Freedom Performing Arts has opened new studios at the former Castle Girls School in Knaresborough.
The arts school, which has 380 students aged three to 18, has operated out of the town’s Aspin Park Academy since 2010.
It will continue to run two classes every night at Aspin as well as one nightly class at the new venue in Castle Yard.
Amy Meikle, principal at Freedom Performing Arts, received the keys for the new premises in December last year after plans to open a museum on the site fell through.
Students at Friday’s opening.
She said it cost £25,000 to fully restore the building, which had been empty since it hosted Knaresborough and Harrogate Dance Centre pre-covid.
A ribbon was cut to mark Friday’s opening, which was attended by retired well known local dance teacher Miss Wenda (pictured below), who taught ballet and tap at Freedom before retiring in 2016.
Ms Meikle said being in the Castle Yard, close to the town centre, made the school feel like part of the community:
“I have loved seeing all the new businesses open in Knaresborough this month with more on the way. The town seems to be thriving and we feel super proud to have brought part of our school into the heart of the town centre.
“It really is a dream come true, I can’t believe this is real and I’m so grateful to everyone in my life who has helped make this possible.”
The studio has been completely renovated.
How the building looked in December.
Freedom runs a wide range of classes including ballet, tap, street, jazz, musical theatre, modern and acrobatics.
The building holds a strong personal connection for Ms Meikle, who said:
“I was born and bred in Knaresborough and my mum actually attended school in this building back in the 1950s/60s so it really has come full circle.”
The school has been nominated for four awards at Saturday’s Knaresborough Business Awards, organised by Knaresborough Business Collective.
The two-storey former girls school also hosts the 1st Scriven Scout Group.
Guide to bonfire and fireworks displays in the Harrogate district
This story is sponsored by Belmont Grosvenor School which will be holding a Bonfire Night Party on Friday, November 4. There will be s’mores round the campfire, music, hot food, a licensed bar, stalls and more. Gates open at 6pm, the bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm and the firework display starts at 7.20pm.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate and cost £10 for adults (children under the age of 18 are free). Get them in advance by emailing kaye.walker@bewonder.co.uk.
Bonfire night is fast approaching so we have put together a list of events coming up in the Harrogate district.
They all take place over the weekend of November 4, 5 and 6.
Let us know if we have missed your event and we will add it to the list. Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk or call us on 01423 276197.
Belmont Grosvenor School Bonfire Party
Where: Belmont Grosvenor School, Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 2JG
When: 6pm start, 6.30pm fire lit, 7.20pm firework display
Tickets: £10 with children under the age of 18 entering for free
Ripon Rowels Rotary Charity Bonfire and Firework Display
Where: Ripon Racecourse, Boroughbridge Road, Ripon, HG4 1UG
When: 5.30pm start, 7pm fire lit, 7.30pm firework display
Tickets: adults £6, children £3, family (2 adult, 2 child) £12, under 3s free
Spofforth Village Firework Display
Where: Spofforth Cricket Ground, School Lane, Spofforth, HG3 1BA
When: Gates open 5pm, 7pm-7.15pm firework display.
Tickets: Family pre-paid £12:50 and on the gate £15. Adult pre-paid £4 and on the gate £5. Child pre-paid £2:50 and on the gate £3.
Swinton Bivouac Silent Bonfire Night
Where: Swinton Bivouac, Masham, Ilton, Ripon, HG4 4JZ
When: 6.30pm bonfire lit. There will be no fireworks or loud bangs.
Tickets: free entry, food and drinks available from the Bivouac Café
Aspin Park Academy Fireworks Night, Knaresborough
Where: School grounds
When: 5.15pm start, 6.30pm firework display
Tickets: Advance online booking – adults £4, children £3, family ticket £12, preschoolers free. On the gate – adults £5, children £4
Harrogate Stray Bonfire and Fireworks, Harrogate Round Table
Where: Oatlands Stray, Harrogate, HG1 1BJ
When: 5pm start (there will be entertainment), bonfire lit 5.30pm, 7.15pm firework display
Tickets: free entry, donations welcome
Upper Nidderdale Scouts Group Pateley Bonfire
Where: Pateley Bridge Showground
When: 6pm start, 6.30pm torchlit procession and bonfire lit, 7pm fireworks
Tickets: free entry, donations welcome
Kirkby Malzeard community village bonfire
Where: North Close Farm, Ripon Road, Kirkby Malzeard
When: 6pm start, 6.30pm bonfire lit, 7pm fireworks
Tickets: Free entry but donations welcome to fund next year’s event. Parking is available at North Close Farm. No sparklers allowed. Bring a torch.
Yolk Farm Bonfire and Burger Night – dog-friendly
Where: Yolk Farm, Minskip Road, Minskip, York, YO51 9HY
When: 5.30pm start, 6.30pm bonfire lit, no fireworks
Tickets: free entry for the event, advanced bookings only for Burger Night in the restaurant – 5:30pm and 8pm sittings
Staveley Arms Bonfire
Where: The Staveley Arms, Greenfields, North Stainley, Ripon, HG4 3HT
When: 6pm
Tickets: £5 per person to include a choice of hot dog or cup of soup
A seven-year-old boy from Knaresborough will be having his artwork shown at an exhibition at the Royal Academy in London this summer.
Conor Steward, who attends Aspin Park Academy in the town, won a competition entered by his school to have his drawing shown as part of the Young Artists’ Summer Show.
A panel of artists and arts professionals choose his drawing of a heron from thousands of submissions to join a selection of artworks displayed online and on-site at the Royal Academy of Arts.
His drawing of a heron was inspired by his love of wildlife, which has grown over the course of lockdown.
He previously had a drawing of an otter published after winning a competition in a children’s nature magazine.
Conor with his heron drawing, which will be shown at the Royal Academy in London in the summer
Conor said:
“I am so excited and happy about going to London to see my picture on display.”
Conor is allowed to sell his picture for £20 and wants to donate any money raised to Macmillan Cancer Support.
His piece was framed by Andy Grinter, who owns Green Dragon Framing in Knaresborough.
The Young Artists’ Summer Show is open to the public from from July 13 to August 8.