Red

We're thrilled to announce the launch of 'Unlocking Creativity: An Introduction to Creative Activities for People with Dementia,' an innovative resource aimed at inspiring creativity within the dementia care sector.

This guide celebrates the transformative power of creativity, offering a range of engaging activities tailored for individuals living with dementia. Co-created in collaboration with our existing dementia groups as part of our 'Out of the Blue' commissioned service, this guide embodies our commitment to person-centred care and holistic well-being.

Come join us as we explore the transformative potential of creativity, fostering moments of joy, strengthening connections, and empowering self-expression.

Read below or download a PDF copy (opens in a new window/tab).

13th - 19th May 2024 is Mental Health Awareness Week. This year the theme is Movement and the Mental Health Foundation want to help people to find moments for movement in their daily routines. We've picked some local walking routes from Discover Huddersfield and paired them with a hoot album that is perfect to listen to whilst you follow the trail. 

The Shuddersfield Ghost Walk uncovers the town’s spooky secrets and we recommend our collection of songs inspired by mythological creatures - written and performed by our music groups in Huddersfield and Dewsbury:

• Listen to Mythological Creatures
• Download the trail map

The Textile Trail walk takes you past key buildings related to Huddersfield’s textile heritage. This pairs perfectly with our track “Future Wrapped in Fabric” which was created for Woven’s 2019 festival using original recordings of historical and modern machinery used in the production of textiles, along with recordings of water sources in Marsden, and a scattering of synthesized sounds and follow it up with our musical contribution to the HERD Kirklees Year of Music 2023 project.

• Listen to Future Wrapped in Fabric and HERD
• Download the trail map

The Public Art Trail highlights a selection of pieces you can see around the town. We think our album Textures on a Big Canvas is perfect for this, featuring tracks which were inspired by visual art pieces created by our groups.

• Listen to Textures on a Big Canvas
• Download the trail map

Explore Huddersfield’s Historic Buildings on this trail and to match the grand sites, we recommend our String Quartet album with compositions by our arts and dementia group, Breathing Space and arranged by our in-house musician, Rob. 

• Listen to String Quartet
• Download the trail map

Huddersfield is bursting with music and this trail takes you to some of the key venues around the town. Our compilation album C.O.G.S, a collection of sounds and recordings created by hoot participants and groups will be a great soundtrack to your walk. 

• Listen to C.O.G.S
• Download the trail map

Explore Almondbury village with our SoundScapes album featuring original recordings captured by hoot participants and arranged into unique tracks. 

• Listen to SoundScapes 
• Download the trail map

Looking for more? Check our more trails on Discover Huddersfield's website and explore lots more music from hoot groups and participants on our Bandcamp.

Our next Speak our Music event is fast approaching and on Tuesday 26th September we welcome back Satnam Galsian, British Asian Folk Singer.

Please note: This session is for people who identify as women only. 
 

What is Speak our Music?
An engaging and inspiring evening of non-judgmental discussions about mental health and music. Join us for an evening of discussion about mental health and music. From hobbyists to professional musicians - all are welcome. Free food and drink provided. Each session will be hosted by an experienced musician/artist who will demonstrate their speciality and talk about how music and wellbeing have impacted their professional and creative life. More about Kirklees Year of Music here

WHEN: Tuesday 26th September 10:00AM - 2:00PM

WITH: Celebrating women of colour in the music industry

WHO IS IT FOR? This event is open to those who identify as women. Food and drink will be provided.

WHERE: WOMENCENTRE First Floor Empire House, Wakefield Old Road, Dewsbury, WF12 8DJ

HOW TO ATTEND: You'll need to book a free place to attend here: bit.ly/SOMSepTickets

We look forward to seeing you there.

 

Past Events

August Event:

WHEN: Tuesday 29th August 6:00PM - 8:00PM

WITH: Satnam Galsian

WHO IS IT FOR? This event is open to those who identify as women. Food and drink will be provided.

WHERE: WOMENCENTRE First Floor Empire House, Wakefield Old Road, Dewsbury, WF12 8DJ
 

July Event:
Feedback session 
 

June Event:

WHEN: Tuesday 27th June 6:00 - 8:00PM

WITH: Wilko Wilkes and Andy's Man Club

WHO IS IT FOR? Anyone with an interest in music is welcome. Food and drink will be provided.

WHERE: Jo Cox More In Common Centre, University of Huddersfield Campus

HOW TO ATTEND: You'll need to book a free place to attend here: bit.ly/SpeakOurMusicJune2023

May Event:

WHEN: Tuesday 30th May 6:00 - 8:00PM

WITH: Christian Jensen

WHO IS IT FOR? Anyone with an interest in music is welcome. Food and drink will be provided.

WHERE: at the Kirkburton Hub, 5a Riley Lane, Kirkburton, HD8 0RX

April Event: 

WHEN: Tuesday 25th April 6:00 - 8:00PM

WITH: Satnam Galsian

WHO IS IT FOR? Anyone with an interest in music is welcome. Food and drink will be provided.

WHERE: at the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Cellar Space, Queen Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2SP

March Event: 

WHEN: Tuesday 28th March 6:00 - 8:00PM

WITH: hosted by Karen Clegg a West End -trained performer and has featured in TV and cinema as well as plays, music halls, and repertory theatre.

WHO IS IT FOR? Anyone with an interest in music is welcome. Food and drink will be provided.

WHERE: at The Crescent & Co CIC 40 Station Road, Batley, WF17 5SU

The hoot office will be closed from Friday 16th December and we will be back from Tuesday 3rd January 2023. Please leave any messages on our voicemail or email info@hootcreativearts.co.uk and someone will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

Most of our activities will be back from Monday 9th January 2023 but please check our Activities page to see dates for specific groups. 

Season's greetings and we hope you have a restful and enjoyable end to 2022. See you in the new year. 

Happy New Year!

We hope you've had a restful and enjoyable end of the year. We’re excited to be kicking off 2023 with 3 new workshops on offer here at hoot. 

Evening Singing Online for adults in Kirklees 

Our popular online singing group has moved to a new evening slot on Thursdays from 6:30 – 7:30pm. Free for adults living in Kirklees who want to do something to help look after their mental health.  

Absolutely no experience is needed, and your mic will be muted during the session however you will still be able to hear all parts being sung by our fantastic singing leader Jess. 

You will need internet access and a device that can use Zoom for the video call, but you can choose to keep your camera off if you’d like to.  

To join the sessions in January, sign up online here  

Dance & movement workshops for adults in Kirklees 

We’re really happy that dance and movement sessions are back at hoot in the new year. Free for adults living in Kirklees who want to do something to help look after their mental health. 

You don’t need to have any dance experience or expertise, sessions are all about moving your bodies and doing something creative to make you feel good. Why not give it a try? 

Sessions start Monday 9th January and will take place on Mondays from 11am – 12:30pm 

To join the sessions in January, sign up online here 

Speak our music: wellbeing sessions for musicians  

Speak our music is a series of wellbeing sessions for musicians and musical artists. Join us for an engaging and inspiring evening of non-judgmental discussions about our relationships with mental health and music in a supportive environment. Food and drink provided. 

This session hosted by Wilko Wilkes, alternative rapper, music producer and rap workshop facilitator from West Yorkshire. 

Wilko talks openly in his music about his struggles with depression and how music has helped with his journey of recovery. 

Witness live rap from Wilko before taking part in an open creative writing session and, should you choose to, taking the mic to perform to a supportive audience. 

Places are limited so secure your place online here 
Part of Kirklees Year of Music 2023 

hoot creative arts are thrilled by the news from Arts Council England that we were to remain within the National Portfolio of arts organisations in England (NPO) with a significant uplift to the funding we receive. 

Working in a Priority Place and with strong contribution to ACE’s Let’s Create Strategy with our focus on the mental health benefits of engaging in arts activities we were hopeful that we could get a good outcome…but you never know! 

The team at hoot have been working flat out during the Covid-19 pandemic to meet the increasing levels of need for services like ours, and to refine the changes that were necessary in our day to day activities to maintain contact and delivery with participants whilst keeping everyone safe. This funding will allow us to build some much needed additional capacity and relieve some of the pressures experienced by the team over the last couple of years. 

Highlights we are particularly excited to build upon include: 

• A successful partnership with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services to develop ‘Creative Space’ evening drop in sessions  (Huddersfield and Batley). 

• Partnership with Older People’s Residential services to deliver within care homes and develop the Creative Care Planning initiative. 

• Redesigning the dementia service ‘Breathing Space’ to ensure delivery meets needs post covid. 

• Funding secured to develop a service for people with Learning Disabilities in residential and community settings. 

• Kirklees Year of Music 2023 - Health and Wellbeing programme and legacy development. 

This growth across our projects will be accompanied by new core staff and leadership roles so keep your eyes on our website and social media for recruitment calls starting soon for a wide range of exciting new roles. 

We are proud to be part of a strong group of NPOs in Kirklees but are aware that many great organisations weren’t successful in applying for NPO status and we are keen to work in partnership and use our status as an NPO to bolster the creative health sector in Kirklees and beyond. 

Thank you to everyone who has supported hoot over the years, we are looking forward to what's next.