Performances and creative events at this year’s Holmfirth Arts Festival will be spread over eight months from April to October 2022.
Instead of cramming everything into one weekend, the excellent and varied programme will run at several venues and places, with the stunning backdrop of the Holme Valley used to full advantage to help celebrate this year’s theme ‘The Earth Beneath Our Feet’.
Thanks to funding from Arts Council England, Kirklees Council, Holme Valley Parish Council, Longley Farm and others, festival organisers have invited top quality, diverse, local, national and international artists to respond to the topic of the landscape and environment.
The traditional festival weekend will still take place in the centre of Holmfirth on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June with FREE performances in and around Holmside Gardens.
Scenic walks with a difference are taking place to include storytelling and activity and two experimental projects will explore quarries and reservoirs as performance venues and a day of music performed by local people and professionals in Holmside Gardens promises a fun day out on Saturday 18 June.
Spectacular street theatre returns to the streets on Sunday June 19, with premieres of new shows from Highly Sprung performance – who brought the town to a halt with Urban Astronaut last year and Mind the Gap – both shows highlight climate change issues.
Festival director Bev Adams said: “There will be something for all ages and we want people to join in and share their own creativity. There are opportunities to join Holmfirth Beats new percussion band with Katie Mallard, help make an outdoor art trail and work with Dan Prior to perform as a soul choir. There is also an opportunity to learn to make your own digital music with Josh Haslam of Jam Factory.”
Other Holmfirth Arts Festival events throughout the year include:
Guitar sensation Jon Gomm at Hepworth Church on Saturday 28 May at 7.30pm Info here: https://www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk/event-details/jon-gomm-music
Riverside Winds wind quintet at Hepworth Church on Saturday 9 July at 7.30pm Info here: https://www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk/event-details/riverside-winds-music
Clouds Harp Quartet at New Mill, 56 Sude Hill, on Friday 5 August at 7.30pm Info here: https://www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk/event-details/clouds-harp-quartet-music
Cliff Quarry Outdoor Performance, Holmfirth, Saturday 27 August 7pm. The aerial dance performance on a cliff face is free but must be booked in advance
Info here: https://www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk/event-details/on-cliff-quarry-outdoor-performance
Comedian Gary Delaney at Holmfirth Civic Hall on Friday 2 September at 7.30pm
Info here: https://www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk/event-details/gary-in-punderland-by-gary-delaney-comedy
Holmfirth Arts Festival 2022 details here www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk
