The successful launch of the Shipley Shopper

After months of hard work and anxiety the Shipley Shopper launch went off with music from the peace artistes; Balloon Bending from Dippy the Clown; Education from the Microscopic Creature Enthusiast; Rides from the Blackpool Donkeys; Unveiling from the deputy Mayor of Bradford and a wonderful turnout from the Shipley public.

Will it rain on the Shipley Shopper?

The big question for today, what's the weather going to be like for the Shipley Shopper launch tomorrow? Is it going to be dry with sunny intervals, as the forecast predicts, or wet and windy like we're experiencing now.
If dry everything should go off swimmingly, if raining, are we going to have clowns, balloons, face painters, donkeys and a street band entertaining the public in our studios? Could be a bit of a squeeze!
We're all looking forward to the launch though, confident its going to be a success, and that the people of Shipley will come to love the ewe sat on a bench, with her handbag and shades. More news and pictures of that next week.
On a more prosaic note, a reminder today that work in a community arts and crafts centre isn't all statues, artists and crafts people; there's also the accounting processes to keep up to date. (As if we really needed a reminder!)
So this morning we had a visit from the essential Dave Collins, local community accounting support worker.
Over the years KS&W has grown from being a mainly drop in facility with funding from a few sources, to the complex organisation that it is today; running outreach workshops around the Bradford district and working with the community to produce stunning pieces of public art, as well as running courses and being available for people to work on their own here.
All that complexity means that our financial systems have to constantly evolve to keep up with the type of work we get involved in. It was brilliant to have Dave here to help us stand back from the day to day running of the accounts and take a good look at what we're doing and how we can improve things.
Tomorrow though will be all about celebrating the Art, something we perhaps don't get the space do enough of.

New Family Woodwork Class

We are all running around getting ready for our new member of staff to start; Mr John Bayliss, who will be running our new family woodwork class... WoodWorks!!

We have been busy clearing out our woodwork room and with the help of volunteers are part way to having it all lovely and shiny for the start of WoodWorks.

We are enrolling now for the class,so anyone who is interested should call us asap for an enrolment form. Any parent or guardian will be able to bring along with them up to two children (aged 9 - 16 years). Classes are Free!!

We are all looking forward to seeing lots of birdboxes and other lovely wooden things being made.

Shipley Shopper

Our biggest source of excitement/anxiety locally is the Shipley Shopper.
With the public launch, on Saturday 1st March, getting ever nearer, the artists are on site daily, drawing a lot of attention from passers by.

The once empty plot of land is currently the scene of much activity, I've just been over there to see what is happening and Martin is busily juggling working on the statue whilst explaining to shoppers what it represents. Meanwhile top soil is being spread around him for tomorrows planting.

So far everything seems to be on schedule for Saturday - not even any damage from last nights earthquake. Do come along to the launch - plenty of street entertainment including a lively street band.

Welcome

Welcome to the Online Diary of Kirkgate Studios and Workshops. We are a small and lively community arts and crafts centre in Shipley, West Yorkshire England.
We run courses, work in the community, delivering workshops and creating Public Art works, and act as a drop in centre enabling people to work on their own creative projects.
We envisage this blog as an addition to the news pages on our web site (www.ksandw.org.uk) giving quick, informal glimpses into the work we do.