Cultural Development of the Piazza

Over the past few months work has taken place by Kirklees Council, artists and arts organisations to reinvent and reuse empty shops in the Piazza shopping center in Huddersfield. The project is an extension of Temporary Contemporary and is in response to the Blueprint vision in terms of The Cultural Heart of the town.

Currently empty shops in the Piazza have been taken over by artists, performing art organisations, festivals etc. and are offering workshops, presenting exhibitions and using the space for rehearsals which you are able to watch or take part in.

See below for full details of everything that is going on:

Unit 2 – West Yorkshire Print Workshop. WYPW members will be exhibiting work by their studio artists and printmakers. All work will be for sale and there will also be drop-in workshop activities.

Unit 3 – Pop-up space. The schedule for this space includes: Huddersfield Literature Festival, BASSment studios, BEAM, a graphic design studio and art gallery.

Unit 4 – Colourcity. Harnessing the energy of colour to aid self-care and improve people’s well-being via exhibitions, installation and workshops.

Unit 10/11, 12, 13/14 & 15 – CollaborARTI. Made up of 14 independent artists who are showcasing, exhibiting and offering workshops.

Unit 16 – Pop-up space. The schedule includes: Art workshops and well-being sessions by Benaiah Matherson and Kirklees Culture Climate Emergency Hub.

Unit 29/30 – AME., an international creative hub that supports experimental music and art, commissioning work from both emerging and established performers, composers and artists.

Unit 32 – Dark Horse Theatre, showcasing their learning disabled company actors and student actors at work while they rehearse for their next 2 shows.

Unit 33/34 – Lawrence Batley Theatre. Currently being used for rehearsal space and will also be used as a temporary comedy club. This space will then be handed over to the a group of arts organisations - The Children’s Art School, Chol Theatre, Evoke & Woven. The windows of this shop are also showcasing 14 film makers co-ordinated by Dave Charlesworth (YanTan Tether).

Unit 35 - Huddersfield New College

In Queensgate Market alongside the Piazza, there is activity too:

Parlour space - run by Parley who create spaces, projects and events to encourage arts and cultural conversation, engagement, learning and development.

Temporary Contemporary Gallery - exhibitions by research staff and postgraduate students from the School of Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Huddersfield.

If you are interested and would like to learn more or get involved, please get in contact with us at arts.creativity@kirklees.gov.uk