Here’s the latest newsletter from Calderdale’s Museum Service.
Bankfield Museum, Shibden Hall and Smith Art Gallery are now open. Pre-booked tickets are no longer required at either Bankfield Museum or Smith Art Gallery. Tickets do need to be pre-booked to visit Shibden Hall. All the details are on the Calderdale Museums website.
New Exhibitions Announced
Belonging: Fashion & A Sense of Place
18 September 2021 – 5 March 2022
Exploring the influence of the West Riding of Yorkshire on contemporary fashion this exhibition brings together works from a range of fashion designers and creatives who have been inspired by the many elements that make the area unique. A curatorial collaboration between Leeds Arts University and Bankfield Museum.
Featuring works by; Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Red or Dead, Edward Crutchley, Cunnington & Sanderson, John Bulmer, Martin Parr, Niall Cotrell, Kate Brittain, Neesha Tulsi Champaneria, Sadie Clayton, Rav Matharu, Mary Benson and many more.
Woodland Paths & Grand Days Out
25 September 2021 – 26 March 2022
An exhibition of new work by the artist Kate Lycett
During 2020 whilst travel was restricted, Kate and her family took walks in the Calder Valley and it was here where she began to observe and capture the changing of the seasons through paintings of trees and accompanying wildlife. This collection of over 43 small works was to become the Nightingale Project. At the same time the family talked about the places they wanted to go once they could venture out of the valley. Inspiring a new body of work of large Yorkshire landscapes about these ‘Grand Days Out’.
These two bodies of work are presented for the first time in this new exhibition ‘Woodland Paths and Grand Days Out’.
The Lockdown Banners
28 September 2021 – Monday 17 January 2022
Discover inspiring stories and uplifting poetry in this new exhibition by artist Ian Beesley, designer Martyn Hall, cartoonist Tony Husband and poet Ian McMillan. During lockdown this collective created a series of large scale, colourful banners celebrating the NHS, carers, keyworkers and volunteers. Inspired by the Confederation of Health Service Employees (COSHE) banners of the 1970s, this new display tells the story of the pandemic through the voices and perspectives of those who were saving lives and keeping the country running, while highlighting important social issues that have been raised during this difficult time.
On display at Smith Art Gallery, Brighouse
Part of the Brighouse Arts Festival
Shibden 600: share your memories
For Shibden’s 600 year anniversary, we’d love to hear from you about your visit to Shibden, memories of the Hall and what the Hall and its stories mean to you. If you’d be happy to share your thoughts with us for use online and in future exhibitions, and to be kept in our archive of Shibden’s 600th year, please e-mail no more than 500 words, your favourite photograph of Shibden or any Shibden Hall inspired artworks. Please email with your name and details of when they were taken/written/created to collections@calderdale.gov.uk
New Anne Lister and Ann Walker Letter
A letter written by both Ann Walker and Anne Lister on the 1st August 1834 is published here for the first time. Recently acquired by Calderdale Museums, the letter will be on display in the Shibden 600 exhibition opening January 2022.
