ARTS DIARY
Celebrating Bradford’s women:
Bradford women have been pioneers and activists for a long time, and Bradford Brilliant Lasses celebrates their enterprise, entrepreneurship, achievements and inspirational lives. Working with Bradford Museums and Galleries, social historian and writer Irene Lofthouse has been devising an interactive learning workshop celebrating a diverse range of women from the 19th to 21st century. Lofthouse delved into local study and museum archives, newspapers old and new, as well as digital records to uncover women making a difference to people’s lives, pushing science boundaries and developing business ideas. Among those highlighted are astrophysicist Dr Anna Watts; musician/actor and LGBTQ+ activist Heather Peace; polar explorer Ann Daniels and humanitarian aid worker Dr Elaine Laycock.
New Trustees at SJT:
Scarborough Theatre Trust, the board which runs the Stephen Joseph Theatre, has a new chair, Sarah Nicholson, and deputy chair David Warner. Both have local connections – Nicholson studied at the University in Scarborough, while Warner lives in Scarborough. Nicholson has worked in theatre for over 25 years, currently as part-time Interim Executive Director at RTYDS (Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme) and formerly as Interim Executive Director at the Young Vic. She has also worked at the Donmar Warehouse, Sheffield Theatres, the Orange Tree Theatre, the Gate Theatre in London and in numerous roles at the National Theatre. They are joined by two new trustees: Tim Sheader and Dr Genevieve Davies.
Pottery for all:
Pottery fans will have more opportunity to take to the wheel when Knaresborough-based Northernline Arts moves to bigger premises. The popular pottery workshop is relocating from its current home on platform 2 at Knaresborough train station into a new larger studio on Kirkgate. Run by Maria Dawbarn, Northernline Arts is a workshop space that gives people the opportunity to take part in a range of creative clay and potters’ wheel sessions. Since opening three years ago, the business has attracted increasing numbers of people.