Holmfirth Arts Festival profile

One of Yorkshire's best small festivals.

Holmfirth Arts Festival 2022

Located in the Holme Valley, in the Pennine Hills of West Yorkshire, Holmfirth Arts Festival invites local people and visitors to get creative and explore the landscape.

Performances and creative events at this year’s Holmfirth Arts Festival will be spread over eight months from April to October 2022.

Instead of cramming everything into one weekend, the excellent and varied programme will run at several venues and places, with the stunning backdrop of the Holme Valley used to full advantage to help celebrate this year’s theme ‘The Earth Beneath Our Feet’.

Thanks to funding from Arts Council England, Kirklees Council, Holme Valley Parish Council, Longley Farm and others, festival organisers have invited top quality, diverse, local, national and international artists to respond to the topic of the landscape and environment.

The inspirational indoor programme includes headline comedian Gary Delaney, plus award winning composer and clarinettist Arun Ghosh, singer songwriter guitar virtuoso Jon Gomm, classical music from Clouds Harp Quartet and Riverside Quartet and theatre about running in the wilds, from Daniel Bye and Boff Whalley.

Festival director Bev Adams said: “There will be something for all ages and we want people to join in and share their own creativity. There are opportunities to join Holmfirth Beats new percussion band with Katie Mallard, help make an outdoor art trail and work with Dan Prior to perform as a soul choir. There is also an opportunity to learn to make your own digital music with Josh Haslam of Jam Factory.”

Scenic walks with a difference are taking place to include storytelling and activity and two experimental projects will explore quarries and reservoirs as performance venues and a day of music performed by local people and professionals in Holmside Gardens promises a fun day out on Saturday 18 June. Spectacular street theatre returns to the streets on Sunday June 19, with premieres of new shows from Highly Sprung performance – who bought the town to a halt with Urban Astronaut last year and Mind the Gap – both shows highlight climate change issues.

The Festival invites audiences and participants to enjoy events in unique venues, picturesque streets and the surrounding natural environment. You will find world class artists performing in village halls and churches. Opportunities to participate in high quality arts activities can be found across the Holme Valley, in schools, community venues and in the landscape.

Holmfirth Arts Festival celebrates creativity in the landscape by:
- Commissioning new work and supporting artists
- Inspiring diverse communities to engage with the arts and their heritage
- Caring for the environment
- Connecting locally, regionally and internationally

More details about this year's events at www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk

For further information contact Bev Adams, Festival Director, director@holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk

View my website http://www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk/