A sculptural installation by Abu Jafar

As part of Wakefield’s Summer of Culture 2010, Beam is delighted to exhibit the work of Wakefield-based artist & sculptor, Abu Jafar at Beam.

See Gallery for further information

Join us on Wednesday July 28th and meet the artist.

HOPE@Beam
The Orangery Garden
5 July 2010 - 8 October 2010
Monday – Friday 9:30 – 16:30
Open Saturday 24 July & Saturdays in September
Phone 01924 215550 to confirm
Admission Free

The next Artwalk will take place on Wednesday 28th July 5-9pm.

Come and view our latest exhibition 'Small Projects' and the sculptural installation HOPE@Beam.
Start your walk at Beam and take advantage of the free parking! For more information about venues open as part of the Wakefield Artwalk please visit http://www.artwalk.org.uk

Beam held a Mad Hatterz Tea Party at the Orangery on the afternoon of Saturday 24th July 2010, as part of the national Discovering Places event and Wakefield’s Summer of Culture.

Local groups of young artists, musicians, dancers, and poets performed at the event, which had an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ theme. Many came dressed for the occasion, while afternoon teas raised over £200 for Cancer Research.

We will post images on Flickr shortly.

Place has a powerful impact upon our quality of life, and in these tough financial times good place making also makes economic sense. Great places where people want to live, work and visit are the foundations of what is becoming known as the 'big society'. Beam has over 20 years’ experience supporting regeneration, renaissance, and cultural projects in urban and rural towns, parks and neighbourhoods, housing schemes, schools, colleges, mixed use developments, and hospitals.

Beam are able to support you, our civic leaders, built environment professionals and community activists to make better places. But importantly we can help you to do more for less, as our highly skilled staff and associates able to deliver our services and programmes where they are needed.

Call us on 01924 215550 to discuss your needs.

There is a place, like no place on Earth, a place full of mystery and wonder! It is an ancient place with a story to tell, but within it there is something new, and music and laughter. Where is it, you ask? You will find this place in the heart of Wakefield – its called The Orangery. All are welcome in this place, but it is said the to survive it - you’ll need to be as mad as a hatter!

In the build up to the 2012 London Olympics, and as part of the Cultural Olympiad, on Saturday 24 July locations across the country are joining the national party to start the 2-year count down to the games. Events across the country are being held as part of a programme called ‘Discovering Places’.

Beam, the region’s art and architecture centre, is opening up The Orangery – one of Wakefield’s hidden gems – as part of the celebrations, and staging events with an Alice in Wonderland theme.

The Event        The Mad Hatterz Tea Party
The Time        Saturday 24 July, 11.00am to 4.00pm
And it’s free!

Beam will be organising fun activities throughout the day for the young and not so young, from the ‘Discovering the Orangery’ photo competition through to activities to imagine what the future may bring to the area. There will be an opportunity to visit Beam’s gallery and the chance to view a new sculptural installation in the garden, by Wakefield-based artist Abu Jafar.   

Wakefield’s young poets, musicians and performers from Yew Tree Theatre, The Base and Stagecoach will provide additional entertainment throughout the day. There will be plenty of tea and buns, or visitors can bring their own picnic and enjoy the green oasis in the heart of the city.   

Kate Bennett, Project Manager from Beam: says: “Beam is delighted to be encouraging people to discover new places where they live. This is a great opportunity for people to find out about amazing places across the Yorkshire region. At our Mad Hatterz Tea Party young poets, musicians and performers in Wakefield will showcase their talents and we invite the general public to come and discover the Orangery – an oasis in the heart of the city.  Everyone is welcome to join in the madness and come in fancy dress, bring a picnic and of course there will be tea and cakes!”

London 2012 is the first Organising Committee to create such a wide platform of public participation in the Games, taking the values, ideals and benefits of the Games to people and communities like never before.  The Mad Hatterz Tea Party is part of Discovering Places, the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad campaign to discover the local environment and a programme principally funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor and delivered in partnership between The Heritage Alliance and London 2012.

Full details all activities related to this weekend, including the Beam’s events, can be found at on Londob 2012 web site.

Connect 3 was a programme devised and delivered by Beam in early 2010 in partnership with the Local Authority, in order to consult and engage with three West Yorkshire schools who are in the process of amalgamation as part of the Primary Capital Programme.  Connect 3 aimed to consult the 3 schools communities about the facilities needed to enable 21st Century teaching and learning within the amalgamated school.

School Council members, teaching staff, parents and governors from the two Infant schools and one Junior school were engaged in the structured programme of site visits, design workshops and events. This innovative and fun approach was devised in partnership with a team of creative architects and aimed to inspire, raise aspirations and educate stakeholders from the 3 schools before then consulting on the facilities and design of the amalgamated school.

The Connect 3 process also saw the ideas generated more widely disseminated through the production of a short film, amplifying the voices of the stakeholders involved, and through a ‘Celebration Event’ at which the film was screened and the ideas generated were shared and displayed as part of a series of professionally designed and interpreted panels. The opportunity was then provided for the wider schools communities to comment on and add to the ideas presented.
 
A Roundtable Discussion session followed at which attendees were given the opportunity to obtain clarity on specific questions and concerns around a number of topics pertinent to a 21st Century school, guided by an expert panel of Local Authority representatives.

A final summary report about the programme and its findings has been produced, this will be used to inform the final design brief for the amalgamated school.

Many of the arts organisations in Wakefiled are supporting The Summer of Culture.

Visit www.experiencewakefield.co.uk for full details.

We’d like to invite you to come along to our stall at the Wakefield Farmers Market on Saturday 10th July to take part in ‘Cybercity Wakefield’ as part of the Summer of Culture.

Beam and DLA Architecture will be at the market on Union Street between 9am-4pm, where we will be exhibiting ideas about what the future might hold for cities and asking for your thoughts about what the Wakefield of the future might be like. We’ll be asking for your thoughts on questions like,
 
-       How can we power our cities without fossil fuels?
-       Where will our food come from in the future?
-       How will environmental change have affected Wakefield by 2100?
 
We need your input to help inspire an architectural model, which will be built as the centrepiece of Wakefield’s contribution to an international ‘Cybercity’ exhibition to be held in Germany at the end of this year. Models will also be contributed by Wakefield and Hemsworth College students and the final Cybercity exhibition will feature models from groups in Germany, The Netherlands and China, as well as from Wakefield.
 
Drop in and see us at the ‘Cybercity Wakefield’ stall at the Farmers Market, Union Street between 9am-4pm on Saturday 10th July – we look forward to hearing your ideas!
 
Cybercity Wakefield is an innovative media art project between Wakefield Council, Wakefield College, Hemsworth Arts & Community College, Beam, DLA Architecture and artists Graham and Christina Smith and Anja Bardey, funded by Arts Council, England Grants for the Arts.
 
Cybercity Wakefield @ The Farmers Market is part of the Summer of Culture www.experiencewakefield.co.uk

For more information about this event call 01924 215 550

Beam, Faceless Company, The Art House, Theatre Royal Wakefield, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, The Hepworth Wakefield and Wakefield Council - Invite you to become a ‘Cultural Generator’!

‘The Generator’ – a mobile workshop using theatre, art, dance and music - will be traveling throughout the Wakefield District this summer as part of the Summer of Culture.

But first. . . . .

The Generator Launch Party
Saturday 26 June 2010
Wakefield City Centre
11.00am-2.00pm

Join the Generator gang at the exciting launch event and have your say on culture in Wakefield!

The summer of culture is a 3-month festival from June – September 2010, when Wakefield and the Five Towns will celebrate its cultural heritage through an exciting programme of cultural activities. For full details visit the Experience Wakefield web site.

This conference looks at the how to harness the power of good design in the current economic climate and in the future.

Integreat Yorkshire and CABE are delighted to invite you to attend this one day conference which aims to raise awareness of design quality and how design interventions can work together. You will hear from a range of interesting speakers about design review in the region and which design tools are appropriate in a variety of
contexts. The day will be a mix of inspirational speakers and workshops as well as an opportunity for networking and discussion.

Who is it for?
Built environment professionals including local authority members and officers from planning and regeneration, architects, developers, landscape
architects, design review panellists.

Why Attend?
You will:
- Learn about the variety of design tools available and how to apply them.
- Learn about current developments for design in the region.
- Explore the benefits and process of Design Review in its wider context.
- Learn about future design training events.
- Look at case studies of how good design can help create a successful sustainable community and stimulate economic growth.
- Have the opportunity for networking and discussion.

Speakers include:
Tom Lonsdale
Vice Chair of Regional Design Review panel
Andrew Mason
Newmason Properties
Jan Anderson
Yorkshire Forward
Helen Forman
Homes & Communities Agency

Attendance is FREE and lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Event organised and managed by Beam
To book your place email: ann@beam.uk.net
Or call 01924 215550

See the results of Wakefield's first SketchCrawl held on Saturday 15th May. Click here.

The 27th World Wide SketchCrawl took place on Saturday 15th May led by Wakefield-based artists Helen Thomas and John Welding.

'The idea of a SketchCrawl is that of a global marathon - you're encouraged to journal and draw all that is around you - slow down, look around, and document.'

You are invited to take part in Cybercity Wakefield a media art project imaginatively exploring the future of cities...

What is Cybercity Wakefield?

Over the coming year Beam and DLA Architecture will be running a number of free workshops and events to imaginatively explore what a future Wakefield might be like. 

Your input will help inspire an architectural model, which DLA Architecture will be creating as the centrepiece of Wakefield\'s contribution to an international exhibition to be held in Germany at the end of this year. Models will also be contributed by Wakefield and Hemsworth College students and the final Cybercity exhibition will feature models from Germany, The Netherlands and Estonia as well as from Wakefield.

How to get involved?

We will be running a workshop session and also a drop in session where we would love to hear your thoughts and ideas about what the Wakefield of the future will be like, both sessions are free and will be held at The Orangery.

Cybercity Workshop: Weds 26th May 2010, 1.30-4.30pm
Cybercity Drop-in session: Weds 26th May, 5-9pm (during Wakefield Artwalk)

For more information please download the pdf event flyer below or call 01924 215 550

Peter Bishop, Deputy Chief Executive of the London Development Agency has been appointed as the new Chair of the Architecture Centre Network.
Peter was appointed as the first Director of Design for London in 2006, and in 2008 as Group Director of the London Development Agency, responsible for design, land development and its environmental, housing and public space programmes.
Peter comments: "Good design should not be considered as a luxury. Architecture centres play a pivotal role in supporting individuals and communities in shaping their local areas to form tightly knit, lasting and vibrant places. I look forward to my new role with the Architecture Centre Network to support their work and place them in the heart of the new emerging urban agenda."

Click here for further information

1st July, 2010 - Bankside Community Space, London
   
After such high demand for the first round of Spaceshaper 9-14 facilitator training we are pleased to announce another forthcoming training date! 
Are you passionate about young people having their say about their neighbourhood?
 
Spaceshaper is a tool for anyone who is keen to improve their local parks, streets or squares. An exciting new version has been developed enabling 9 to 14 year olds to get involved in the developments that affect them. It offers practical, creative and interactive resources that encourage young people to contribute to discussions about the future of their neighbourhood.

Do you want to become a trained facilitator?
 
The training and toolkit will support you to engage young people in activities and facilitate a discussion about a local space to help raise aspirations and encourage young people to demand more for their local spaces. Trained facilitators have a crucial role in managing Spaceshaper events so that everyone has a fair say and to ensure that young people’s views are heard and valued. We are seeking applicants who have experience of working with young people and knowledge of built environment issues.
What are the benefits to me and my organisation?
 
Becoming a CABE Spaceshaper 9-14 facilitator will give you access to a high quality engagement toolkit proven to give young people a voice in local improvement projects. Having a facilitator in your organisation negates the need to hire one externally and if you are a consultant it is a potential income generating scheme. Spaceshaper 9-14 has been designed to work alongside the original Spaceshaper tool and can give added value to the consultation process.
More information
 
We are looking for people who have experience of facilitating groups of young people and have knowledge of built environment issues.

Training Cost £250  + VAT

For more information and an application form please click here.
Please note the deadline for training applications is 5pm on Monday 7th June.

Beam is delighted to announce the appointment of a multi-disciplinary team from Wakefield based DLA Architecture as the lead creative's on Cybercity Wakefield.

DLA's team will include Fine Artist - Sean Mannion, Architect, Geoff Miller -Graphic / Web Designer, Alex Ketnor along with Helen Hudson - Independent Consultation Consultant.

Cybercity is a collaborative project between Wakefield and European Capital of Culture Ruhr 2010. It considers the transformation of city centres, and will allow the navigation of models through the internet.

Keep a check on our website newspage for opportunities to participate in Cybercity Wakefield later on this year.

Beam have now completed the 12-month People Changing Places programme in York.

Throughout the programme we aimed to engage the general public in the regeneration of their city, raise people's aspirations about good design in the public realm, provide opportunities for multi-disciplinary working and engage communities in the regeneration of their local environment.

For a detailed overview of the programme please download the PDF document below or visit the PCP website

Wakefield is home to an ever-growing number of locally, regionally and nationally renowned arts organisations, which include Wakefield Council's heritage sites and its five Key Arts Clients.
Generator is a collaborative project between Wakefield’s five Key Arts Clients:
·         Beam
·         Faceless Company
·         The Art House
·         Theatre Royal Wakefield
·         Yorkshire Sculpture Park
 This partnership is unique in that it is a ground upwards approach.The steering group has a huge wealth of knowledge and expertise, alongside a rich and varied list of contacts.
 
The Summer of culture is a 3-month festival from June – August 2010, when Wakefield and the Five Towns hosting numerous special events and gala’s to increase participation in cultural activities in the district.
 The aim of Generator is to create an ‘object’ that stimulates community engagement with culture and creativity that the organisations will animate through theatre, art, dance and engaging activities. The plan is that the object will be a key feature at various Summer of Culture events including major local events such as the Pontefract Liquorice Festival, Wakefield’s Dance Festival, the planned heritage events such as the Medieval Olympics and also national events, such as National Play Day and Refugee Week.
 
Winning Concept
We are pleased to announce that DLA Architecture has been selected as the chosen architects who will work with the steering group to design and create the 'object' which will be launched in May/June.
 
For further information, please contact;
Kate Bennett, Manager, Public Realm Learning     
01924 215550
kate@beam.uk.net

Beam launched the Arts of Place programme on Friday 19th March at Impressions Gallery in Bradford as part of the Bradford International Film Festival. 

Over 50 people attended to hear more about the Arts of Place programme  and to meet and network with the selected artists and Bradford based creative organisations.

It was announced that Lucy Bergman, Shanaz Gulzar and Steve Manthorp (ADEPT) and Simon Warner have been commissioned to undertake temporary commissions and that Larna Campbell and Jack Lockhart have been appointed to undertake the professional mentoring programme. Please visit the Arts of Place website for more information about the project and commissioned artists.

Wednesday May 12 from 6.30pm

An informal talk by Catherine Slessor, Managing Editor of Architectural Review.

Emerging Architecture 2009 presents the Architectural Review’s annual awards - the best in current international architecture by younger practices.

Catherine has a wealth of experience as an architectural critic, contributing to a variety of international magazines. She has written a number of books including Eco Tech, a study of the relationship between ‘High Tech’ architecture and environmental awareness, and Concrete Regionalism which considers the influence of vernacular traditions on contemporary architectural practice. She has lectured in the UK, USA, South Africa, Spain and Argentina and has won the International Building Press award for Architectural Journalist of the Year three times.

This is the seventh in Beam’s series of talks by editors influential in design and regeneration. Previous events have included lively talks and audience debates with: Kieron Long - Architects Journal, Paul Finch - Architectural Review, Vicky Richardson – Blueprint and Julian Dobson – New Start Magazine.

To book a place phone Cathy on 01924 215550

Friday 19 March 2010
18:00 – 20:00
The Studio, Impressions Gallery, Bradford

Beam is working in collaboration with Bradford Council to develop and deliver Arts of Place – a creative programme of temporary commissions, events and learning - designed to raise cultural aspirations for Bradford's key regeneration project City Park. This showcase event will give you the opportunity to meet the commisioned artists and view their portfolios as well as updating yourself on the latest creative projects in Bradford.  To find out more click here.

Sustainable Places = Sustainable Communities
Tuesday 30 March 2010. 9:00 - 17:00
Berrick Saul Building, University of York

For the last event in the People Changing Places programme we are inviting policy makers, built environment professionals, community leaders and local authorities from across the UK to come together and explore how can we creatively engage communities in the regeneration of their towns and cities.

Key Note Speaker: George Ferguson, Former President RIBA and Chairman Acanthus Ferguson Mann Architects

For more details click here.

The Rose Bowl,
Leeds Metropolitan University

From 5.00 for refreshments
Talk starts at 6.00pm.
Admission is free.

4x4 making places’ is a unique place making forum with presentations and debate involving architects, engineers, planners, urbanists,environmentalists, economists, academics, artists, developers, entrepreneurs, politicians, policy makers, enablers, administrators and citizens. Each week features 4 speakers followed by debate.
Governance - Thursday 4th March
Economy - Thursday 11th March
Land - Thursday 18th March
Nature - Thursday 25th March
Please click here for further details.

Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) are encouraging arts organisations across England to take advantage of the Future Jobs Fund.
Beam is part of Wakefield Council's
application to the fund and has been used as a case study, alongside London's Southbank, by DCMS.  We would encourage all arts organisations to look at Future Jobs Fund
Deputy Director, Stephen Dolman.
"It's great because we've recruited people who would not normally
think of applying for an arts job.  Cathy who started in November has
been a great addition to the team and we'd certainly think about recruiting again through the Future Jobs Fund."

Open For Expressions of Interest

Arts of Place is now open for expressions of interest for the two programmes: A. Temporary Commission Programme and B. Professional Mentoring Programme.

City Park is the signature project of the Bradford City Centre Masterplan. With a Mirror Pool at its heart, it will be an iconic landmark for Bradford and a foyer to a new City Centre. The completed project will result in a six-acre park for Bradford which will play a key role in bringing people from different communities and backgrounds together and repositioning Bradford as an ambitious, confident and vibrant city.

The Arts of Place, developed by Beam, is an innovative multi-disciplinary approach to place-making that combines the arts, learning and public engagement, and places the arts and artists at the centre of regeneration. This programme is funded by Arts Council England, Yorkshire - Grants for the Arts, and Bradford Council, and is contributing to Bradford City of Film.

The overall aim of the Arts of Place project is to facilitate Bradford Council’s cultural aspirations for City Park by linking with Bradford City of Film and by embedding the arts, learning, and stakeholder engagement. 

If you are interested in submitting an expression of interest, please download the Artist's Brief below.

Deadline for Expressions of Interest: 1pm Friday 19 February 2010.

Are you passionate about young people having a say in their neighbourhood?

Spaceshaper is a tool for anyone who is keen to improve their local parks, streets or squares. An exciting new version has been developed enabling 9 to 14 year olds to get involved in the developments that affect them. It offers practical, creative and interactive resources that encourage young people to contribute to discussions about the future of their neighbourhood.

Training is open for facilitators!

Trained facilitators have a crucial role in managing Spaceshaper events so that everyone has a fair say and to ensure that young people’s views are heard. Training is now available for those wanting to become a facilitator:

20 January 2010 Birmingham
27 January 2010 Manchester
2 February 2010 London
10 February 2010 York
10 March 2010 London
17 March 2010 Bristol

Costs are £50 – £150.

For more information and an application form click here,

or call 01924 215 550 or email Spaceshaper9-14@cabe.org.uk.

Turning Point Yorkshire & Humber is a project investigating and recommending ways to strengthen our region’s Visual Arts sector within a changing national context.

Our mission is to reflect concerns of visual artists, organisations and audiences and manage the research and development phase of a Regional Strategy for the Visual Arts to this end. 

‘Turning Point’ is the Arts Council’s 10-year strategy for strengthening the visual arts in England, in partnership with the visual arts sector. As part of this process people working in the visual arts across the country have been coming together to form regional steering groups with a view to defining and delivering a shared vision for growth and change. A national network of these groups is currently being established.

In Yorkshire, an Interim Steering Group is guiding the initial exploratory phase of the Turning Point initiative in the region, including research and a programme of activities. Beam has been commissioned to support the Group, coordinate activities and, with associate Sue Ball (MAAP) to deliver some activities and produce a framework report at the end of this year. Three regional curators - Anna Reid (Pavilion), Clare Lilley (Yorkshire Sculpture Park) and Sarah Brown are also commissioned to deliver activities to inform the initiative. A Draft Strategy will be released for consultation in February 2010, with a final Strategy produced in May.

Please visit the website for more information!

A pioneering toolkit was launched on Friday11 December by Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, at Beam. 

The activity-based toolkit has been developed to capture the views of young people aged 9-14, who are often left out of decisions that affect their lives. Developed by CABE and Beam, with The Architecture Centre, Bristol and Kent Architecture Centre, it explores what young people think about how local places are used and how they can be improved.

Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, said:  ‘I hope the Spaceshaper 9-14 toolkit will help capture the ideas of young people when new public spaces are being planned.  When I'm visiting different areas I often meet our young designers, architects and town planners of the future who tell me how they've contributed to key decisions for their school, youth centre or play area.  I want to encourage even more young people to get involved in the development of public spaces and I hope this toolkit will help local authorities to facilitate this.’

Year 5 pupils (aged 8-10) from St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in Wakefield, who are using Spaceshaper 9-14 to help them improve a park a few hundred yards from their school, will be taking part in the launch event. The park on Berners Street, Wakefield is part of Wakefield Council’s ‘Playbuilder’ improvement programme.

Richard Simmons, CABE Chief Executive said: ‘Young people have opinions about their local parks, squares and streets, but too often they go unheard. Their views matter. Spaceshaper 9-14 is an imaginative new way of getting young people involved and giving them a chance to have their say.'

Do you want to become a trained facilitator?

The training and toolkit will support you to engage young people in activities and facilitate a discussion about a local space to help raise aspirations and encourage young people to demand more for their local spaces. For more information and to download an application form visit the WEBSITE.

Project overview

Wakefield Cybercity 2010 is unique for Wakefield as it provides an exciting opportunity to become involved in the European Capital of Culture RUHR 2010, enabling Wakefield to promote itself as a positive supporter of trans-cultural partnerships.  

The Third Eye is the title for the interdisciplinary media art project led by the lead artists which connects young people from Wakefield with the Ruhr district, Germany, Tallinn, Estonia and the Randstad district, Netherlands.  Wakefield Cybercity 2010 is the title for our contribution towards The Third Eye project.  

The project will create imaginative cities by producing models to enable a video robot, whose camera acts as a controlled ‘third eye’ for the viewer, to explore from the perspective of a pedestrian. The models and robot will all be designed and made by young people.

The video robot can be controlled and steered through the model cybercity and is viewed either via a large screen or through an internet platform.  The participants will have the opportunity of sharing their created cybercities with other young people participating from Ruhr, Tallinn and Randstad through video conferencing and a dedicated internet site.

The partners 

Wakefield Cybercity 2010 is an innovative trans-national art and public realm project between Wakefield Council, Wakefield College, Beam and three German based artists Graham and Christina Smith and Anja Bardy.

Exhibition

Exhibition of work by students from National Diploma Fine Art and Photography, Wakefield College and students from Hemsworth Arts and Community College.

Friday 4th December 9am - 4pm. Refectory, Wakefield College, Thornes Park Campus.

For more information click HERE.

Exhibition Square in York was transformed for one weekend by Beam in collaboration with DSDHA Architects and Pilot Theatre. 

A new gateway to Exhibition Square in York was created from bright orange boxes which were erected in the bus lay-by. The aim was to reclaim the space and encourage people to see the square from a different perspective.

The event attracted a lot of interest and the general public were invited to register their interest to be involved in future consultation with the City of York Council.

To view tweets from the event on Twitter click HERE.

To listen to interviews with people who attended the event click HERE.

To view photographs  from the event visit People Changing Places gallery.

A report detailing feedback from the event will be uploaded soon.

Sign up to the beam Facebook group today, and hear about Beam news and events.

www.facebook.com

Ryumei Fujiki's book on architecture inspired by nature has now been published and is available from Cornerhouse.

Price £14.00.

ISBN 9780 9540 7482 1

For further details click here

Saturday 21 November, 11:00am - 8:00pm &

Sunday 22 November, 12:00 noon - 5:00pm

Come and see Exhibition Square in a new light, Experience the unexpected! The City of York Council has collaborated with Beam, DSDHA Architects, local artists, the local community and key stakeholders to bring you a one-off creative transformation of a key public space in the City – Exhibition Square.

YourSpace includes a series of large-scale arches and gateways that will come alive through live performances and interactive activities for everyone to take part in throughout the weekend. This event is free so come along and join the fun.

Saturday will provide a stage for some exciting performances by Pilot Theatre and Sunday will be your chance to get involved to see what you can take away from the event.

Timetable (keep checking the PCP website for updates)

Saturday

11:00am      Event Opens

11:30am      Performance 1

13:00pm      Performance 2

14:30pm      Performance 3   

16:00pm      Performance 4

16:30pm      Light show (tbc)

Sunday  

12noon – 2pm ‘Leave Your Mark’ event

2pm – 5pm Take away your own piece of the event

For any enquiries please contact Kate Bennett: phone 01924 215550 or email kate@beam.uk.net

Beam are delighted to be providing public art consultancy services to Henry Boot Ltd and Derbyshire County Council for the 200 acre business and industrial park adjoining the new junction 29a of the M1.

Work is underway to develop an action plan for the site. For more details about the project please click here.

Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 November 2009

11am - 8pm & 12noon - 5pm. Exhibition Square, York City Art Gallery

Come and see Exhibition Square from a different perspective and experience the unexpected!

The City of York Council has collaborated with Beam, DSDHA Architects, local artists, the local community and key stakeholders to bring you a one-off creative transformation of a key public space in the City – Exhibition Square.

YourSpace includes a series of large-scale arches and gateways that will come alive through live performances and interactive activities for everyone to take part in throughout the weekend. This event is free so come along and join the fun.

Saturday 21 November, 11:00am - 8:00pm & Sunday 22 November, 12:00 noon - 5:00pm

Saturday will provide a stage for some exciting performances by Pilot Theatre and Sunday will be your chance to get involved to see what you can take away from the event.

Timetable (keep checking the PCP website for updates)

Saturday

11:00am      Event Opens

11:30am      Performance 1

13:00pm      Performance 2

14:30pm      Performance 3   

16:00pm      Performance 4

16:30pm      Light show (tbc)

Sunday  

12noon – 2pm ‘Leave Your Mark’ event

2pm – 5pm Take away your own piece of the event

For any enquiries please contact Kate Bennett: phone 01924 215550 or email kate@beam.uk.net

Beam is delighted to continue it's work with Chesterfield Borough Council on the local authorities Percent for Art Programme. We have recently been appointed to project manage a new public art commission for a major new build development scheme at Walton Hospital designed by South Yorkshire Architect's Race Cottam Associates Limited, in partnership with Derbyshire County Council Primary Care Trust. Artist Jo Fairfax will be working with Beam and the hospital art working group to further develop his concept designs for the commission over the coming months. Watch this space for further details of the commission.

Image by Jo Fairfax

The exhibition of work by Ryumei Fujiki and members of Fujiki Studios closes on 23 October. We would like to thank Ryumei and everyone from Japan who were involved in the project.

Further details about the exhibition have been archived on our Gallery page.

Additional information about Aqua-Scape is in the book written by Ryumei Fujiki and available through Cornerhouse Publications.

Whilst visiting Wakefield Israeli photographer, Dubu Roman, took a number of pictures on Aqua-Scape and has created an online gallery. Visit the photgraphers gallery here.

Beam in Wakefield has shown itself to be at the top of the class for educational visits by being awarded a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge.

Awarded by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, the Quality Badge combines for the first time learning and safety into one easily recognisable badge for all organisations providing learning outside the classroom experiences.

Beam spokesperson Robert Powell said “Being awarded the Quality Badge is a real coup for all the staff here as it shows that we offer young people the type of high quality learning experiences they really benefit from. We're thrilled to get official recognition for our efforts and we look forward to welcoming even more children and young people from the local area to our Grade ll listed Orangery".

The Quality Badge was developed as part of the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto, a national initiative to ensure young people are given more opportunities to have these experiences as part of the curriculum.

Ed Balls, Secretary of State Children, Schools and Families, said: “Educational visits are among the most memorable experiences in a child’s school life.  Quality Badges offer teachers a guarantee that not only is a venue providing the sort of educational value that they can build on in class long after the visit but they also have the appropriate risk management structures in place.

It is a significant victory in our battle to move away from the misguided perception that learning outside the classroom is a potential minefield for teachers.  I want to see teachers using Quality Badges as practical decision making tool. It should ensure that many more young people have memorable, exciting and valuable learning outside the classroom experiences. I congratulate Beam on being awarded the badge.” 

For more information visit the Lotc website

Saturday 24 October 2009, 3:30pm – 8:00pm

The Guildhall, St Helens Square, York, YO1 9QN

City of York Council is carrying out a year-long programme called People Changing Places (PCP) to find out what people think of York’s outdoor spaces as they are now, and how they could look in the future. The results of the consultation will feed into a Public Realm Strategy for the city centre area.

We will be temporarily transforming Exhibition Square in York on 21st and 22nd of November. We want to know more about your ideas for how this space could be transformed.

Ahead of the Transformation the ‘Hopes, Dreams and Designs’ workshop will build on the ‘Placecheck’ and ‘A Grand Day Out to Sheffield’ events and inform the content of the Transformation.

The transformation will challenge the status quo of our public spaces. It is not intended to be a permanent fixture but an opportunity to re imagine the way we view and use our public spaces. Through a creative and collaborative process the workshops and transformation will aim to raise aspirations for good design and high quality public realm in York.

Architects DSDHA in collaboration with BEAM will lead the workshop. We have some outline ideas for how the space can be physically transformed, but want to investigate these further with the general public and understand how the proposals could potentially be moulded to incorporate the types of use, extent of space and physical aspirations that they have for the square.

Participants input may be in the form of memories you have about the square and surrounding area, long-held desires for improvements, ideas on how the space could be animated during the transformation or material changes that they have desired to see within the place. The workshop will also include the group visiting projects involved in Illuminate York.

Buffet & Refreshments are included!

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis so please get in touch as soon as possible.

To book your FREE place contact Ann Sweeney on: 01924 215550 or email.

The Expedition is underway - why not follow it on Twitter.

Click here to see the feed.

Want to read more - check out the following blogs from Yorkshire Expedition delegates...

Blog 1 The Yorkshire Expedition - the god of small dreams

Blog 2 The Yorkshire Expedition - space - the final frontier

Blog 3 The Yorkshire Expedition - art at the heart?

Blog 4 The Yorkshire Expedition - plumbing the depths

Blog 5 The Yorkshire Expedition - hard hats required

Turning Points A Yorkshire Expedition
1 - 2 October, 2009

Keynote Speakers so far .....

• Martin Bright - A New Deal of the Mind!


• Jan Anderson - Executive Director of Environment, Yorkshire
  Forward


• Val Millington - Director National Federation of Artist's Studio Providers


• Emma Hoddinott - Culture & 2012 Project Manager, North Yorkshire County Council 


• Chris Murray - Core Cities


• Bridget Sawyers - Chief Executive, Architecture Centre Network


• Rhona Pringle - Renaissance Market Towns Manager, Yorkshire Forward

As part of the Turning Point initiative in Yorkshire &
Humber we invite you to apply to join us on a two-day creative journey.

The purpose of the journey is to explore some of the major
issues affecting our region and stimulate exchange between professionals in the
visual arts and other sectors.

The trip will visit rural, urban, and coastal areas of the
region, touching down in some famous and some unexpected places. You’ll hear
from experts in fields like science, health, regeneration, education, the
economy, and the environment, and consider how the work of artists intersects
with them. It’s a chance to learn, debate, make new cross-boundary connections
and influence future programmes.

Delegates joining the Yorkshire Expedition include
professionals working in sectors including:

• Visual arts


• Science


• Health


• Regeneration


• Education


• Business & Economics


• Environment

A key pre-requisite for all travellers is an interest in
exploring new cross-boundary connections between people, issues and
disciplines.

For any enquiries contact Kate Bennett on Kate@beam.uk.net or call 01924 215 550

Beam on behalf of the Arts Council England Yorkshire are co-ordinating the Turning Point Yorkshire Humber.

Turning Point is the Arts Council’s 10-year strategy for strengthening the visual arts in England, in partnership with the visual arts sector. As part of this process people working in the visual arts across the country have been coming together to form regional visual arts groups with a view to defining and delivering a shared vision for growth and change. A national network of these groups is currently being established.

In Yorkshire, an interim Steering Group has been formed to guide the initial exploratory phase of the Turning Point initiative in the region in 2009. Beam has been commissioned to support the Group, coordinate activities and, with associate Sue Ball (MAAP) to deliver some activities and produce a draft strategy. Three regional curators - Anna Reid (Pavilion), Clare Lilley (Yorkshire Sculpture Park) and Sarah Brown (Huddersfield Art Gallery) are also commissioned to deliver activities to inform the initiative. A report and draft Strategy will be released for consultation in December.

A programme of Open Forum talks and discussions, ‘Turning Points’, is being developed to stimulate ideas and provide opportunities for exchange between the visual arts sector, Steering Group members, and colleagues from other sectors within and outside the arts. Events will be held in venues around the region.

The programme was launched on 16 July in Leeds with ‘Turning Points - a Yorkshire Project?’- an open forum discussion, with guest speakers, about raising the profile of the visual arts through a major region-wide collaborative project. Participants heard form Paul Domela, Liverpool Biennial, Jean Cameron, Glasgow International Festival of Visual Arts and Peter Jenkinson, Cultural Broker (presenter, Channel 4 \'Big Art\'). These speakers provided inspiration and enthusiasm for what  “Yorkshire’s big project” could be.  We then heard from Graham Riding, Wakefield Council about the beginnings of a big Yorkshire Project – ‘ The West Yorkshire Sculptural Initiative’. 

For more information about Turning Point Yorkhsire and Humber contact andrea@beam.uk.net

Beam’s Executive Director, Robert Powell, visited Turku, Finland this August to officially open a leaf-shaped house built by artist Jan-Erik Andersson. Jan-Erik is a long standing friend of Beam who built The Nest, a sculptural structure which, until recently, sat in the grounds of The Orangery. 

Life on a Leaf

Have you ever wondered why among all these millions of box shaped buildings, you will never see a house shaped like a shoe, a flower or a leaf?

This is the question, which set out artist Jan-Erik Andersson on a long and adventurous journey to build his own leaf shaped house in the middle of Turku city in Finland. The house project, called Life on a Leaf, is also the art part of Andersson’s studies for a doctorate degree in visual arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki.

Read more

Aqua-scape Celebration

Saturday 22nd saw over 70 people heading to a sun drenched Orangery to celebrate the Aqua-scape exhibition, learn more about Japanese cultural traditions and relax with a picnic in the Orangery grounds. Many people were visiting our urban park in the heart of Wakefield for the very first time.

Visitors enjoyed magical Japanese fan dancing and a traditional Japanese harp (Koto) performance; an action-packed martial arts demonstration, featuring a real live ninja, and learnt the traditions of Japanese paper folding at an origami mania workshop. 

There was also an opportunity for visitors to meet and chat live via weblink to the makers of Aqua-scape, the Fujiki Studio, live from Tokyo, Japan!

As a result of the continued success of Aqua-scape we will be extending the exhibition for a further two months. This will give everyone the opportunity to see the installation at night, as the darker nights draw in, when the LED lights really bring out Aqua-scape’s jelly fish-like inspiration.

To view short film clips from the day click here

Art Workshops
in Wakefield

Artists Collaborating - The Art House 28^{th -}30^th September 2009 A three-day
workshop by visiting artists Stine Diness and Martin Oluf Thaulow. Based at The Art
House, Wakefield.

Through talks,
debates, demonstrations and practical group exercises, Danish artists Stine
Diness and Martin Oluf Thaulow will cover the communicative skills that
encourage rewarding outcomes from artist collaborations. For more information visit The Arthouse website 

Neon Workshop: Experiment Experiment!

£560* Five places
remaining

Experiment
Experiment! Tutors will be encouraging and teaching participants to use both
flame working and glass blowing together in order to achieve technically
challenging and visually stunning light sculptures. We will travel to the
National Glass Centre and use their hot glass department to blow glass forms,
with plans to fill the work with gas back at the neon studio in Wakefield. Jessica Lloyd Jones and Sarah Blood are British
artists with international experience in the field of filling blown forms with
neon, they will be sharing their experiences during the course. For more
information and to reserve your place, please contact Richard on 01924 387 999
or email info@neonworkshops.com

As part of Heritage Open Days, The Orangery will be open on Saturday 12th September 10.00am - 3.00pm

Come and enjoy the rich history of our Grade II* listed building and take a look at our current exhibition 'Aquascape' now extended to the end of October.

July Artwalk Wednesday 29 July, 5pm - 9pm, Free

A recurring evening of exhibitions, events and entertainment open to all.

Road Closure News! - The top end of Back Lane, where it meets Drury Lane is closed. Pedestrians can access the Orangery though the left hand side of the Westgate chapel - see map . Those of you driving can enter The Orangery via Back Lane as usual - but will have to return the way you came! Free parking is available.

This month Beam will be showcasing:

Aqua-scape and the nature oriented art of Ryumei Fujiki
Aqua-scape is a cocoon-like urban folly or hide out, designed by Ryumei and the toykoyo based Fujiki Studio. His brand new version created especially for Beam, is inspired by diverse sources such as Origami and jellyfish and applies the principles and skills of folding paper to plastic. The exhibition about Aqua-scape explains through models, drawings and photos how Ryumei and his studio developed the ingenious concept of Aqua-scape.

Throughout the night there will be the chance to hear the young imaginations of the Wakefield’s yew tree theatre and the music for the night will be provided by Mr? who will be playing an abstract musical set accompanied by images.

The Artwalk is a free event held on the last Wednesday of every other
month wherein up to 14 venues open their doors between 5pm–9pm to
exhibit visual art.For all locations see the artwalk website

People Changing Places (PCP) is a one-year programme funded by the Commission of Architecture and The Built Environment (CABE) and The City of York Council. The first milestone scheduled in the programme was a public drop in event based on Placecheck which is a method of assessing the qualities of a place, showing what improvements are needed, and focusing people on working together to achieve them.

The Placecheck event was well received by residents and visitors to the area. An estimated 150 people participated, at least 32 of whom were children and young people under 18. A range of activities were on offer enabling more people to participate as they could spend as much time as they wanted to. Everyone who participated made valuable contributions which will support the foundations of the PCP programme. After evaluating the feedback a number of key themes emerged – Delight, Sustainability and wayfinding.

To see more photos see our flickr site.

Inspired by diverse sources such as origami and jellyfish, Aqua-scape is a remarkable ‘floating’ structure in the cool green seas of The Orangery gardens. Come and explore the collective imagination of the Japanese designer Ryumei Fujiki and Tokyo-based Fujiki Studio, whose unique structure and other designs receive their first UK viewing in the Beam Gallery and Orangery Garden.

Aqua-scape is a cocoon like urban folly or hide out designed and constructed by the Japanese designers Ryumei Fujiki and Fujiki Studio, where the principles of folding paper have been adapted to folding plastic. While Aqua-scape floats within The Orangery gardens, Beam Gallery will be displaying an exhibition about Ryumei Fujiki and his design practice, which is often inspired by nature.

Exhibition Opening -   Wednesday 17 June 6-8pm
We are delighted to welcome Ryumei Fujiki, his design partner Yukiko Sato and members of his studio to officially open the exhibition.

Wakefield Art Walk -    Wednesday 29 July 5 –9pm

Aqua-scape Celebration -  Saturday 22 August 11am - 4pm, famiily friendly activities.

For further information contact Juliet Burke on Juliet@beam.uk.net or call 01924 215 550

The Orangery was buzzing on Wednesday 17 June when over 100 guests gathered for the opening party for Aqua-scape. Councillor Peter Box, the Leader of Wakefield Council, welcomed, Ryumei Fujiki, his design Partner Yukiko Sato, and the Fujiko Studio from Tokyo. Guests were able to marvel at Fujiki Studio's work both within and outside The Orangery, in the warm evening sunshine.

We were also delighted to be joined by five students from Greenhead College, Huddersfield who were on a week long work shadowing placement with us and who created their own temporary arts work inspired by origami.

For further images see our Flickr Pages.

The Exhibition remains open throughout the summer until 28 August. We will also be holding a special celebration event on Saturday 22 August – keep an eye on our website for further information.

Photo from left to right: Councillor Peter Box, Ryumei Fujiki, Yukiko Sato, Robert Powell

Interested in the visual arts?

Come and participate in the the first in a programme of events about developing a new strategy for the visual arts in Yorkshire and Humber.

Turning Points ---
a ‘Yorkshire Project’?
An open forum discussion with guest speakers
Round Foundary Media Centre, Leeds
16 July 2009 
13:00 – 16:00  

What sort of project could significantly raise the profile of the visual arts in Yorkshire & Humber --- regionally, nationally and internationally? Who should it be for, who should be involved, how might it be resourced and managed? And what ideas and initiatives are currently being developed in the region?

• An opportunity to learn from others’ experience, hear about current initiatives, and contribute ideas
• An opportunity to meet and share views with members of the interim group that is  steering the first phase of Turning Point in Yorkshire & Humber.

Guest Speakers include:

Paul Domela, Senior Curator, Liverpool Biennial
Peter Jenkinson, Cultural Broker (presenter, Channel 4 ‘Big Art’)
Jean Cameron, Producer, Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art

This event is free and a light lunch will be provided but places are limited.

To book your place please rsvp to Ann Sweeney ann@beam.uk.net or call 01924 215 550

To find out more about Turning Point click here

Wednesday 24 June, 5pm -9pm

Identity Cards

12 Israeli artists meet 12 British Artists exploring concepts of identity. Beam conference room will display a preview of work produced during a short residency in Wakefield.

For more information contact Juliet Burke on 10924 215 550 or e-mail juliet@beam.uk.net

Beam in Partnership with the City of York Council is asking residents for their views on the city’s open spaces.

People Changing Places- is a year long programme to find out what people think of York’s outdoor spaces as they are now, and how they could look in the future. The results of the consultation will  help to create a Public Realm Strategy for the city centre area.

The first event in the consultation is a place-check that will be held on Saturday 4 July in Exhibition Square. Residents are invited to come along anytime between 11am and 3pm and take a few moments to explore the public space around York City Art Gallery and links through to the Yorkshire Museum Gardens. Everyone is welcome and there will be fun activities for the young and not so young.  Look out for event staff who will be on hand to help you take part.

Robert Beardsworth, from the council’s City Development team, said:  “Public spaces are vital parts of our city centre and are widely used by residents and visitors. We hope that the consultation process will help us find out what people like and don’t like about these open spaces, and how they can be improved in the future”.

For more information contact kate@beam.uk.net

Beam would like to invite you to the official opening party of Aqua-scape on Wednesday 17 June.

Wednesday 17 June
6pm – 8pm
The Orangery, Wakefield, WF1 2TG
Complementary drinks and sushi!

Councillor Peter Box, Leader of Wakefield Council, joins Beam's Executive Director, Robert Powell,  to welcome from Japan Ryumei Fujiki, his design partner Yukiko Sato and members of the Fujiko Studio, at the official opening of Aqua-scape. We hope that you can join us to experience the installation, exhibition and hear from Ryumei about his work

Word of Warning - Road Closure!

We have just been notified that due to damages to the railway bridge Back Lane will be closed from tomorrow morning – Wednesday 17 June. The Orangery will only be accessable from the top end of Back Lane - from Drury Lane.

We ask everyone coming on Wednesday by car to park at one of the many nearby car parks. Unity House car park is the closest and provides free parking after 6pm. 

Directions to the Orangery: Cross over Westgate and proceed up Drury Lane (between the Theatre and Black Horse Public House), Turn left onto Back Lane, The Orangery is on the right, directly opposite the Unitarian Chapel.

Click here  to view a map

For further information contact Juliet Burke on Juliet@beam.uk.net or call 01924 215 550

Catherine Slessor, Managing Editor - Architectural Review
Wednesday 20 May
6 for a 6.30 start
The Orangery, Wakefield

Internationally renowned architectural critic Catherine Slessor talks to Yorkshire
 
In conjunction with Beam Gallery’s latest exhibition --- ‘Emerging Architecture’ --- we are delighted to invite you to an informal talk by Catherine Slessor, Managing Editor of Architectural Review.  ‘Emerging Architecture’ presents the Architectural Review’s annual awards --- the best in current international architecture by younger practices.

Catherine has a wealth of experience as an architectural critic, contributing to a variety of international magazines. She has written a number of books including Eco Tech, a study of the relationship between ‘High Tech’ architecture and environmental awareness, and Concrete Regionalism which considers the influence of vernacular traditions on contemporary architectural practice. She has lectured in the UK, USA, South Africa, Spain and Argentina and has won the International Building Press award for Architectural Journalist of the Year three times.

This is the fourth in Beam’s series of talks by editors influential in design and regeneration. Previous events have included lively talks and audience debates with:  Kieron Long - Architects Journal, Paul Finch - Architectural Review, Vicky Richardson – Blueprint and Julian Dobson – New Start Magazine.

We hope you can join us for lively conversation.

To book your FREE place please email Ann@beam.uk.net or call 01924 215550

Beam Gallery is expanding for this months Art Walk.  We not only have our exciting exhibition – Emerging Architecture but we will also be displaying photography from Wakefield College students as well as providing a platform for Wakefield poets!

The Artwalk is a free event held on the last Wednesday of every other month wherein up to 14 venues accross Wakefield open their doors between 5pm–9pm to exhibit visual art. There’s no route and no specific walk, you can go where you like, visiting all or just a few of the exhibitions. The venues range from art galleries to bars, cafes to shops - even the cathedral!

This month Beam Gallery has three exciting aspects to their Art Walk offer -

• Our current exhibition Emerging Architecture features the winning entries from the annual Architectural Review Awards -  this maybe your last chance to see the exhibition as it closes on May 29.

• Within our conference room we will be displaying photography work by Wakefield College students with severe learning difficulties.  The photographs are taken in and around Wakefield and offer an interesting perspective to how we view our city.

• Throughout the night the Wakefield poetry groups - Black Horse Poets and Yew Tree Poets will grace us with poems on themes of ‘buildings’ and ‘place’.  The Black Horse Poets have recently celebrated the 10 year anniversary, and The Yew Tree poets their younger counterparts meet weekly to create, inspire and discuss.

Wakefield Art Walk
Wednesday 27 May
5pm – 9pm

For further information contact Juliet@beam.uk.net or call 01924 215 550

Throughout March Beam delivered a series of teacher training sessions exploring creative tools to engage young people in learning about their built environment.
Tools of the Trade helped Secondary School Teachers to engage young people with the built environment. Within the cross-curricular sessions, teachers developed transferable skills and ideas, looking at individual ‘off the shelf’ tools, case studies, talks and demonstrations from industry experts.

The Experts
Laura Broderick - Education Advisor from CABE
Prue Chiles - Architect & Director of Architecture at The University of Sheffied.
Imi Maufe - Trained as a landscape architect now works as artist and educator

To enquire about future courses, please contact Ann on 01924 215550 or email: ann@beam.uk.net

To see more photos click here

Engage....Regeneration, Young People & New Technology

Want to know how to engage young people both in and outside of school hours? Could New Technology be the key to engaging young people in consultation about regeneration?

Beam has provided an opportunity for professionals involved in regeneration to come together and discuss this topic and invited a number of experts to share their knowledge and experiences about using new technology
 
Speakers & Topics included:

1. Digital Engagement  - Marcus Romer (Chair),     Artistic Director Pilot Theatre
2. Innovative Technology - Graham Smith, Cybercity Ruhr
3. Create-a-scape - Graham Hopkins, Futurelab

The day offered a creative mix of presentations, imaginative group activities and discussion.

Who Attended?
• Artists / Creative Facilitators
• Regeneration Professionals
• Youth / Community Workers   
• Architects / Architecture Students
• Local Authorities
• Public Realm Workers

To find out more information about future course, please contact Ann on 01924 215550 or email: ann@beam.uk.net

To see more photos click here

The long journey from Japan to Wakefield draws to a close as Aqua-scape has safely arrived to The Orangery gardens.

Beam would like say a huge thank to our temporary neighbors from the Wesgate building site - Clegg Construction – who helped us in the unloading of the truck.

To see more photos click here

To see what is inside the crate you will have to come and see the Aqua-scape exhibition which will open on 15 June.

The Japanese designers Ryumei Fujiki and the Fujiki Studio have finished their construction of Aqua-scape and it’s on the ship on the way to the UK!

Beam have commissioned the Fujiko Studio to construct a Beam version of Aqua-scape, which will be exhibited from 15 June – 28 August. The Aqua-scape design is inspired by diverse sources such as origami and jellyfish, the principles of folding paper have been adapted to folding plastic. To support this structure Beam Gallery will be displaying an exhibition about Ryumei Fujiki and his architectural practice, which is often inspired by nature.

There will be a series of events to support this exhibition, so keep checking the website for updates.

Ambitious plans to make Yorkshire one of the world's top visitor destinations
were unveiled before an audience of over 1,000 people at Y 09,
the largest tourism industry event ever held in Yorkshire on 3 April 2009.

See the latest promotional DVD and television advert from Welcome
to Yorkshire.

www.yorkshire.com

Beam have been busy conversing, creating and consulting with the young and old of Calderdale. We have been running workshops with two schools in the area as well as with the local community. The aim of these consultations is to gather thoughts and ideas about the future of the former Standard Wire Works site.
Public art, public realm, gateways, bridges, nature trails and play areas have all been explored through creative workshops, working with artists and an urban designer. The information we have gathered will be presented in an ideas book and a short film. These thoughts, opinions and suggestions by the local community will then be passed on to the preferred developers.
The overriding conclusion from the children in the area was that they were less interested in manufactured play equipment and more excited about natural playable spaces, where structures could be made from natural materials. The community were more varied in their opinions and they came up with many interesting ideas. The emphasis was on using local materials and the local context for inspiration.

On Saturday 14 March Copley Primary School opened their doors to the local community and hosted a consultation event for the development of the former Standard Wire Works site between Copley Valley and Sowerby Bridge. 

There was art, poetry, and cakes from the local bakery to inspire the imaginations and creative thoughts of the community.  Artist Catherine Sweeney worked with the participants and created a game linking Copley and Sowerby Bridge, while James Nash, taking inspiration from participants, produced an imaginative poem.  Guests also had a chance to view and contribute to the exhibition of work Beam has already done in the area.

For the past six months as part of Yorkshire Forward's Partnership Skills Programme Beam has been busy conversing, creating and consulting with the young and old of Calderdale. This community event was the culmination of all our work in the area, and a chance for people to have a final say towards the design ideas book and film, which will be passed onto the chosen developers.


Sowerby Bridge and Copley Valley

‘Yet some maintain that to this day
_she is a living child,_
that you may see sweet Lucy Gray_
upon the lonesome wild’

. from ‘Lucy Gray’ by William Wordsworth,
written after a tragedy that happened at Sterne Bridge in Copley in the early 1800s.

1
We all need safety, we all need chances
To live in a place and feel part of it,
Not to rule somewhere, like kings or princes,
Hoarding its treasures in our hearts, but yet
To have for a while, and to explore,
To look after well and keep as our trust
To give to our children, for them to care,
When we blow round this valley as part of the dust.
Our touch must be kind, it must be subtle,
With the birds and the beasts as part of our plan,
We are the curators, we must be mindful,
Of the needs of woman, child and man,
To feel a belonging, and to expect
The best for a place to which we connect.

2
Talk to the woman who walks in the woods,
Who greets all the seasons as her friend,
Tramping the paths and the fields with her dogs,
Where past and present and future blend.
Walking where she walked five decades ago,
Where the kingfisher darts, vivid blue flame.
Her life in this valley, sunshine and snow,
Is engraved on her face, by wind and by rain.
People and places share geology,
In each line on the face, groove of the beck
The wearing of time is clear to see.
We walk through the woods, with no turning back,
Our lives as fleeting, but somehow as true,
As the kingfisher’s sudden flash of blue.



3
Take notice how near we are to the edge
Of open country, river, wood and field,
Between Copley village and Sowerby Bridge,
How soon the houses to nature yield;
And how much memory haunts and clings
To trees and grass, to breeze and river flow,
Down here where a blackbird full-hearted sings
In early morning amongst the dew.
And will that magic be augmented,
By the cries of children playing here?
As the days move on, let each one be granted
A life in this tapestry from year to year,
Holding the past, and yet endeavouring too,
To stitch in the future with threads of the new.

©James Nash 2009

‘Thanks to all the folk from Copley and Sowerby Bridge who shared their stories, memories and hopes and fears with me to produce this poem.  Your words were my threads.\'

Beam was delighted to present the fourth in a series of talks by influential editors and welcomed Julian Dobson, Editorial Director of New Start Magazine to the Orangery.  The informal event covered key issues facing regeneration in 2009, focussing on the role of built environment professionals across the region.  

Julian Dobson, writer, speaker and commentator on regeneration and social policy issues, was the founding editor of New Start magazine, a publication for people involved in community regeneration.

Beam celebrated its second birthday on Monday 26 January, alongside a private view of our latest exhibition --- Beam on Wheels
Yorkshire-based Ian McMillan led in the creation a somewhat haphazard but entertaining poem, while Threefold Architects and Jason Bruges Studio impressed guests with their imaginative creations for the Beam Mobile. We were delighted to be joined by Andy Carver, Executive Director of Arts Council England, Yorkshire, along with colleagues from WMDC, CABE, Integreat Yorkshire and our partner firms as part of the celebrations.

The Beam poem......

It’s a beam dream
I think you’ll agreem
It’s a beam dream
I think you’ll agreem
Olympics in Wakey in 2016
Its seems a bit shakey
And rather extreme
But all as a team
We’ll fufill a dream
Tha What?
Hepworth Hurdling
Moore, Moore, Moore
No more muddling
That’s for sure
Peter Boxing
No lightweight he
Calder coxing
On the Mobile Beam
Don’t bust' a spleen'
At what you’ve just seen
This' is more than just a scheme
More than' just a dream
It’s a wedge shaped' tangerine…
Achieved by' Beam

Apostrophe amnesty declared by Ian McMillan

4x4 making places will be returned in March 2009 with a "Back to Basics" series, taking a fresh and inventive look at the challenges we face in making places.

The dates for the series were Thursday March 5, 12, 19 and 26 and took place at Leeds Metropolitan University. For more information check out the making places website. 

Community Event - Sowerby Bridge Copley Valley
Saturday 14 March 2009 11am – 3pm

Lending their minds...!
As part of the Sowerby Bridge Copley Valley transformational project, local residents were invited to join us for a day of creativity.   Their ideas have helped contribute towards a “design ideas book” for the development of the former Standard Wire works site that stretches between Sowerby Bridge and Copley. 

For more information about Upper Calder Valley Renaissance visit www.ucvr.org.uk

The structure is beginning to take form....

We are delighted to reveal the second snap shot of Beam’s Aqua-scape structure. All the way in Tokyo Japan, Ryumei Fujiki and Fujiki studio are busy constructing the semi- architectural structure ready for our exhibition opening in June. Keep your eye on our website for further updates.

The Japanese designers Ryumei Fujiki and the Fujiki Studio are currently busy constructing Aqua-scape especially for Beam's garden. We are going to give you regular updates on how the structure is progressing on it’s journey from Tokyo to Wakefield. Inspired by diverse sources such as jelly fish and origami, Aqua-scape will give us a fascinating insight into modern Japanese design. 

Here’s a sneaky peak at Aqua-scape in its early stages.

Beam:Mobile and other mobile structures
Beam is going mobile! So roll in to see Beam's latest exhibition – Beam on Wheels.
With plans, drawings, photos and models, the extraordinary Beam:Mobile is on show at the historic Orangery for the first time.
Early in 2008 Beam launched an international Design Competition, supported by Arts Council England and CABE. It resulted in over 40 entries from as far afield as Japan, which were judged by a leading expert panel including designer Wayne Hemingway and Leeds-based architect Irena Bauman.
London-based Threefold Architects and Jason Bruges Studio stood out as winners with their design for an unfolding wedge-shaped structure that offers exterior and interior spaces as well as ‘place portraits’ – technology that ‘gathers’ information about the sites it travels to. Functioning as a cinema, a classroom, visitor attraction, exhibition space, installation and sculpture, Beam:Mobile responds and changes according to its location.
Other national and international cutting-edge mobile structures are also on displayed – from an Indian mobile cinema to a lorry full of grapevines to Chanel’s touring art pavilion by Zaha Hadid.
“Beam:Mobile will allow us to get right to the heart of towns, cities and communities, helping people make better places,” says Executive Director Robert Powell. “And it’s not just for Beam. The Mobile will also be available for use by local authorities and others. Having achieved a remarkable design. we’re now interested in talking to anybody who’d like to help us bring this exciting project to completion.”
Beam on Wheels
Beam:Mobile and other mobile structures
Beam Gallery, The Orangery, Wakefield
15 December – 13 February
09:30 – 16:30
Further information about the exhibition:
Juliet Burke on 01924 215550 or juliet@beam.uk.net
The Orangery, Back Lane, Wakefield, Yorkshire, WF1 2TG

Engaging Places, which is being called the ‘world’s biggest teaching resource’ was launched on January 14th
Engaging Places is the most comprehensive guide ever created to help schools teach by using buildings and places around them. The online resource allows teachers to access a nationwide directory of organisations and venues including museums, architecture centres and historic buildings, and the ambition is that all schools will be using Engaging Places within two years.
www.engagingplaces.org.uk

Threefold Architects and Jason Bruges Studio have just presented their final designs for Beam Mobile --- our initiative to take creative learning resources and activities out on the road.
Early in 2008 Beam launched an International Design Competition, funded by Arts Council England and CABE, to produce an innovative, dynamic and highly interactive mobile facility that would stimulate creative engagement, learning and participation.

Judges including Wayne Hemingway and Irena Bauman chose the winning design from over 40 international entries. The design is for an unfolding wedge-shaped structure that offers exterior and interior spaces as well as ‘place portraits’ --- information technology that ‘gathers’ information about the sites it travels to.

“It’s not just for Beam,” says Executive Director Robert Powell. Once fabricated, the Mobile will potentially be available for others to hire and use. We’d be interested in talking to anybody who’d like to help us bring this exciting project to completion.
To see their winning design board, download the attached pdf

Beam Partner Strata Homes has won the status of preferred developer for the first site in Wakefield Council’s new housing initiative --- the Girnhill Lane Estate in Featherstone. This follows on Strata being named to the Council’s Housing Developer Framework.
Two other Beam Partners --- DLA Architecture and Knapton & Knapton --- are also part of the successful bid. And as part of the high profile team, Beam will be managing the project’s community consultation, learning and arts strategy.
Andrew Weaver, Managing Director of Strata, said \"Everyone at Strata is thrilled to have been chosen. Strata believes in shaping places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. Our team forged some strong working relationships with our partners during the bid process and we are committed to the regeneration of the Girnhill Lane estate.”

Strata will now start work on a planning application with the aim of commencing on site in the near future.