Artlink West Yorkshire

As we come to the end of another hard week of social distancing and self isolation why not make a cuppa, sit down and enjoy looking at our new book Moving On, showcasing our three-year project running from 2017 – 2020 and funded through The National Lottery Community Fund, Reaching Communities.
Please visit our website https://artlinkwestyorks.org and view the book in the Publications section of the Projects page https://artlinkwestyorks.org/publications
We hope you enjoy and stay healthy and safe.

Spring has finally arrived and we hope the recent sunshine and the arrival of longer days may help to lift all of our spirits and bring some much needed cheerfulness at this time.
We would also like to bring you our own joyousness as we proudly announce the publication of our new book, MOVING ON 2017 - 2020.
Moving On was a three-year project running from 2017 – 2020 and funded through The National Lottery Community Fund, Reaching Communities. This project was a development f...rom Get Started which ran from 2014 – 2017. Over the 3 years of Moving On we worked with over 150 people with learning and physical disabilities, older people living with dementia and adults with mental health issues. Together we worked with professional artists to explore a vast array of artistic media. The motivation for this work was to develop skills, increase confidence, connect more with others as well as the local community and to raise aspirations. This beautiful publication is a snapshot of the three years bringing together photographs, writings, quotes and artwork
Thank you to everyone who was involved with the project!
Please visit our website https://artlinkwestyorks.org and view the book in the Publications section of the Projects page https://artlinkwestyorks.org/publications and if you would like to receive a hard copy get in touch.
We would love you to enjoy, share and give us your thoughts and comments and we send our best wishes for everyone to say safe and well.
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As the Artlink team work from home we are sending our thoughts and best wishes to you, your family, friends and colleagues and hope you are staying well and keeping safe whilst navigating a way through these difficult times.
We have been remembering our wonderful Moving On Symposium which took place prior to the social distancing measures came into effect and we would like you to share and enjoy some beautiful memories of the day with us.
Thank you again to our partners and everyone who came to the Moving On Symposium which was part of our Moving On project.

All Aboard! It was a day of adventure on Monday as our Richmond Hill group took the Worth Valley steam train from Keighley to Oxenhope. It was a magical experience as we all stepped back in time for the afternoon as well as a chance to see the wonderful Yorkshire landscape slowly pass by. For many of us this was our first time on the train but we all agreed that it was an experience we would definitely be doing again.
This trip was part of the group's exploration of journeys... and in particular their friendship with penpal 'Erin' whose been writing to them from afar on her travels, we shall see where she heads to next!
This trip was all part of our Moving On project.
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Social Theatre of the Affects’ Workshop for arts professionals, focusing on professional challenges and ‘burn-out' - Here at Artlink we are excited to be holding this workshop with the esteemed facilitator Dr Kelly Bertolli on Friday 31st January 2020 (9.45am - 4pm). It is a one off opportunity since Dr Bartolli has come over especially from Brazil to deliver this work. She specialises is working on the technique of Theatre of the Oppressed which is a form of Forum Theatre first introduced by Augusto Boal. It uses a democratic theatre technique to explore issues that are relevant to the group taking part. Contact us for more information or to book yourself a place.

On a voyage of dance, zoetropes, animation & textiles. Discovering artists Duchamp, Riley, Pollack & Balla. Residents across 4 Leeds care homes joined our artists to laugh, sing & have fun together. Thank you!

With microscopes, torches and viewing tools Bramley Fulfilling Lives explored the Life on Earth exhibition at Leeds City Museum. There were animals, light displays, touch and feel stations, wildlife sounds and dark corners to investigate. The group listened in awe and wonder as Neil spoke (one of the support workers) bringing the exhibitions to life.
Moving onto the large hall with the huge map of Leeds in the centre of the floor we continued our journey. The group searche...d for different villages and towns, finding roads, rivers, lakes and fields. Ellie (one of our artists) asked the group to imagine Leeds as an island, we discovered that around the island was an ocean with a huge whale with a polka dot tail.
Our trip ended with an exploration of the Voices of Asia room, bringing our adventure to other lands to a close.
This visit was part of our Moving On project and tied into the theme of exploring different continents with the group led by artists Kim (movement and dance) and Ellie (drama and movement) throughout.
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There is still time to apply for the post of part-time senior administrator here at Artlink West Yorkshire. If you would like to work for a small, innovative arts and health organisation then we would love to hear from you. For a full job description, person specification together with details of how to apply please contact info@artlinkwestyorks.org. Closing date for applications is 25th November at 12pm.

Would you like to work for a small innovative arts and health charity funded by Arts Council England as part of their National Portfolio? If so we would like to hear from you! We are looking for a part time senior administrator (18 hrs per week) to join our small team here at Artlink. This is a key role within our organisation and if you would like further details then please drop us a line at info@artlinkwestyorks.org Closing date for applications is Monday 25th November at 12pm and interviews to be held on Monday 9th December.

Bertha was the main focal point for the Moving On Celebration Event at Northern Ballet – so we wanted to expand on her creation.
Artists Jim Bond and Freya Harwood Bond designed and built the framework for Bertha from withy willow at both Artlink and Jim’s studio in Mirfield. She is immense in structure measuring over 15ft tall and provided a great framework for participants to attach their artwork too.
Wheeling her out from backstage at Northern Ballet she was met with wond...er and whoops of delight as performer Michelle Scally Clarke accompanied her arrival with prose written by everyone present. Her movable arms allowed her to dance to the music and move about the room with ease.
Her next appearance will be at the Moving On Symposium at Weetwood Hall in March 2020 and from there …. who knows!
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Moving On Celebration
What a day! On 17th October we all came together to celebrate the Moving On project at Northern Ballet’s wonderful venue.
Over a hundred of us weaved, painted, wrote, printed, sang, danced and laughed together as we gradually built the wonder that is Bertha, a giant wicker woman who appeared for the grand finale. One of our artists, Michelle, gathered prose throughout the morning to produce the poem below which accompanied Bertha’s arrival.
... This was both a joyous and moving day as we move closer towards the end of the project. It was a day of memories which we shall hold for many years to come.
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'Mesmerising.' Just one of the quotes about our Light Night Leeds installation 'Flow'. Created with Naburn Court and Crossgates Day Centres and artists Rozi Fuller, Jim Bond, Ed Martin and Freddie Ricketts. All part of our Moving On Project. Aspire CBS The National Lottery Community Fund Arts Council England

Come along this Friday evening and immerse yourself in this dynamic, moving animation created for Light Night Leeds. One not to be missed!

Autumn is here and so is our autumn newsletter! Read all about what Artlink is up to here: https://mailchi.mp/477a44c7c341/our-lates t-news

Last Thursday our LiLAC group took a trip to the National Science and Media Museum immersing themselves in the ‘Hello Universe’ and ‘Wonderlab’ exhibitions. For all of the group this was the first time they had been to the museum. Getting lost in mirrored labyrinths, making waves with sounds and altering frequencies – it was a feast for the senses! All part of our Moving On project, bringing together individuals with learning disabilities and professional artists across Leeds.

Studio 3 took advantage of a glorious autumnal day last week to visit Salts Mill and 'The Arrival of Spring' exhibition by David Hockney. One room in this vast Victorian factory space exhibited large prints of Hockney’s paintings created on an iPad. These are all paintings of countryside close to Hockney’s studio in Woldgate, near Bridlington, East Yorkshire. Painted between 1st January & 31st March 2011.
Studio 3 spent some time taking in the landscapes as well as the mill itself. It has inspired the group to explore iPad drawing and painting themselves, so watch this space!