Thousands tuned in to the first ever digital Harrogate Literature Festival this past weekend.
The festival was forced to be streamed online due to the coronavirus pandemic, but organisers say the event was still a success.
Viewers tuned in to the free programme of 17 events, with the digital delivery allowing book lovers from across the UK to engage with prominent writers, politicians and journalists.
Among those who gave talks were author Matt Haig, classicist Natalie Haynes and Labour MPs Jess Phillips and David Lammy.
Although the events moved online, Harrogate International Festivals, the arts charity behind the literature festival wanted to keep the community at the heart of the project.
Hundreds of stories were submitted to the 10 Word Story competition, and over hundred books were gifted in the Raworth’s Blind Date With a Book initiative.
As author talks began, literature came to life in Harrogate with a light installation in the form of a book. The story of Harrogate, 10 word stories and traditional tales were illuminated on its pages.
The story of Harrogate was illuminated on the book’s pages.
Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, said:
“The light of human stories and the power of books certainly shone through, breaking down barriers of isolation and reaching new audiences, demonstrating the importance of festival in our cultural landscape.
“Ticket sales are normally a huge part of our income, but this year’s events were all free of charge. We thank those audience members who donated to our arts charity in lieu of tickets, helping us work towards bridging the financial gap, the first step to securing the future of Harrogate International Festivals.
“This was an extraordinary festival for an unpreceded year, and whilst we celebrate the success of the event – taking Harrogate to the world – in order for our arts charity to survive we need to be able to welcome the world to Harrogate. Whether that will be possible in 2021 we just don’t know.”
Traditional tales shone on Friday and Saturday night.
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Image Gallery: Brackenfield School pupils create art with 100 leaves
A collaboration with a local artist has seen Harrogate pupils challenged to create works of art from 100 leaves.
The autumnal project asked Brackenfield School students and their families to use fallen leaves to produce an artistic piece, pattern or design.
Open to all year groups, the competition saw year 6 pupil Harry crowned the winner by artist James Brunt.
A lion’s mane of leaves
An autumnal hedgehog
The winning entry, by Harry
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A cheery sunflower
A seasonal heart
Local artist Jos Haigh will sell her work at a preview event to raise money for Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity.
The event, at the Cedar Court Hotel in Harrogate on November 27, will showcase Ms Haigh’s vibrant wildlife art while also generating funds for the charity.
One hundred percent of the sale prices will go to the charity, which funds specialist equipment, training and services at Harrogate District Hospital outside what the NHS provides.
The charity recently funded colouring and art materials for patients at the hospital during the pandemic.
People who attend the preview event will have the opportunity to meet Ms Haigh, who lives in Harrogate and exhibits all over the country, as well as enjoy mince pies and mulled wine.
Christmas gifts and the charity’s newly launched 2021 calendar will also be on sale.
Ms Haigh told the Stray Ferret her works of art had been in a gallery in York for three weeks but lockdown had restricted viewings so she decided to donate them to the charity. She added:
“I chose to donate these paintings after the extremely tough year HDFT has had dealing with a global pandemic as well as the usual challenges that healthcare brings.
“I wanted to say a rainbow thank you to my local NHS trust for all it has done and continues to do.”
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Sammy Lambert, business development, charity and volunteer manager at HHCC, said:
“We are so grateful for this incredible donation of paintings from Jos. They are beautiful and will brighten up people’s homes, even more so in the knowledge that they are supporting their local NHS.”
The preview evening is free to attend but tickets must but pre-booked. To get one, email hdft.hhcc@nhs.net.
If you can’t make the evening, Ms Haigh’s paintings are available to view and purchase here.
Art exhibition raises money for Harrogate cancer centre
An artist with terminal cancer is staging an exhibition to raise funds for a local charity that has been treating her illness.
Sharon Tinayre Carrick, a much-loved art teacher from Harrogate, wanted to raise money for the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre at Harrogate District Hospital.
Ms Carrick was determined to support the staff that have helped her during several months of treatment.
Her exhibition at Art in the Mill in Knaresborough was initially planned for March but had to be postponed due to coronavirus.
Both Sharon and the gallery owner, Andy Grinter, were determined to continue with their plans at a later date.
Over 80% of the items in her solo exhibition have already sold, despite only opening on Thursday. The total raised currently stands at £4350.
Ms Carrick, who uses her middle name to sign her art, said:
“It’s wonderful that all this art is raising so much money. I think it will make a big difference to the centre, they tried really hard with me and it’s really important they’re supported.
These charities are really important. It’s the most positive thing in my life right now and to know so many people are supporting it is just wonderful.”
The ‘Was I Really There’ exhibition is a collection of pieces using different mediums, including some following a birthday trip to Venice with family.
Mr Grinter, owner of Art in the Mill, said:
“We have put an awful lot of work into this alongside Sharon, and she decided very early on it would be a fundraiser to thank people for their help. It’s gone far above and beyond what we were expecting. People have seized the opportunity to remember and to support Sharon. It was all her idea, energy and commitment and of course we have done all we can to support it.
“After lockdown it was all hands on deck to bring it together. It’s been a great success, it is a standing testament to the amount of goodwill and sentiment in the community.”
As an art teacher, Ms Carrick worked with students at Rossett Adult Learning and The Orb in Knaresborough.
Harrogate artist hopes for gallery showcase as lockdown easesA Harrogate artist is hoping for further recognition for his work as galleries begin to reopen following lockdown.
Andrew Moodie was a lawyer for 30 years before he changed career paths to pursue his love for art.
During lockdown, he has enjoyed the additional free time to explore the local countryside and paint. He now hopes to build on his skills and find a gallery to work alongside.
Mr Moodie said:
“I was a lawyer for 30 years but never felt like the right thing to be doing. It paid the bills but it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I can now just head out into the sun instead of staring at it out of a window. I go out quite a lot to find somewhere to paint but it’s not as easy it sounds. You need local knowledge to find the best places.”
Andrew is often taking his easel around the district to paint.
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Over lockdown, Andrew has been able to take part in online classes to improve his skills within different art forms. Now, he is hoping to take the next step in his new career. He said:
“I hope to get more recognition and improve my skills. You need that recognition to get a spot in a gallery but hopefully that will come with time. Being a lawyer, I had to be direct and precise but now I can just splash the paint on the canvas which is always fun.”
He also featured on the previous series of Sky Arts “Landscape Artist of the Year”. His work is currently sold through online platforms Artfinder, in the UK, and Singulart, based in Paris.
Gallery aims to ‘put Harrogate on the map’ for artA contemporary art gallery has relocated from Kirbymoorside to Harrogate.
Bils & Rye on John Street specialise in 3D works such as sculptures and ceramics, as well as abstract paintings. The owner said there’s room in the market and he hopes the move will add to Harrogate’s rich culture scene.
The owner, Nick Bentley, decided to move his gallery to Harrogate as a result of taking part in an arts festival in 2015. He told the Stray Ferret that Harrogate has great competition for art galleries and he would much rather position himself among his idols in the business.
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He said:
“Harrogate has always been a top destination and the strength of the competition here is brilliant. I think there’s room in the market. We have a very different offering to other galleries, yet I think we can work quite well together and put Harrogate on the map as an art destination.
The gallery will be selling sculptures by Simon Gudgen, as well as internationally acclaimed contemporary British painter Dion Salvador Lloyd.
Despite opening up during a pandemic, Nick told the Stray Ferret that covid has given him more opportunities. He said:
“For me, corona was like a gift of time – it really gave me time to think and realise that this is what I want to do. Because I am relocating the business it gave me chance to say ‘lets do it, but let’s do it right’.”
The gallery will open its doors for the first time in Harrogate this weekend and visitors are advised to pre book an appointment.
Young Ripon artists display work at Royal AcademyThree talented Ripon Grammar School artists have been selected from more than 17,700 students to have their paintings on display in a national exhibition.
The works by Isaac Henson, Hugo Wade and Milly Lennox will sit among those by 400 young artists picked by a panel of experts for the Royal Academy Summer Show, which launches online on July 12.
Milly, 15, from Ripon, said of her still life of a fish in acrylic:
“I really enjoyed using tone and texture and using my imagination to enhance the painting. I love being creative and find art a good break from other lessons, which don’t allow as much personal input.”
Isaac, 15, from near Kirkby Malzeard, enjoys exploring different forms and shapes and his painting of a building designed by architect Frank Gehry was chosen for the Royal Academy show.
Issac who is also from an artistic family hopes to continue creating art.
Young artist Hugo with his painting
Hugo, 13, from Studley Roger (pictured above) revealed that his painting was inspired by a photograph of a building in Ripon. He said:
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard I had been selected. It was very exciting.”
He would now like to go to art school and pursue a career in art, perhaps as a graphic designer.
Open to students up to 19 years old, the Young Artists’ exhibition, which provides a national platform to recognise particularly high quality student work, is now in its second year.
RGS head of art Fiona Henson said it was a real honour to be picked for such a prestigious national art show:
“We are thrilled to have three students selected and this was made even more special as we were determined lockdown was not going to stop our submission.”
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Supported by philanthropist Robin Hambro, the judging panel consisted of Royal Academician Cathie Pilkington, curator and head of the Royal Academy Schools, Eliza Bonham Carter and RA Schools students Catinca Malaimare and James Lomax.
Mr Hambro, said:
“It is such an important exhibition of artworks from young people, and the standard is very high. The enthusiasm for this exhibition shows how important art is for young minds and must always be a part of their educational life,”