Calderdale Council willing to support reopening of arts centre but hands tied
Plus, cultural festival returns to borough this weekend
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Calderdale Lead.
I’m sure we all started the week with a spring in our step thanks to the Lionesses’ amazing penalty shootout win over Spain in the Euros on Sunday!
I caught some of the victory parade on TV yesterday and it was brilliant to see so many young girls (and boys) out on the streets to celebrate.
Hopefully, that will create a lasting legacy and get even more youngsters into the beautiful game.
In today’s edition, we take a look at calls to bring the Chapel Square Arts Centre back and how Calderdale Council MAY be able to help.
Plus, we’ve got details of the return of a popular festival which returns to the borough this week.
So, on with the news…
Council chief to meet campaigners over Chapel Square Arts Centre future
By John Greenwood
Town Hall bosses in Calderdale say they back the reopening of Halifax’s troubled Square Chapel Arts Centre.
But they say their hands are effectively tied because they have no control over the owner of the building or any potential operator.
Following the sudden closure of the centre in February, a question mark has hung over the future of the building, with worried patrons wanting to know what is in store.
The centre had admitted before closure that there were “a number of artists” who had not been paid following performances there.
A petition organised by Equity trade union seeking to secure the reopening of the building has been signed by 2,000 people and almost 100 recently attended a public meeting to rally support.
A number of questions were asked at a meeting of the full council by members of the public about what its role might be.
Pete Keal said before Arts Council England (ACE) and the council agreed to Square Chapel Community Interest Company (CIC) letting the centre to the neighbouring Piece Hall to use as “green rooms” for its summer series of concerts, there seemed to be an expectation the CIC would vacate the building and hand over the keys to ACE.
“If Square Chapel CIC does not do so once this letting has ended, does ACE have the power to repossess the building?
“If so, would the council urge ACE to exercise this power?” he said.
Sandra Shearn and Janet Mace both said they had enjoyed arts and social events at the centre and were worried about its future.
Ms Mace asked: “What are the proposals for the centre in future and what opportunities will the general public have to examine these proposals and voice their opinions?”
And Anthony Shaw asked if council Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities, Coun Danielle Durrans, would meet representatives of the Save The Square Chapel For The People campaign and work with them to re-establish it as an arts centre “with good community links and outreach.”
Responding, Coun Durrans said she would meet with the recently-established campaign group.
She said: “I am absolutely willing to meet representatives from the group with a council officer.
“The council’s role would be to advocate for Square Chapel to be brought back into use as an arts centre.
“The council doesn’t have any direct influence over the owner or operator of Square Chapel or over Arts Council England, which has a charge over the building.”
Replying to Ms Shearn and Ms Mace, she said the council does not own Square Chapel although there are two pieces of council land leased to the CIC.
“Arts Council England would have primary responsibility for taking decisions on future use or disposals with the owner and any administrator, receiver or other insolvency practitioner that may be appointed.
“Officers are aware of the current position in respect of the operator and have been in discussion with Arts Council England representatives on the future of the building.
“Whilst the council would like to be involved and support the decisions on the future of the arts centre, it doesn’t have any direct responsibility for the process or how it will be managed,” she said.
Coun Durrans told Mr Keal: “The council is very keen to see Square Chapel brought back into use as an arts centre for the borough and we are in contact with the Arts Council to try and encourage a resolution that achieves this as an outcome.”
Popular culture festival returns to People’s Park in Halifax
By Andrew Greaves
Halifax is gearing up for a day of cultural celebration on Sunday with the return of the popular People’s Park Festival.
The festival was restarted during last year’s Year of Culture and will this year feature a rich mix of film, food, performances and music as a celebration of South Asian Heritage Month.
The free festival, which is on between 11am and 8pm, has been produced as a partnership between the Council, Radio Sangam and the local community, and will bring inclusive entertainment for all the family.
The Year of Culture 2024 team brought back the much-loved People’s Park Festival last year in response to local people being keen to see it reinstated. The festival was an annual summer fixture over 20 years ago, known for bringing people together from across Calderdale.
In keeping with CultureDale’s focus on community and homegrown talent, there will be plenty of local performers, suppliers and stallholders.
Cllr Danielle Durrans, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, said: “When we brought back the iconic People’s Park Festival as part of the Year of Culture 2024, we were blown away with the response. People came along to the event in their thousands, and it was a real celebration of the diversity of Calderdale’s culture.
“Seeing it return this year is testament to the success and legacy of the Year of Culture, opening up inclusive events and cultural experiences to more people.
“We are proud to showcase Calderdale’s longstanding tradition of inclusion and togetherness.”
For more information click here
That’s all for this edition!
I’ll be back in your inboxes at the weekend but don’t forget, if there’s something you’d like me to cover - or you have an event you want us to promote - then don’t hesitate to drop me a line at calderdale@thelead.uk.
Until the weekend, have a great week!
Andrew