Creative arts workshops held to inspire future generations

Fun and exciting creative events are “taking over” Craven Arts House throughout September thanks to vital funding.

Young people aged from 13 to 30 are being invited to The Imaginarium’s Takeover project at Craven Arts House in Skipton, where they will participate in a variety of workshops, events, exhibitions with music and browse around the paintings, drawings, visual, digital arts and literature on show.

In addition to the artistic workshops, there will be an audio-visual Bookwatching experience and an arts bazaar featuring a collection of Imaginarium artists selling art, fashion, jewellery and plants for the youths to get a taste of the creative sector.

Organised by the Craven Arts Charitable Trust, the aim of the month-long event, which has been made possible thanks to a donation of £800 from North Yorkshire councillor David Noland’s annual grant budget, is to give a place to an alternative youth culture to bloom in Skipton and enable local youths to achieve their creative aspirations and go on to realise their true potential with the help of skilled professionals.

Each North Yorkshire Council member has a budget of £10,000 per year to allow them to respond to local needs by support specific community-led activities. Each councillor is responsible for determining how they wish to use the budget.

Cllr Noland said: “I was very pleased to be asked by Craven Arts House to support their Takeover project this month (September), which is being led by the creative group Imaginarium from Leeds.

“Craven District Council, of which I was a member, supported the establishment of Craven Arts House to complement everything else that goes on in the area, but in particular we wanted to offer spaces to young people in and around the Skipton area where they could work on their creative ideas, collectively or individually.

“Anyone can get involved, so please sign up for your chance to explore and enjoy the varied and exciting courses on offer.”

The project is being led by local digital artist Virpi Kettu, of the Craven Arts Charitable Trust. She said: “I’m very pleased to be asked by Craven Arts to oversee the project, which will create opportunities for younger people and a positive impact on the cultural atmosphere in the local Dales areas.

“The aim is to delight all audiences and show that Skipton and surrounding areas have opportunities for local and national future-facing youth culture.

“Craven Arts and The Imaginarium would like to thank Cllr David Noland and North Yorkshire Council for their kind support for making this important and extraordinary cultural Takeover project month possible.” 

Situated in Otley Street, Skipton, Craven Arts House features creative studio spaces, an education room for art and craft courses, a meeting room, community hall and a “green screen” room. There is also a suite of soundproof music rooms aimed at young people and available to hire.

Previously a school, the North Yorkshire Council-owned building was given a new lease of life after funding from the Government's Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) project, the Arts Council, and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which paid for the installation of solar panels, plus match-funding from the legacy Craven District Council.

You can find out more about the events/workshops being held throughout September and how to book at https://www.cravenarts.co.uk/workshops online.