Saltaire showcases its arts and crafts with heritage trail (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Saltaire showcases its arts and crafts with heritage trail

6:20am Monday 7th May 2012 in News By Hannah Postles, T&A Reporter

Families filled the streets of Saltaire at the weekend during the village’s annual showcase of contemporary arts and crafts.

Thousands of people from across the region flocked to the sixth Saltaire Heritage Trail, which saw artists throw their doors open to the public to view their work and 60 designers and craft makers showcasing their wares in Victoria Hall.

Amanda Chinneck, creative director of the event, organised by Saltaire Inspired, said: “There’s a real buzz in the air. When you walk down the streets you see families with their trail maps out, talking about where they’ve just been and where they’re going to next.

“There’s an incredible atmosphere and the village looks beautiful.”

Exhibits on show during the three day event, which ends today, included newly-commissioned contemporary artwork by emerging West Yorkshire artist Eoin Shea, a photography exhibition drawing on Saltaire's textile heritage and a project by Saltaire-based artists Yvonne Carmichael and Andy Abbott featuring photography, sound installations and a guided walk.

Children's activities included building a carnival tent, making a carousel hobby horse and getting messy with paint in the Garden of Easels, and Open House events were held at some of the historic houses.

Mrs Chinneck said organisers hoped the event, expected to have attracted around 10,000 people, would continue to grow.

She added: “This is the first time we’ve opened it to artists and exhibitors from outside Saltaire, I think around 50 per cent are from other parts of West Yorkshire.

“It’s been months and months of hard work and organisation, so it’s fantastic to see it all come together and everyone having an amazing time.”

For the first time the trail, in partnership with Bradford City of Film, presented an artist film strand curated by Cherry Kino – an independent organisation exploring the artistic possibilities of analogue film – with installations in Saltaire's laundrette and a screening in the top room of Salts Mill.

Over at Skipton Waterways Festival, creative boaters took on board the Great Britain theme, chosen to mark the Queen’s diamond jubilee and London Olympics, by decking their barges in Union Flags and paying tribute to the nation’s love of a cuppa by carrying giant teapots.

Owners of one boat, Raven, really got in the spirit by transforming their vessel into a 3D map of the United Kingdom to win this year’s best-dressed boat competition.

Zoe Clarke, of organisers Skipton-based Pennine Cruisers, said: “It must have taken them ages to make and the boat looks absolutely incredible.”