Bankfield Museum
Anne Lister Birthday week 1st-10th of April
“What a dynamo of a character! A Nineteenth Century land-owning, business-operating, mountain- and social-climbing genius who didn’t take any guff from any man. A woman who wanted a wife! A woman who recorded every bit of her interior and exterior world, leaving us a written record of her life and times, unmatched by anyone, ever.” — https://www.annelisterbirthdayweek.com/ Why, What Who
The festival will bring Anne Lister’s story to life through tours, talks, gatherings and the distinctiveness of Halifax’s stunning heritage sites, including Anne’s historic home, Shibden Hall, plus Halifax Minster, The Piece Hall, Dean Clough, The Victoria Theatre, Bankfield museum and many more.
Libraries across Calderdale will mark Anne’s birthday with displays, writing workshops, drawing corners, themed kids’ activity sheets and more.
More information and visiting / booking details for events can be found at the Visit Calderdale website:
www.visitcalderdale.com/anne-lister-birthday-festival-2022
Further read
Visit Calderdale: Events information and things Anne Lister related
Anne Lister Birthday Week festival
Anne Lister’s birthday celebration goes global
Belonging: Fashion & A Sense of Place at Bankfield Museum September 18
If you’ve had your fill of the red carpet vlogs of the MET gala, perhaps you’d like another look at fashion in this upcoming exhibition at Bankfield Museum!
This upcoming event will mark the reopening of the Fashion section of the top floor of Bankfield museum.
Coinciding with London Fashion Week, Belonging: Fashion & A Sense of Place is a collaboration between Calderdale Council and Leeds Arts University.
This exhibition combines contemporary fashion with influences of the West Riding of Yorkshire, using various media, will be presented at the top floor Fashion Gallery of Bankfield museum. It will showcase work of fashion designers and artists who have been inspired by everything unique about West Riding of Yorkshire.
The exhibition opens on Saturday 18 September and runs until 5 March 2022.
Entry is free. Donations welcome
The Bankfield Museum: Akroyd Park, Boothtown Rd, Halifax HX3 6HG
Women Traveller’s Exhibition Opening
A new exhibition called Women Travellers will be opening on Saturday 24 November, 11:00am at Bankfield Museum.
Speeches and refreshments will be in the North Gallery at 11:00am, followed by the official opening of the new exhibition in the Link Gallery.
Focusing on the lives of four extraordinary women; Anne Lister, Edith Durham, Liz Humphries and Gertrude Bell. This exhibition will tell the story of the journeys they took, the objects they collected and the many people they met along the way. Objects displayed will include some of the outfits they wore to travel in, notebooks, photographs and the many fascinating items they brought back. You will discover stories of happiness, loss and amazing achievements!
On Saturday 24th there is also the final For King and Country event. Feel free to extend your visit when at 2:00pm there will be an event on the top floor to mark the end of the 2014-2018 For King and Country project. There will be speeches and thanks for all those involved in the project, attended by the Mayor of Calderdale. This will be followed by live music and refreshments in the North Gallery on the ground floor at 2:15pm.
Calderdale Open Art Exhibition 2018
The opening of 2018’s Calderdale Open Exhibition will be on Saturday 10 November, 2:00pm at Bankfield Museum when the Mayor of Calderdale will attend for the prize giving, awarded by this year’s judges Tom Wood, Jake Attree and Curator Elinor Camille-Wood.
The First Prize will be £150 of vouchers for Shibden Mill Inn, second prize is afternoon tea at Holdsworth House and third prize will be a Museums goody bag.
Jake Attree is a figurative artist in the sense that everything he paints is based on something he has observed and almost certainly drawn. No matter how far the paintings may depart from the subject that inspired them, they nevertheless are rooted in and dependent upon these initial observations. Born in York in 1950, he now lives and works in West Yorkshire and has a studio at Dean Clough, Halifax. Attree is represented in London by Messum’s of Cork Street. He has shown widely in the UK over the past 25 years and has also exhibited work in America, Holland and Germany. http://www.jakeattree.co.uk/
Tom Wood graduated from Sheffield School of Art in 1978, since then his work has been exhibited worldwide. Amongst his many portrait commissions he has painted Professor Lord Robert Winston and Alan Bennett for the National Portrait Gallery, London. Other notable commissions have included portraits for HRH Prince of Wales, The National Trust, Yale University and Cambridge University. His work has been exhibited in numerous exhibitions both in the UK and abroad and he has works in many public and private collections. He currently works from his studio at Redbrick Mill, Batley. https://www.tomwoodfineart.com/
For King and Country Open Day at Bankfield Museum
An Open Day based upon the King and Country exhibition will be held on Saturday 9 June at Bankfield Museum, .
There will be free activities and events suitable for all ages commemorating the region’s First World War experiences.
Bankfield Museum’s exhibition commemorating the region’s wartime contribution features over 200 objects, 200 images and archives and 60 local stories to explore local experiences during the First World War. From soldiers, sailors and nurses to those at home working in munitions, hospitals and fundraising.
Foster Family Fun Day: Law and Justice:Then and Now
Children and young people will take part in two fun workshops to discover what crime and punishment was like in Victorian times, and what it is like today at Bankfield Museum on Saturday 14 April, 12:30pm-3:30pm. They will also design a themed T- shirt during an art and textiles workshop.
The fun day is designed for children and young people who are currently in care, aged 5-16 from across West Yorkshire, to attend with foster carers / residential staff.
The aim is to offer looked after young people opportunities to explore what their future could hold in a fun, interactive and age appropriate way, while gaining exposure to higher education professionals.
The session is FREE but places are limited so please book at Eventbrite.
Perspectives on Patterns at Bankfield Museum
Opening at Bankfield Museum on Saturday 10 February will be an exhibition ‘Interpretations of Calderdale Museums Pattern Book Collection’ by the Textile Art Group. Discover intricate details, long forgotten patterns and learn more about the history of the textile industry. The exhibition will include art works created by the Textile Art Group inspired by this fascinating collection.
Members of the Textile Art Group will be in the Link Gallery demonstrating a number of different crafts and talking about their work. Free, drop in activity for all ages.
Other activities around this exhibition which continues until 2 June include;
Through my Sketchbooks with Vivienne Brown
Saturday 17 March, 1.30pm to 4pm
Bookmaking with Helen Smith & Joan Burnip
Saturday 24 March, 10.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 4pm
Needlepunch Felt & Fibre Painting with Jackie Ford and Denise Teed
Saturday 14 April, 11am to 2pm
Calderdale Open Art Exhibition 2017
2017’s Calderdale Open Art Exhibition will showcase work by professional and amateur artists.
Entries will be open from Saturday 7 October – Saturday 4 November 2017. Please read the terms and conditions and bring a completed entry form and the entry fee when you deliver your work. Entries accepted at Bankfield Museum during opening hours- Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm.
The entry fee is £20.00 for up to 3 artworks per entry. Please note this is an open exhibition with a selection process and there is no guarantee that all the work submitted will be displayed.
Calderdale Open 2017 entry form.pdf
Calderdale Open 2017 terms and conditions.pdf
Please note that during 2017 there will be essential building works at Bankfield, which will affect access to some areas.
Family Map Reading Workshop at Bankfield Museum
Join members of Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team for one of these free workshops at Bankfield Museum to learn about modern maps and navigation. Have a go at our orienteering challenge around Akroyden Park and hear about the role of the CVSRT. Suitable for ages 8+. Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.
Saturday 5 Aug 2017 – 1:00pm to 3:00pm. (There will be another workshop on Saturday 19 August)
FREE, but please book a place as numbers are limited. Book online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/185513 or by phoning 01422 352334.
Bankfield Buddies! Craft activities for under fives
Get along to Bankfield Museum and join in our craft activities for under-fives. In this relaxed, friendly environment children can play, enjoy a story and learn more about the fascinating objects on display.
Meet in Akroyd Library in the Museum.
Free parking and ramped push chair access at the back of the Museum. Sessions run 
from 10.30am-11.15am. £2.00 per child. Booking is not required, please pay on the day. Hot and cold drinks available to buy from reception.
(If you have any particular questions please contact Fiona Willats on 01422 352334).
Session dates for 2017:
23, 30 June
7, 14, 21 July
15, 22, 29 September
6, 13, 20, 27 October
10, 17, 24 November
1, 8, 15 December
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