Grant supports Kirkstall Art Trail's expansion

A community arts festival in Leeds is expanding its creative programme and community reach after securing new funding to support this year’s event.

The Kirkstall Art Trail has received a £1970 grant from County Durham-headquartered Banks Group’s Community Fund to enhance several attractions at the free-to-attend festival, which returns on 18 and 19 July.

Now in its 11th year, the event will feature around 100 artists across more than 30 venues, including private homes, schools, local businesses, Kirkstall Abbey and Abbey House Museum.

Officials say the funding will support an enhanced exhibition showcasing the winners of the Capture Kirkstall photography competition, with professionally printed and framed images presented to the successful entrants.

It will also fund materials for a community bunting project involving local schools, residents and community groups, alongside a new large-scale mural by Apex Studios at the Church Lane Allotments and equipment for the Art Trail's sustainable fashion show.

Around 2000 visitors are expected to attend the volunteer-led festival, which this year will also introduce its first poetry competition and a series of hands-on creative workshops.

Mandy Long, chair of the Kirkstall Art Trail organising committee, said: “The Art Trail is well established as a creative influence in our community, as well as a wider cultural highlight within Leeds and Yorkshire beyond, and we’re so excited about the breadth and quality of this year’s programme.

“It’s a wonderful way to bring communities together, both over the Art Trail weekend itself and in the run-up to the event, and offer a fantastic range of activities for participants, residents and visitors to enjoy.

“We’ve tried to expand and improve what we offer in each successive year, and the support we’ve had from the Banks Group will be absolutely crucial in enabling us to put more of the infrastructure in place that we need to do just that this time round.

“Our community photography competition is now open for entries, while local people of all ages are already well on with making the bunting that will decorate Kirkstall Abbey over the Art Trail weekend.

“We know from previous years that we have some very talented artists living across our community and we’d love to have as many local people showing off their creativity in the summer.”

The Banks Group, which is backing the event, is also promoting plans for a new mixed residential development on the former Kirkstall Forge site, including around 80 homes, approximately 140 apartments and the restoration of two Grade II-listed cottages, with the historic Grade II-listed Forge retained as a landmark celebrating the area’s industrial heritage.

Jamilah Hassan, community relations manager at the Banks Group, added: “The Kirkstall Art Trail is a brilliant initiative that gives local people the chance to express their creativity and their pride in their community.

“We’re very pleased to be helping the Art Trail team build on their achievements so far and can’t wait to see what’s on display in the summer.”

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