You are invited to join us in celebrating our 250th anniversary on Saturday 3rd of December at Square Chapel Arts Centre.
We will be showcasing the history of our fantastic site as well as the talents of our diverse community and of those who have a special connection with Square Chapel. An opportunity to network, or just enjoy the festivities with friends. Come help us commemorate the milestone of not only 250 years since the chapel was constructed but also 30 years since receiving arts centre status and 1 year since re-opening.
The event kicks off from midday and will include live music, historic talks, and free tasters from our new menu.
Please feel free to share this invitation within your networks, the itinerary for the day is as follows:
Live Music
12:00-19:45 Live Acoustic Music in the Atrium
Join us in our Atrium space from 12:00 for back-to-back acoustic performances from musicians that have featured previously in our weekly Friday Night Live showcase.
Admission to our Atrium is FREE, but please register here.
19:00-22:30 250 Years of Square Chapel Celebration Concert
Celebrating 250 years since the original building was constructed, 30 years since receiving Arts Centre status and one year since officially reopening to the public. Featuring local talents who have a special connection with Square Chapel making for an enjoyable, inclusive and accessible evening. We are also delighted to announce that Channel 4 will be with us to capture some of the performance for an upcoming documentary.
This event is ticketed, please purchase your tickets here.
20:00-23:00 Live DJs in the Atrium
From 20:00 our celebration will culminate with back-to-back DJ sets, including an unmissable hour with Phoenix FM’s NRG X-Press host and Calderdale Pride icon Bazz/Dame Shirley Bazzey.
Admission to our Atrium is FREE, but please register here.
Historical Talks & Tours
12:30-13:00 David Glover – Tombstones: In Celebration of Square Chapel’s 250th Year: 1772-2022
A 30-minute stroll around the graveyard at Square Chapel with David Glover hearing stories of some named on the stones: the Bradley engineers, the Kershaws, the early Crossleys, the Glendinings, Thomas Rawlinson and the last Tristram.
This tour is weather permitting and will be replaced with an indoor presentation in Cornerstone if the weather is poor, this event is ticketed, please purchase your tickets here.
14:15-16:00 David Glover – An Illustrated Presentation to Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of Square Chapel
David Glover returns with a commemorative presentation in celebration of Square Chapel’s 250th year, spanning the era of Titus Knight all the way to the 21st Century expansion.
This event is ticketed, please purchase your tickets here.
Food & Drink
12:45-20:30 Free Food Samples in the Atrium
Samples of our new menu launching in 2023 will be served throughout the day in collaboration with Bam Bam’s Vegan Kitchen. Our Seven Bro7hers bar will be open all day as usual serving a range of real ales and keg beers, wines, spirits, hot and soft drinks.
Admission to our Atrium is FREE, but please register here.
We do hope you can join us, on behalf of the Square Chapel team.
Calderdale’s South Asian Heritage Festival begins with a Weekend of Celebration at Square Chapel Arts Centre and The Piece Hall.
The festival, commissioned by Calderdale Council, promises a month of events and activities to celebrate the long and rich history of British Asians and the positive impact they have within the borough. It will bring together leading British Pakistani and Indian writers and performers plus local businesses and community groups at venues across Calderdale.
The Piece Hall
The Piece Hall event begins at midday and will feature Indian drumming, henna painting, calligraphy arts, face painting, antique Pakistani jewellery, handmade bags and free, fun, family activities in the main courtyard. There will also be music and writing workshops and performance events at Square Chapel Arts Centre over that weekend. All activities are FREE! And there will be a real community market feel in the courtyard … a chance to celebrate the friendship and generosity of South Asian culture …
Square Chapel Arts Centre
Brilliant FREE workshops for women and girls, not just of South Asian heritage. This is an invitation to all women interested in culture, identity, sense of place and empowerment.
Booking is essential. You can book workshops and events at Square Chapel Arts Centre here: squarechapel.co.uk/whats-on/
Saturday 16th July @ 1.30 pm
” I Belong Here ” – Talk & Writing Workshop with Award Winning author Anita Sethi
A two-hour session with Anita Sethi. Short talk after which Anita will explore themes of place, nature, journeying – both geographical and emotional journeys – and how nature and writing can bring a sense of belonging.
Saturday 16th July @ 4 pm
Into the Wilds – New South Asian Writing
Fox & Windmill is the UK’s first independent book publishing company for British South Asian writers. They are dedicated to bridging the gap in the industry for writers from underrepresented backgrounds and sharing their unique stories and perspectives.
Sunday 17th July @ 2pm
Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan Free Workshop & Performance Event
Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan is a writer, poet and educator disrupting understandings of history, race, knowledge and violence. In 2019 she published Postcolonial Banter, an anthology of poetry critiquing racism, Islamophobia and notions of national identity. The collection includes poems which have had millions of online views and been featured across TV and radio.
Saturday July 23rd
Square Chapel will host a screening of acclaimed film ‘Lakeer’ followed by a Q&A with the film’s producer
Victoria Theatre
Saturday July 23rd – South Asian Comedy Club
Comedy club with some of the best South Asian comedians on the comedy circuit.Calderdale’s museums and libraries will feature a number of displays and events to complement the celebrations.This is an opportunity for all communities to come together and share the best South Asian culture has to offer – please let your friends and colleagues know and help make this a regular feature of Calderdale’s Cultural Calendar!The full programme of events and activities can be found at:
issuu.com/verddegris/docs/programme
Celebrate South Asian Heritage Month 2022 with a free talk and writing workshop with Anita Sethi, award winning author of I Belong Here: a Journey Along the Backbone of Britain.
Explore themes of place, nature, journeying – both geographically and
emotionally. Discover how nature and writing can bring a sense of belonging.
A workshop filled with practical tools and tips, in which you have time and space to work on writing exercises and share and develop your voice.
Talk and Workshop: Saturday 16th July @ 1:30
Free but Booking Essential
Venue: Square Chapel Arts Centre, 10 Square Rd, Halifax HX1 1QG
Call : 0343 208 6016
OR Click Here to book the Event
Have You Considered Volunteering with a Difference?
Becoming a Trustee could be the role for you
The VSIA and CMBC are hosting an event on
Thursday 30th June at Square Chapel Arts Centre
from 5.30pm to 8pm
The event is aimed both at organisations looking to recruit trustees as well as individuals with an interest in becoming a trustee and what that means.
You will receive information on the role of trustees and the many benefits for an organisation and the volunteer.
Refreshments will be provided in the event.
If you’d like to take part, please let us know as soon as possible.
After the event we’ll put you in touch with those who are interested in joining your board / committee or would simply like a longer conversation with you.
To book places for your organisation, email Charlie at charlie.johnston@vsialliance.org.uk as soon as possible.
More information:
The Sounds of Simon, a brilliant touring tribute to the wonderful music of Simon and Garfunkel and Paul Simon are bringing their new show:
Old Friends: Together and Apart
to Square Chapel Arts Centre in Halifax on the 18th June
Exploring the duo’s music together as well as looking at them both as solo artists in their own right, the tour will perform all the classics from The Sound of Silence to Bridge Over Troubled Water, from You Can Call Me Al to Bright Eyes, all the hits are here.
The whole show is done in costume and the harmonies are spot on.
“Ben is something of an expert on Paul Simon.” – BBC The One Show
“A world class act.” – The Hinckley Times
Performance details:
Doors: 19:30
First set: 20:00 – 21:00
Interval: 21: 00 -21:20
Second set: 21:20 – 22:20
Reserved Seating– Seats are selected at the time of booking and reserved for you at the event.
For more details on the performers, visit: www.soundsofsimon.co.uk
“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
The 80’s legends pop duo Hue and Cry will be performing live in the Square Chapel Red Brick Auditorium on 12th February 2022.
This is a not to be missed opportunity to watch two incredible musicians perform their 80’s hits and latest tunes live on stage.
Piano/ Vocal Show Brothers Patrick and Gregory Kane formed Hue and Cry in 1983 and the duo made a huge impact in the late 80’s with the albums Seduced and Abandoned and Remote as well as massive hit singles such as Labour of Love. Albums like Stars Crash Down and Jazz Not Jazz ensured Hue and Cry’s continued triumph in the 1990’s, whilst the release of the hugely applauded Open Soul in 2008 brought them firmly back into the limelight. The release of their seasonal album Xmasday (2009) and live album Bitter Suite Again (2010), preceded the release of Hot Wire (2012) which received rave reviews.
To date Hue and Cry have sold in excess of two million records worldwide.
To book your tickets, visit the Square Chapel website.
Concert: 12 February 2022, doors open at 7:30pm
Experience the Greatest Showman in the greatest way possible with our Sing-A-Long screenings at Square Chapel Arts Centre.
Saturday December 18th
Matinee screening 2:00pm
Evening Screening 7:45pm
Door time 15 mins prior to screenings.
Tickets from £10 available at – https://squarechapel.co.uk/whats-on/
Experience The Greatest Showman in the greatest way possible with our Sing-Along screenings. In our relaxed and inclusive screenings aimed at families you’ll be able to sing away to your hearts content and children will be invited up to dance along. Our maestro will get you ready with a vocal warm before the film and ensure the festivities continue all the way through.
Fancy dress is of course encouraged and there’ll be a prize for the best costume and dancing!
Plus! There’ll be glowsticks given to every child to make the screening extra fun!
Unreserved Seating – Seats are unreserved and you will need to choose your seat as you enter the venue. If you wish to sit together with people you have arrived with, we recommend arriving at doors open time to choose consecutive seats although we do not guarantee this is possible. Ushers may also ask you to move or condense your group to free up seating for other audience members to be seated.
Also at the Square Chapel:
Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax, West Yorkshire
www.squarechapel.co.uk
Routes Festival is a family friendly event that provides a platform for young musicians aged 12-24 to showcase their talents on an open and accessible stage. This year on Saturday 22 June, 1:00pm-7:45pm at Square Chapel Arts Centre, there will be live music across two stages throughout the day, encompassing a wide range of musical styles – from pop to indie, metal to acoustic.
See some of Calderdale’s most talented young people! Plus there’ll be a special festival food offer available from the Square Chapel café bar throughout the day.
Tickets at just £4 can be booked online or by calling the Box Office on 01422 349422 open
Mon – Sat: 10am – 9pm
Sun: 12pm – 8pm
In March Gig Buddies Calderdale was pleased to receive 2 years continuation funding to expand the team and continue to tackle social isolation in Calderdale.
Gig Buddies Calderdale has been going strong since it launched as a pilot project in June 2017. Led by Gig Buddies and Engagement Coordinator Gemma Hailwood-McCallion, based at Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax, the aim was to try to address the barriers that prevent people with a learning disability accessing local arts and entertainment. The scheme has proved popular and as a result, has been awarded a two-year continuation fund of £46,000 from the Henry Smith Trust as well as continuation funding from Calderdale Council, to help expand the team and continue its work in the community. The project has also confirmed its very first ambassador – the stage and screen actor Darren Jeffries.
Gig Buddies Coordinator, Gemma Hailwood-McCallion said: “Gig Buddies has been a wonderful project to be involved with and has reached out to so many people who were otherwise isolated and bored in their homes. We’ve been able to go out into mainstream venues to enable people to have a great time in a safe environment, just like everybody else does! It’s been fabulous working with such a dedicated and fun group of volunteers without whom, the project would simply not have worked. I am excited to be expanding the team for Calderdale, to our quest to help people ‘Stay Up Late’. What is also hugely exciting about where we are now, is that we have our very first ambassador; Darren Jeffries has been along to some of our socials and has been a real hit! It’s great to hear that we are appealing to more and more people who can help us spread the word about Gig Buddies.”
Stage and screen actor & Gig Buddies Ambassador, Darren Jeffries said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to be ambassador for Gig Buddies Calderdale. As a lover of live music, comedy and theatre, the idea of anyone being denied access to these life-affirming experiences because of circumstances beyond their control is frustrating and unfair. I’ll be supporting the Gig Buddies team every step of the way, as well as looking forward to plenty more memorable evenings with our brilliant Gig Buddies members.”
Pioneered by Brighton-based Charity Stay Up Late, Gig Buddies connects people with a learning disability with volunteers who share a similar passion for entertainment, culture and live events; and supports them to access all the great events and gigs going on in the community.
Since the birth of Gig Buddies Calderdale, the scheme has matched over twenty-five pairs of buddies, held fifteen social events which have introduced over fifty people to the local entertainment scene, connecting people who may have otherwise missed out on the growing number of events that have been showcased in Calderdale over the past two years.
The funding, that has been awarded by the London based Henry Smith Trust and is being administered by the Calderdale Community Foundation, will enable the project to match even more pairs of buddies, increase the number of social events and expand the team by creating two new post to support the continued work.
The new roles include a Project Assistant and a Quality Checker, the latter being a role for a person with a learning disability. This will enable the team to ensure the work being done and the way in which it’s being doing done, is accessible to the people it seeks to engage with.
The Gig Buddies initiative is funded by Adult Health and Social Care, The Henry Smith Trust as well as the West Yorkshire Business Consortium. The partnership with Square Chapel Arts Centre, Calderdale Council and the Brighton based charity Stay Up Late will continue for a further two years.
For anyone wanting more information about Gig Buddies Calderdale or to become a ‘Gig Buddy’, please contact Gemma Hailwood-McCallion gemma@squarechapel.co.uk, or call 01422 353073.
Calderdale Lower Valley blog 