It’s been a busy year for Beam and The Orangery and we’d like to wish warm seasonal greetings to all those we have worked with over the past year.

Year-end is always an excellent time to reflect and we’d like to share with you some of our highlights of 2011.

In the Spring we announced the appointment of 12 highly experienced Beam Associates. We also launched the Orangery Academy and during 2011 delivered a series of stimulating CPD seminars in collaboration with IntegreatPLUS.

By summer we were working with City of York Council and York Investors LLP to deliver a series of high profile commissions as part of the Council’s exciting new West Offices, York, opening in September 2012. With Wakefield Council we’ve commissioned two new works for Wakefield Westgate Station—- watch this space in 2012! And have a look at Fabric Lenny’s public art commission for the new Hoyland Centre as part of our Barnsley LIFT art programme.

Our work as public art manager for Derbyshire County Council and Henry Boot Developments continues at regeneration area Markham Vale near Bolsover with a new commission opportunity to develop a memorial to mining heritage just released.

Since October Beam, with grants from Design Council/CABE, have been working with local residents on ‘Transforming the Lockies’ a project to come up with an exciting new design for a neglected site near West Street, South Kirkby, in partnership with South Kirkby Community Association, Wakefield Council, and Chevin Housing Association.

We’re also just about to deliver the second round of thirty ‘Orange & Green’, Sustainable Design and the Built Environment Placements in Andalucia, Spain, funded by the European Union’s Leonardo da Vinci Lifelong Learning Programme. ¡Viva España!

Meanwhile…

At our fabulous Orangery we’ve seen the beginnings of an exciting new cultural venue for Wakefield, programmed by Beam and a range of partners. We exhibited a retrospective of Beam’s work 2000-10, had huge metal insects wandering in our gardens during the summer, and showcased a variety of artists as part of the Wakefield Artwalk.

Successful events included August’s Secret Garden Party featuring fantastic Canadian band Po’Girl and the more recent Songs from the Secret Garden event showcasing more local talents including Fran Smith and Jamie Roberts & Katriona Gilmore.

For 2012 we’re developing a larger programme of cultural activity at The Orangery to include an exciting new partnership with Wakefield Theatre Royal.

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And once again – have a wonderful Festive Season and a Creative New Year!