Friday 5, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 July. Just pop by.
Dan Price (Soul Choir) will visit your group where you meet to help you sing together.
To book a singing session, please contact Dan on danprice1966@gmail.com.
These sessions are FREE as they are funded by Creative Minds (SWY NHS Trust)
Thank you to our funders, donors and sponsors