PAST PROJECTS
Each year sharing memories works on five or six different projects in schools, at our base at Hope Bank Works and out and about in the community.
Sing your soul Sunny Project
Sing your Soul Sunny Project.
Sing your soul sunny: a project dedicated to bringing joy and singing in the sunshine.
Community Choir leader Dan Price of 'Soul Choir Holmfirth and Slaithwaite work with our core group to write our fabulous 'Sing your soul sunny' Song. This song was passed on to four local community choirs. Soul Choir, Amazing Acapella/Far Cry, Meltham Community Choir, True Talent.
With help from Dan Price and Soul Choir and Jenny Goodman and Amazing Acapella/Far Cry we went into Schools with our core group to pass on our fabulous song to children from South Crosland, School & Shepley First School. And also to the wonderful adults from The Mission Huddersfield
We put on an incredible community concert at Holmfirth Church to bring people together to showcase and promote wellbeing through song and the fabulous choirs we have in our local area.
We also created wonderful decorations informed by the lyrics of our songs for the final concert.
All Choirs involed came to perform and showcase their incredible talents.
The
Paper Making
Project
This little project made good use out of our beautiful paper coral reef, made during our 'In Deep' project. We began this project with an open session at Lawrence Batley Theatre Huddersfield, one of many activities which were part of #JoCox #GreatGetTogether in June
2023.
We recycled most of our coarl reef and turned it back into the most beautiful paper with help from the faulous adults from Enfield Down Honley and Ponderosa Day centre Heckmondwike. Together learning the art of paper making.
This project was funded by One community, Magic Little Grants & Holme Valley South Members local project Fund.
IN DEEP
An Exploration of Materials
In Deep Project
In Deep was an eighteen month long project, we attempted to tackle two very large topics. 'In Deep' in terms of the vast beauty of our wonderful oceans and 'In Deep' trouble as a planet if we dont all think about our use of everyday materials.
And in particular where these two topics collide!
This project was produced in collaboration with the wonderful kids from ten different fabulous schools...
Netherhall Learning Campus,
Holmfirth Junior, Infant & Nursery school,
Meltham C E Primary School,
Brockholes CE School,
Netherton Infant and Nursery School,
Upperthong Junior and Infant School,
Helme C E Academy,
Shepley First School.
Holme Junior & Infant School
The Creative Media School.
And the incredible adults from...
Bridgewood Trust Armitage Bridge,
Enfield Down Honley,
The Mission Huddersfield,
Ponderosa Day Centre Heckmondwike.
We used the project as a way of exploring materials, to help us think about the materials we use, reuse and recycle.
This wonderful project was punctuated with a interactive and informative public exhibition in the centre of Huddersfield.
More exhibition photos and info to come, but for now please enjoy these process pictures.
THE POTS OF FUN PROJECT.
The Pots of Fun Project.
We were delighted to receive a micro-grant from the Neighbourly Community Fund, as this enabled us to stay in touch with our Sharing Memories members throughout lockdown and gave us the funds to supply everyone with an additional pre-project pack for working on at home during covid.
After fifteen months apart, we started our Pots of Fun project in earnest, making lavender and calendula sugar scrubs and various herbal teas, learning all about the plants’ properties. Which was a wondefully fragrant session.
Then working with Holmfirth Junior & Infant school to prepare and plant up the raised beds on their new allotment. Together we learnt about Hügelkultur, a horticultural technique where a mound constructed from decaying wood debris and other compostable biomass/plant materials is planted as a raised bed. We sourced our biomass materials together, with the children from Nabb School-Holmfirth Junior Infant and Nursery School, from the Schools local wood.
The raised beds at Holmfirth Junior Infant and Nursery School were dug up with help from Holmepride - Community in Action.
The herbs planted up at the School were grown from seed by the adults at Ponderosa Day Centre.
As part of this project we also learned the craft of mosaicing, although this was adapted, to accommodate social distancing rules. We brought together our members wonderful work and decorated some large terracotta pots with thier mosaic designs. The mosaics designs were inspired by drawings of local flora.
We then planted up our mosaic pots with colourful floral and herbaceous displays & offered them to local venues: library, cafe's, to brighten up the local area.
We also had a super visit to Springvale Community Garden in Penistone as part of our Pots of Fun Project. Our thanks to all the volunteers there who made our visit so special, including the delicious cakes!
LIGHTING UP THE DARK PROJECT
Lighting up the dark project.
A ten-week recruiting project to explore the art of lantern making.
This project gave us a chance to find and introduce new members to our wonderful group.
Looking at the art of lantern making, how lanterns have been made historically and artistically.
There are three general types of paper lanterns:
• Hanging lantern - the oldest type of paper lantern used for illumination. They are generally carried, hung, or mounted on stands.
• Sky/flying lantern - a small hot air balloon made of paper, with an opening at the bottom where a small fire is suspended. Also known as flying lanterns, sky candles and fire balloons.
In China, Taiwan and Thailand sky lanterns are traditionally made from oiled rice paper on a bamboo frame. The source of hot air may be a small candle or fuel cell composed of a waxy flammable material.
In Brazil and Mexico sky lanterns were traditionally made of several patches of thin paper (locally called "silk paper"), in various bright colours, glued together to make a multi-coloured polyhedron shell. A design that was fairly common was two pyramids joined by the base sometimes with a cube or prism inserted in the middle.
• Water/floating lantern - paper lanterns that float on the surface of water. Also known as a river or lake lamps depending on the water body in which the water lamp is floated.
The water lamp originated in India and later spread to Southeast Asia and East Asia due to influence of Hindu-Buddhist cultural diffusion.
The Water Lantern has been used in traditional Chinese festivals such as the Lantern festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Chinese New Year, and even Christmas in some places like Hong Kong. In Japan “Tōrō nagashi” is a ceremony in which participants float paper lanterns down a river.This activity is traditionally performed on the final evening of the Bon festival in the belief that it will help to guide the souls of the departed to the spirit world. This peaceful custom is a gesture of respect for those who have died and gives participants a moment to think about their ancestors, loved ones or even past pets.
During this project we explored different materials, staring with the simplest and building to the more technical methods and materials.Using simply card and inks and paper then wool, balloons and tissue paper and finally bringing in a expert willow worker the wonderful Wendy Bristow of Twigs and Sprigs to teach us some of her skills.
CULTURE COLOUR & CHOCOLATE
Culture's, Colour and Chocolate Project.
Culture's colours and chocolates project explored different cultural arts and how we celebrate the season of spring. Looking together at Holi - a popular ancient Hindu festival, also known as the "Festival of Love", the "Festival of Colours", and the "Festival of Spring".
While exploring different creative techniques we created our own sand mandalas. A mandala is a geometric configuration of symbols. In various spiritual traditions, mandalas are employed for focusing attention. Our mandalas were created with spring and spring time celebrations in mind.
Sharing memories group worked beside the wonderful children from Mount Plesant School in Lockwood and also with the fabulous children from Nabb School in Holmfirth.
The Museum of curiosities project.
This project is a celebration of ‘The Holmfirth Technical Collage’.
Exploring the history of ‘The Tech’ we found out that a museum of curiosities once resided within. Inspired by this and all the fabulous community groups who are & have made use of this wonderful building over the years, we developed this project to celebrate this community.
Sharing Memories group worked alongside the wonderful adults from Enfield Down Honley and Bridgewood Trust and the marvellous children from Nabb School Holmfirth, to bring this project to life.
Working with the people at Enfield Down we created and decorated our own percussion instruments and with help from Katie Mallard & The Valley Beats we developed our own exotic and captivating rhythms.
Working with all three groups, we created this curious exhibition. Which includes the beautiful and intricate story globes. The shocking and scandalous tapestries depicting the secret life of sheep and some very curious painted stones.
The extraordinary children from -The children’s art school have, also crafted some of the curiosities exhibited.
Also last but by no means least, sharing memories group worked with Enfield Down and Dan Price from the Soul Choir to write a sensational song.
This project was funded by Creative minds, Enfield Down and the Sharing Memories group.
The Well Dressing Project
The well Dressing project was an exploration of the ancient craft of well dressing.
Thanks to National Lottery players, Holmfirth has seen the return to Well Dressing traditions in the town for the first time since 1991. The floral design appeared in the Methodist Church gardens as part of this year’s Holmfirth Arts Festival celebrations June 2019.
Members of Sharing Memories, working with children from Holmfirth Junior, Infant and Nursery School designed a Well Dressing on the Festival theme of landscape. The project was
supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and One Community Foundation.
Well Dressing is an ancient form of decoration, usually placed near natural sources of water. Also known as well flowering, it is a tradition practised in some parts of rural England in which wells, springs and other water sources are decorated with designs created from flower petals. The custom is most closely associated with the Peak District of Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
Sharing Memories Project Manager, Sally Brown, said:
“We’ve been having great fun teaching the school children how to make mini Well Dressings and they are so excited to be part of this project."
“Most of the pupils have never seen anything like this so we hope it will inspire future flower decorations in the town.”
The Sharing Memories Well Dressing was unveiled on Friday 14th June and the children processed down from their school in flower costumes made with the help of The Children’s Art School, and led by fiddle player Eddie Armitage. The unveiling included entertainment by Andy Burton of Satellite Arts and members of Xylosound, a group of adults with learning disabilities.
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME
A sharing memories project working with adults from Enfield Down and Bridgewood Trust to explore ideas about home through the medium of print.
We worked with people to explore the meaning of 'Home' to each of us, though symbols and images. For example a tea pot or a pair of slippers.We then used these images to create our own printing tools.
STICKLEBACKS AND SWINGBOATS
A celebration of the history of Hope Bank Pleasure Grounds using drama, singing and visual art. We explored the history of Hope Bank Pleasure Grounds near Honley and staged a performance, with the help of Chol Theatre company.
We also worked with songwriter Jenny Goodman and wrote four brand new songs about Hope Bank, in collaboration with an adult choir and children from Honley J&I and Southgate Special School. Members of Sharing Memories and Amazing Acapella created the most incredible painted backdrop for our show which was called Sticklebacks and Swingboats. Over 160 people took part in this project ranging from Clem, aged just seven to Kenneth who is 93, severely visually impaired, hard of hearing and lives alone. Two members of Sharing Memories, Cath and Tommy took part in both the drama and the singing – something they had never done before – they loved it and their daughters were amazed!
SPORTING MEMORIES, SPORTING FUTURES
Our mission was to create a new mural for the front entrance of The Zone, a popular family sports facility in Huddersfield. With the help of ceramicist Zoe Stainton we set to work ...
Working with 35 participants from Lydgate Special School (now Southgate School); the Bridgewood Trust and Enfield Down we created a series of sporting themed figures out of clay tiles. We talked about our favourite sporting activities and came up with ideas for a series of abstract figures which would form our mural. Everyone learned how to roll and cut the clay and create simple patterns decorated with slip.
The groups were so prolific that we ended up with more figures than we needed for our mural - so the extra figures are being installed at each of the participating organisations.
Former England and Huddersfield Giants rugby league player Eorl Crabtree kindly volunteered to unveil the mural in July 2017 which now has pride of place at The Zone.
Our thanks to Creative Minds, Kirklees Council and the One Community Foundation for funding for this ambitious project.
THE GREAT HOLMFIRTH CAKE OFF
Well didn't we do well? Around 200 people attended our Great Holmfirth Cake Off event in Holmfirth Market Hall in June 2017, bringing their favourite recipes to share. August 2017
ABOUT
From cheesecake to chocolate cake, from lemon drizzle to banoffee pie, from flapjack to fruitcake – we showcased the very best in cake making. And with the help of staff and pupils from Holmfirth J&I School we sold cakes, plants and raffle tickets and raised around £460 for both Sharing Memories and the school. The children helped out with the cooking and the decorations for our event - they enjoyed it so much that they are asking whether we can do it all again next year! Watch this space.
Our cake off event was generously funded by Awards for All
THROUGH THE WINDOW
Through the Window was a textile-based project which included participants from Enfield Down (a secure Unit for people with mental health issues), Artists in Mind (an organisation which supports artists recovering from mental health issues) and teenaged pupils from Lydgate Special School in Holmfirth.
The aim was to produce up to 100 individual textile windows which reflected the personal journeys and stories of each participant. We worked initially with art therapist John Holt bringing in objects which were important to us, and using those objects as a starting point for drawings and paintings. This then led on to work on smaller A4 panels or windows and we took our skills into other settings. Each participant has created an individual window which will go on exhibition at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield during January 2015. The exhibition will then transfer to the headquarters of the Clinical Commissioning Group.
This project has been generously funded by Arts Council England, Kirklees Council's Arts in the Neighbourhood Programme, and Creative Minds.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Members of Sharing Memories joined forces with children from Lydgate School for children with complex needs, and a group of adults from Growing Works who are recovering from mental health issues, to learn about healthy eating.
PROJECT AIM
We received funding through Awards for All to provide opportunities for children with special needs to learn all about healthy eating, shopping for food, and preparing simple soup and bread recipes. The project started out on a local allotment where we joined forces with members of Growing Works, who are all adults recovering from mental health issues. We learned to identify common vegetables, created quirky vegetable animals, went shopping in Holmfirth Market and cooked simple soup and bread recipes.
PROJECT EVENT
The project culminated in a celebratory meal for 60 friends and families with the children preparing and serving soup and bread, having designed the menus themselves. They had great fun serving everyone and also produced a pack of six colouful recipe cards which were given free to local schools and are available in shops in Holmfirth.
THE ARTS TRAIN
Using the theme of 'journeys' as a starting point, members of Sharing Memories worked alongside five other groups of children and adults to create a collection of work which was exhibited at the North Light Gallery in Armitage Bridge
