Wainsgate Newsletter Summer Issue

At Wainsgate, we seek to celebrate the heritage of this historic chapel by engaging in creative projects that will breathe new life into the building and the surrounding area. The Wainsgate Trustees, committee members and volunteers aim to provide enriching cultural and heritage experiences for all those who visit this special space.

Workers’ Memorial Day

This April, Wainsgate Chapel commemorated International Workers' Memorial Day. This special event included an opening speech by local councilor Sarah Courtney, poetry, music, a minute’s silence, singing and a seed sowing in which those present had the chance to scatter some wild flower seeds in memory of those lost. Wainsgate is currently planning to create a ‘Garden for Lost Workers’ as a more permanent space where people can remember those that died as a consequence of their work. You can read more about the plans for this project on our website in the Lost Workers section, or in the first issue of our newsletter which you can also find on our website.

Wainsgate Music

It’s been a busy couple of months for Wainsgate Music, our series of concerts hosted by Dave Nelson. March saw wonderful performances from Alyssium and The Ruth Gardziel Trio. In April, we welcomed the Anglo-Alaskan duo Tania Opland and Mike Freeman. We also hosted The Lounge Society, whose band members grew up in the Calder Valley and who performed to a sit-down audience, especially for Wainsgate. In May we hosted contemporary folk singer, Sarah McQuaid, followed by the New Orleans piano player, Dale Storr.

Stephen Lovell, who attended The Lounge Society performance, said:

‘Last night I had the absolute privilege of watching one of the best bands around right now, the Lounge Society. These local heroes performed an hour long set showcasing lots of incredible new material, alongside some classic faves from their immense Tired Of Liberty LP. They very much echo the charm of their neighbourhood.

The venue choice was epic too! Wainsgate is an old Baptist chapel up a height in the heart of the old town. The acoustics in there are breath-taking. This was as much an experiment for the venue as for the band themselves. Recent performances have been a wide variety of spoken word and folk music. The audience was a real diverse mix of locals who were all absolutely enthralled by the soundscapes that these lads produced!

The band were absolutely on fire throughout. They were filled with a mix of huge excitement and some nervousness in unleashing such a clutch of new material which is a bit of a departure from their debut LP, while maintaining that special shape shifting mood music and thoughtful politically charged poetry that is very much them.’

More to come from WAINSGATE MUSIC

This summer, the Wainsgate Concert series continues to delight audiences with three performances : Shirley Smart Trio on 11th June, Trio Chuva on 17th June and Kim Moore on 30th July.

Shirley Smart Trio draws on an eclectic background to bring together her jazz, blues and world music influences. She is joined by John Crawford, one of the UK’s leading jazz pianists, who shares her interest in Latin and world influenced jazz, and by long term collaborator and flamenco master Demi Garcia Sabat on percussion.

Chuva was initially founded in 2018 by Rafael Onyett and Borna Kuca, and became a trio in 2022 with double bassist George Burrage joining the band. They quickly developed a strong musical chemistry and have since performed frequently throughout the UK and particularly in the North of England at such venues as Wakefield Cathedral and Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall and Whitworth Art Gallery.

Wainsgate Dances

Residencies

Wainsgate Dances is an internationally connected artist-led programme of workshops, artist residencies and performances. Throughout the summer dance makers will come to Wainsgate and use their time in the studio as an opportunity to work on ideas for new performances, or to develop and deepen the work they do. The artists often share their work in progress for local residents, so if you’re interested in coming along, send us an email at wainsgatedances@gmail.com

And to give you some idea of where things go after they’ve been developed at Wainsgate, here are 3 examples of recent residencies:

Artist and dance maker Florence Peake came to Wainsgate last year in order to develop ideas for Factual Actual, which was then performed at The National Gallery and is now on at Southwark Park Galleries until 2nd July. Factual Actual recently given a 5 star review in the Guardian. If you would like to know more you can visit the website here southwarkparkgalleries.org/florence-peake/

Award winning poet Kim Moore studied music and for several years was a trumpet teacher. From first lessons through to music college, from teaching the trumpet in schools and running a brass band, right through to playing in working men’s clubs in a ten-piece soul band, these are vivid and immediate snapshots. They’re also mediative and often funny, always open to experience and clear-eyed about the vagaries of class-prejudice and the intricacies of gender in a predominantly male world.

You can find information and tickets in the Music section of the wainsgate.co.uk website.

Dancer Temitope Ajose-Cutting came to Wainsgate in December to work on Lady M (at Home with Lady Macbeth)a piece which uses the words, implications, narrative and psychological states of Lady Macbeth to tell Temitope’s own personal story. She treated local residents to a wonderful in-progress performance in December. The finished show is now on at the Place Theatre in London from 11th-13th May and will be touring later this year and in 2024. We are hoping Temi will perform the final piece at Wainsagte later in the autumn. We also had Eve Stainton just a couple of months ago. They came to Wainsgate to work on ideas for a performance called Impact Driver supported by Sadlers Wells Theatre, where they are currently continuing their work on it. The performance, which includes a great and diverse group of performers, and also incorporates angle grinders and welding machines, will be touring internationally next year.

More to come to WAINSGATE DANCES

The Rest of Our Lives on Friday 16th June

The Rest of Our Lives from Jo Fong and George Orange is a joyful dose of dance, theatre, circus and games, a wonderful performance which has been touring nationally and picking up great reviews along the way. Jo is an old dancer, George an old clown. International artists with 100 years of life experience between them, armed with a soundtrack of floor-fillers, a book of raffle tickets and a sprinkling of eco-friendly optimism. Amongst the many rave reviews, the Guardian gave it 4 stars and said “Fong and Orange have found a blueprint for happily living the rest of our lives” Book your tickets now - follow the link via the What’s Happening page on our website “Whatever your age, it will make you very happy indeed.” Lyn Gardner Stage Door

Drift Paper Tender Stone Thursday 13th July

On Thursday 13th July, as part of Hebden Bridge Arts Open Space 70, Charlie Ford and Lucy Suggate will present their performance installation Drift Paper Tender Stone. Part exhibition, part performance, the duo performed this piece at Wainsgate last year. It was a mesmerizing show that held the audience spellbound. They create boulders out of paper and their bodies visibly transform through the course of the piece. It’s great to have them back again. Tickets are available via the Hebden Bridge Arts website. There will be more performances announced soon. Keep an eye on our website for information or subscribe to our newsletter.

Old Town Primary School Dance Workshops with Northern Rascals

In July, locally based dance company Northern Rascals will lead a very physical movement workshop with the children of Old Town Primary School as part of Wainsgate Chapel’s ongoing relationship with the school. Based in Yorkshire, Northern Rascals are renowned for their raw poetic interpretation of today’s world. They are celebrated for their dedication to using Northern voices at the heart of what they do. Past workshops have proved to be hugely popular with the school, and helped the children harness their energy and imagination in creative ways, to work as a team, build their confidence, improve their fitness as well as communication skills.

DANCE WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS

We have two workshops coming up this summer with internationally respected movement teachers. One is with Nita Little from the USA 2nd-4th June, and another with Kirstie Simson and Charlie Brittain 27th-30th July. Have a look at the workshops in the Wainsgate Dances section of our website for more information and booking.

Hebden Bridge Open Studios Weekend

The Hebden Bridge Open Studios at Wainsgate is always one of the highlights of our year. An inspiring array of vibrant pieces created with skill and passion are displayed throughout the building. Join us on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July to see what our resident artists have been working on. As usual, a selection of delicious home-made cakes will be available as well as hot drinks and a bar. Artists exhibiting their work this year include Kathryn Baker, Sally Dawson, Amanda Farrell, Charlie Ford and Rob Hopper. Find out more information on the Hebden Bridge Open Studios website.

Wadsworth Walking Market

The Wadsworth Walking Markets have become an important part of our local community life, where makers sell their work across four venues - Old Town Primary School, Wadsworth Community Centre, Old Town Cricket Club and Wainsgate Chapel. People come from far and wide to explore the amazing range of local creations available, including clothing, jewellery, ceramics, painting and stationery. Plenty of tea and home-made cakes are also available. The markets have been created and nurtured with great passion by local residents Claudette Roberts and Rachel Stott - and the proceeds help a different local charity each year. The next market will be held on Sunday 11th June 11am-4pm

People of Wainsgate

Wainsgate Artists

Alan Coulson

Wainsgate Volunteers

Nick Dent

Nick is one of our treasured volunteers without whom the chapel and its ground would not be as well taken care of as it is right now.

He joined the Wainsgate gardening team this year, after his wife was laid to rest in the Wainsgate graveyard. Nick’s knowledge and skills as a former Head Gardener for a Hospice makes his contribution invaluable and deeply appreciated. He shared with us that Wainsgate “is such a beautiful and peaceful space both inside and out, with a great bunch of people involved in its care.”

Wainsgate Chapel is fortunate to have Nick as a volunteer, and we are thankful for all his hard work.

Alan is a painter and studio holder at Wainsgate Chapel. He has exhibited in both the UK and US, and has received critical acclaim, including the prestigious BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery London, where in 2012 he was awarded third prize for his portrait of Richie Culver. Alan has a deep affection and respect for the community at Wainsgate Chapel which he describes as hardworking and committed. ‘There is a very sincere love for Wainsgate, and as a studio holder I feel very fortunate that so many people put their time and energy into the place.’ – he told us during a studio visit.

Currently offering one to one mentorship sessions - you'd be hard pressed to find someone more experienced or qualified than him when it comes down to getting creative advice! He also offers some online classes through a prestigious online art platform. If you want to know more, you can contact him

alancoulsonartist@gmail.com.