THE JOY OF A ROAR: Huddersfield Photography Exhibition

THE JOY OF A ROAR is a Huddersfield town centre photography exhibition of community vitality and local heritage.

The Joy of a Roar, part of Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone programme, has seen over 100 people involved in 16 workshops making striking paper lion masks and modelling them in three studio shoots to produce a collection of 40 vibrant and unique portraits.

These beautiful images are on display as a pop-up outdoor gallery on hoardings, bus shelters and in shop windows around St George’s Square. The main focus of the exhibition is on Station Street, where large-scale images will line the street.

Photographer Laura Mateescu and architectural historian Christopher Marsden, both
with a passion for heritage, devised the project to encourage people to reflect on the close relationship between Huddersfield and the symbol of the lion, which also represents agility, strength, fierceness, courage, leadership and community pride. The project aims to promote health & wellbeing through arts and physical activity.

David Shepherd, Kirklees Council Strategic Director for Growth and Regeneration, said:
“This project is a great way for people to explore the significance of lions in our town. The project led by Chris and Laura takes a fresh look at the symbolism and displays it in an innovative way. I look forward to seeing the vibrant photography in the town centre.”

Craig Broadwith, from Historic England, said: “This is a fantastic fun and engaging way to involve local people in the heritage of their town and spark questions about the significance of the lion as a symbol to the people of Huddersfield.

“It’s great to see the breadth of cultural activity that’s being generated through the Cultural Programme for the Huddersfield High Street Heritage Action Zone. The aim of the programme is to help make the area a more attractive, engaging and vibrant place for people to live, work and spend time.”

More can be found about the HSHAZ programme at the link below.

Notes
The Joy of a Roar project gives thanks for support from Historic England, Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Kirklees Council, Temporary Contemporary, Bargain Box (UK) Ltd, Arcade Coffee & Food, HixFix, Calder Art Supplies, Clear Channel UK, Queensgate Ironmongers,Woodfield Enterprises Ltd and Sovereign Sports of Marsh.
Partners include Active Bodies, Arcade Beers Running Club, The Basement Recovery Project, Hive Café, Piazza Centre, Platform One, S2R and the University of Huddersfield. Club balls courtesy of Huddersfield Giants RL and Huddersfield Town FC.

For more information visit https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/heritage-action-zones/regenerating-historic-high-streets/