Culture Collective exists to represent and advocate for the cultural sector in Kirklees. We do this by:
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Bridging the gap between cultural organisations, the local authority and other key policy makers, funders and governing bodies
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Providing opportunity for discussion, building relationships, collaboration and collective action around sector specific and place-based priorities
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Working to increase representation within the sector
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Sharing knowledge and information
We’re so pleased to have received funding from Arts Council England for the next phase of Our Biennale, the Kirklees arts festival for children and young people. And it’s time to get busy working with partners to explore how the festival can be shaped not just for young people but with them at the forefront of the decision-making.
Under the Culture Collective banner, Our Biennale is led by The Children’s Art School in partnership with Lawrence Batley Theatre and organisations across the Culture Collective network and it will bring children and young people together with artists across Kirklees. Their ideas will help shape creative work and two public event days:
21 November at the Packhorse in Huddersfield
and 12 December at Dewsbury Arcade
This year is a research and development phase. This means making space to listen and test ideas and learn from young people before developing a larger Kirklees-wide Biennale in 2028.
Previous Biennale events have brought new artistic experiences to thousands of children across Kirklees and now we’re exploring how to give them a greater role in shaping the festival itself.
We want children and young people to have a real say in what happens, from the ideas explored with artists to the way work is shared in public spaces. A Young Producers programme for 16-to-21-year-olds will help us test how young people can influence decisions about the festival and the cultural life of the town, rather than simply being asked for their views once plans are already in place.
The programme will include seven artist commissions and conversations with children and young people in schools and community settings. There will also be a particular focus on those who have had fewer opportunities to take part in the arts.
The November and December events will be the perfect opportunity to share what emerges from these discussions and see the young people’s ideas take shape.
Inside the Culture Collective
Dr Chloë Whitehead on Culture & Heritage in Kirklees
In this episode, host Dr Milton Brown sits down with Dr Chloë Whitehead, leader of the Kirklees Culture Collective, to explore how collaboration across the cultural sector is driving meaningful change for communities across the region.
A Kirklees Local TV (KLTV) production
CULTURE COLLECTIVE
EVENTS
- OUR NEXT EVENT WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON -
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Celebrate the incredible diversity of art and culture happening across Kirklees
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Demonstrate the power of culture to improve lives and place
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Connect with local artists and creators open to collaboration and developing new ideas for change
Watch now to see how Kirklees' creative community is coming together to make a lasting impact!
Check out the Culture Collective blog here
WHAT PEOPLE SAID ABOUT OUR EVENT...
Culture Collective is a really great opportunity for us to come together and create a really robust network to help build the cultural infrastructure for Kirklees in the future.
Dr Rowan Bailey,
University of Huddersfield
Culture Collective is something that I’ve been yearning to be in the room with for a long time. This is phenomenal. The energy in the room, the way people are engaging, the projects that are happening and the level of the projects are exactly what Huddersfield needs.
Benaiah Matheson,
artist and designer
The creative sector within Kirklees is an absolutely thriving sector. There’s lots of people employed in it, the financial value of the sector is huge. It’s the fastest growing sector in Kirklees.
Robin Widdowson, Kirklees Council Cultural Development
STRUCTURE
The collective meet quarterly, in person, with an agenda decided by the members. The quarterly meetings raise relevant subjects of interest to the members. From these discussions, subgroups self-select depending on their interest, expertise and knowledge. The subgroups then convene between quarterly meetings to plan, set actions and move projects forward, before feeding back at the next meeting. This structure means the collective, although large, can be dynamic and influential.
As well as the people who attend the quarterly meetings, we have a list of contacts who receive any correspondence from the Collective and can join any subgroup as is appropriate.
We encourage all our members to take part in the Collective only as is beneficial both mutually and individually.
MEMBERSHIP
The Collective membership consists of professional artists, arts organisations, creative businesses and initiatives, Kirklees Council, the University of Huddersfield and Arts Council England.
We operate an open-door policy for anyone who feels they could benefit from the aims and ethos of the Collective.
If you would like to attend a meeting or add your name to the list of members, please contact Culture Collective:
