Friday, 30 October 2026

Creative Kirklees News newsletter

With details of creative events, opportunities and more:

Creative Kirklees

Creative Kirklees
Latest Events, News and Opportunities


Wednesday, October 28th

As October draws to a close, Kirklees is welcoming a new month filled with music, creativity, community and opportunities to connect with nature.

November is almost here, which means Hcmf// 2026, the UK’s leading festival of contemporary and experimental music, is returning for its 49th edition. Taking place from 20 to 29 November, the festival will feature 50+ boundary-pushing events, including performances, installations, exhibitions, talks and workshops.

The Nature Season programme continues through to December, inviting people of all ages to connect with the natural world through culture and creativity. Upcoming highlights include The Rain, a work-in-progress performance exploring climate change and resilience, and Sangam Mela, a welcoming afternoon of live music, activities and community connection.

Creative practitioners and cultural organisations can also continue to access free sustainability training and support through Kirklees Council and SAIL. This is a valuable opportunity to build environmental knowledge, explore practical approaches and make creative work and organisations more sustainable.

Keep posted for more updates, and don’t forget to share your own events and creative experiences with us.

Let’s keep Kirklees creative!

www.creativekirklees.com


 Featured events

Halloween Ghost Train

 Fri, 30.10.2026 18:00 - 21:00 | +1  

Are you brave enough to take a ride on the Whistlestop Valley Ghost Train?!  Read more

Hunt for the Wilder People

 Sat, 31.10.2026 19:00 - 22:00 

Ricky Baker runs away to the wild when his foster mother dies. However, his cantankerous uncle Hector joins him and gets to know him better on their w ...  Read more

Annie Montgomerie: Missies and Nippers

 Sat, 15.8.2026 09:00 - Sun, 1.11.2026 18:00 

Following her sell-out show Hand Me Downs in 2022, Annie Montgomerie will be back next summer with a new exhibition Missies and Nippers.  Read more

Maggie O'Keeffe: Wind and Water

 Sat, 3.10.2026 14:00 - Sat, 14.11.2026 13:00 

This autumn The Long Wall Gallery welcomes Maggie O’Keeffe with her new exhibition, Wind and Water.  Read more

EXHIBITION: Beyond the Frame: Printmaking in Dialogue with Film

 Thu, 29.10.2026 10:00 - 15:00 | +5  

Beyond the Frame offers a rare opportunity to see a generous selection of work by Rozi Fuller, Layla Jabbari and Emma Jackson, three artists who are r ...  Read more

Exhibition: Knocking On Heavens Door by Beth Cartwright

 Tue, 13.10.2026 08:30 - Thu, 19.11.2026 16:30 

Knocking on Heaven’s Door is a collection of new paintings created through a free and intuitive process. The exhibition invites you to spend time with ...  Read more

The Vicar of Dibley

 Wed, 28.10.2026 19:30 - Sat, 31.10.2026 22:15 

Hanging Heaton becomes Dibley as the much-loved 1990s TV sitcom springs back to life on stage. This fast-paced witty production takes the pick of the ...  Read more

Library Gardens: Art, Plants & Place

 Mon, 2.11.2026 13:30 - 15:30 | +3  

Come and explore the garden in new ways — have a go, get creative and see what you discover.  Read more

Dewsbury Elim Community Cinema - Toy Story 5

 Sat, 7.11.2026 10:00 - 12:00 

🎬 FREE CINEMA! 🎬 Looking for something inexpensive and indoors to do with the family? Dewsbury Elim Community Cinema has its next FREE family screen ...  Read more

Angela Harding: A Chronicle of Birds and Beasts

 Sat, 14.11.2026 09:00 - Sun, 28.2.2027 18:00 

Ten years after Angela Harding's first exhibition at YSP, we are thrilled to be welcoming her back in winter 2026.  Read more

Community Walks : From the Edges of Town to Pathways Beyond

 Sun, 15.11.2026 10:00 - 12:00 | +1  

Join artists Sarah & Kate for relaxing nature walks across Kirklees! Enjoy tree ID, gentle foraging, and nature art (leaf rubbings & clay prints). Fre ...  Read more

THE RAIN

 Wed, 25.11.2026 16:00 - 17:30 | +4  

Proper Job Theatre’s Hot House Presents... THE RAIN A special work-in-progress sharing as part of Kirklees Council’s ‘Nature Season’ about climate ch ...  Read more

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 Nature Season

HM sculpture trail Fused Glass Free Family workshop

 Sat, 31.10.2026 11:00 - 14:00 

We are delighted to be a part of Nature Season, a new grant programme supporting creative projects inspired by the natural environment, taking place a ...  Read more

Seasons of Culture: Guided Canal Walk – Explore, Discover, Collect & Create

 Sat, 31.10.2026 13:00 - 17:00 

Join Radio Sangam and Communities Together for a free, guided four-mile autumn canal walk from Aspley to Cooper Bridge. Explore seasonal foliage and n ...  Read more

Sangam Mela Seasons of Culture

 Sun, 1.11.2026 14:30 - 19:30 

Live South Asian music and family activities exploring the seasons, nature, the environment and outdoor spaces. Free and open to all.  Read more

Roots and Branches

 Sat, 1.8.2026 00:00 - Sat, 21.11.2026 00:00 

Roots & Branches will bring Huddersfield into Graham Fitkin's Treeline project https://treeline.org.uk/, a unique pan-European musical and cycl ...  Read more

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 Hcmf// Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival

Hcmf// 2026

 Fri, 20.11.2026 18:00 - Sun, 29.11.2026 20:00 

We are delighted to share the programme for hcmf// 2026, with all ticketed events now on sale.  Read more

Hcmf// shorts 2026

 Mon, 23.11.2026 12:00 - 23:59 

Hcmf// shorts returns for 2026, showcasing new works and world-class, bite-sized performances which often turn out to be festival highlights.  Read more

Installation: Microtonal

 Wed, 25.11.2026 10:00 - 15:00 | +3  

Microtonal by Invisible Flock, Faqir Zulfiquar and Allah Jurio  Read more

Workshop: Nik Bärtsch

 Thu, 26.11.2026 11:00 - 13:00 

Led by Swiss pianist and composer Nik Bärtsch, this group workshop explores focus, presence, contact and is open to anyone interested and will be tail ...  Read more

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 Workshops and Courses

Mindful Textile Skills

 Thu, 29.10.2026 13:00 - 15:00 | +3  

Join textile artist Kim Searle (Darn It! Workshops) for a series of sessions focusing on different textile skills  Read more

One to One week day jewellery-making workshops with Rooks & Roses

 Fri, 28.8.2026 00:00 - Sat, 28.8.2027 00:00 

Full day one to one workshops for all abilities and experiences with Karl in his studio at the Sculpture Lounge in Holmbridge, Holmfirth, West Yorkshi ...  Read more

If These Walls Could Talk writing in place with Yvonne Battle-Felton

 Mon, 2.11.2026 17:00 - 18:45 | +4  

An eight- week creative writing workshop aimed to inspire writers to write site-specific writing  Read more

Musical Theatre Classes

 Wed, 4.11.2026 18:15 - 19:15 | +3  

Enrolling now for September  Read more

Diwali Lamp Making Workshop

 Sat, 7.11.2026 10:00 - 12:00 

Celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, with a fun and colourful lantern-making workshop for children and families.  Read more

Copper Earrings Workshop with Frances Noon

 Sat, 7.11.2026 11:00 - 14:00 

Learn how to make a pair of copper earrings on this fun, beginner friendly, half day workshop  Read more

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 Latest news

Arts Council England Publishes National Portfolio Investment 2028-33 Guidance

Arts Council England has announced details of its National Portfolio Investment Programme for 2028-33, which will provide multi-year support to arts o ...  Read more

Hcmf// is looking for volunteers!

Interested in experimental and electronic music, visual art, sound art and improvisation? Join us this November and be part of the UK’s largest intern ...  Read more

Arts Council England: The Freelancers' Handbook

The Freelancers' Handbook is a new, free resource offering practical support to freelancers across the cultural sector and the organisations they work ...  Read more

Five reasons to try an organ concert at Huddersfield Town Hall

Looking for something a little different to enjoy in Huddersfield? The 2026–27 Kirklees Concert Season brings a series of organ concerts to Huddersfie ...  Read more

Explore West Yorkshire

We’re pleased to be part of Explore West Yorkshire, a new website helping people discover events and cultural experiences across Kirklees, Bradford, C ...  Read more

£182,901 National Lottery funding will back young people across Kirklees

Chol Theatre’s new three-year programme, Where We Stand, will create paid opportunities for young people to develop skills, lead creative projects and ...  Read more

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 Opportunities to watch out for

Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy: Online Training Courses

Online courses are running in the Autumn/Winter. They cover a whole host of topics, from application writing to corporate giving, legacies, Trustee le ...  Read more

BRAID UK - Responsible AI: Edinburgh Festivals Creative Commissions NEW Deadline 2 November

Grants are available to UK-based creative practitioners to develop new creative commissions that explore responsible AI for presentation at the Edinbu ...  Read more

Leeds Heritage Theatres: Director of Programme Deadline 16 November

LHT are lookin for a senior arts professional with significant programming or artistic leadership experience, strong sector relationships, commercial ...  Read more

Abstract Art - Open Call at the Open Gallery, Halifax Deadline 4 November

Open Gallery is inviting submissions of original artworks on the theme ‘Abstract Art’ for a vibrant Autumn exhibition in November-December 2026.  Read more

Job Opportunity: Chol Theatre is recruiting a Schools & Education Co-Director

Join Chol as a Schools & Education Co-Director and shape the next chapter of their schools work. Apply by 8th November 2026  Read more

Spark Your Imagination: Batley Library’s Creative Writing Competition!

Calling all young storytellers! Enter the Friends of Batley Library Creative Writing Competition. Ages 4–18 can share imaginative tales, win prizes an ...  Read more

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