Hebden Bridge Web

Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Handmade Parade 2013 launches in style

This year’s Handmade Parade was launched in style on Sunday with a Spark Day to get everyone into the parade spirit.

Organisers were bowled over with the quality and quantity of ideas which were submitted through suggestion boxes at the Co-op and Hebden Bridge Library and in person on the day.

Isaac Westwood, Amanda Farrell (back), Rohan Green
and Finn Sierevogel, showing off the vegetable hats

The Spark Day at the parade workshops in Victoria Road featured a vegetable hat-making workshop, live music and a massive suggestion square for ideas.

Visitors of all ages joined in the fun and put forward ideas about what they’d like to see in this year’s parade. Among the suggestions were the four corners of the earth, myths and legends, reach for the sky, under the sea, fairy tales and a journey through the history of time.

The parade lead artists will now make the final decision on a theme with four sections for this year’s parade.

Andrew Kim, Artistic Director of the Handmade Parade, said: “We were thrilled with the enthusiasm at this year's parade launch! We're so blessed to be in such a creative community filled with folks who are willing to participate. So many fun ideas, it's a shame we have to choose…but any way we go, it's going to be outrageous."

The parade, now in its sixth year, will begin at 12noon on Saturday, June 22 and will wind its way through town to Calder Holmes Park for a spectacular finale.

Open workshops will be held from June 1 to 20 and there will also be parade skills classes for teenagers and adults who want to get stuck into a new skill – from stilt-walking, joining the samba or making giant willow sculptures.

For more details go to www.handmadeparade.co.uk or see below

Tuesday, 9 April 2013

Handmade Parade Spark Day 2013

Crazy ideas wanted for this year's Parade

Would you like to see an elephant walking through St George’s Square, Bridge Gate turned into a jungle or Calder Holmes Park becoming outer space?

If so, now’s the chance to make it happen.

Spark Day 2012: Photo by Ian Hodgson shows (left to right) Kathy Kim, parade production manager, Peadar Long of the Handmade Parade Street Band, Rohan Green, aged 7, who has participated in every parade, and Andrew Kim, artistic director of the parade.

Organisers of the Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade are holding a Spark Day on April 14 at the parade workshops in Victoria Road, and want as many people as possible to come along with their bright ideas – the crazier the better!

There'll also be open workshops, live music, suggestion squares and demonstrations. The fun starts at 1pm and from 2.30pm to 4pm there'll be the chance to join in with brain sharing and making an ‘ideas soup’. Refreshments will be available throughout and everyone is welcome.

Suggestion box displays are already up at Hebden Bridge Library and the Co-op and all the ideas and pictures submitted will be brought along to the Spark Day, which will be a day for getting into the parade spirit.

Parade organiser Hannah Merriman said: “This is where we ask our friends and community, what you want to see in the parade.  Last year's theme, The Enchanted Wood - and a very beautiful theme it was too - came directly from our Spark Day - so you really do get a chance to shape the parade. 

Handmade Parade 2012 - photo, HebWeb

“We've already had a bundle of suggestions from types of cheeses, to kites, mad scientist laboratory and Monsters, so don't hold back, we want to hear all your thoughts!”

Previous themes have included a Deluge of Delights, the Glorious Garden Party, a Hop, Skip and a Jump and the Fabulous Feast and have inspired creations such as bees on scooters, fluorescent aliens, stilt-walking geese and a mechanical spider.

If you can’t make it to the Spark Day there’s still time to put your ideas forward in the suggestion boxes or email them directly to Hannah at info@handmadeparade.co.uk

The parade, now in its sixth year, will take place on Saturday, June 22, the first day of the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival, and will wind its way through town to Calder Holmes Park for a spectacular finale.

Workshops will be held from June 1 to 20 and will be open to anyone who wants to get involved in creating parade art, giant puppets or costumes. There will also be parade skills classes for anyone who wants to learn a new skill, from stilt-walking, samba or mask making to making giant willow sculptures.

Organisers are also looking to grow their team and are recruiting Assistant Artists to help support the Lead Artists in all things art related for the parade.  If you are interested in finding out more or applying go to www.handmadeparade.co.uk or contact Hannah at info@handmadeparade.co.uk