During the pandemic Beam worked with Kirklees Council to produce a series of artist commissions for #HEARTyourtown – a creative response to brighten up Huddersfield and Dewsbury and enhance public spaces to be enjoyed in a socially distant way.

Beam produced a series of temporary sculptures by Kirklees’ artists reflecting the individual artists’ thoughts on themes such as climate change, healing and community resilience.

Artworks included the following – all featured in the short films below: Breathe Safe by Jane Howroyd in St George’s Square, Hope Springs Eternal by Angela Boycott-Garnett in St Peter’s Gardens and RISE by Helen Brook in Market Place, all in Huddersfield; and Urban Garden by Saba Rifat in front of the town hall in Dewsbury.

The Memorial Gardens in Dewsbury were turned into a beautiful ceramic meadow as part of Garden Stories by Ammie Flexen and Kathleen Yore. The displays of colourful clay flowers reflected how outdoor spaces, gardens and nature were really important to many of us during lockdown. Ammie and Kathleen drew inspiration from garden models created by the public and 300 children and their teachers took part in the project by making many of the clay flowers in their school bubbles. These works were also displayed in Huddersfield.

Beam also coordinated creative shop window displays by Temporary Contemporary tenants in the Piazza, Huddersfield featuring works from local artists connected with The West Yorkshire Print Workshop, Colourcity, ame, Collaborarti and The Children’s Art School + Chol Theatre.

Photo Credits: Kirklees Council + Bokehgo Film & Photography.

Breathe Safe by Jane Howroyd

Hope Springs Eternal by Angela Boycott-Garnett

RISE by Helen Brook

Urban Garden by Saba Rifat

Garden Stories by Ammie Flexen and Kathleen Yore

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