Things to do on a rainy day in Skipton
Visit Craven Museum & Gallery in the Town Hall in Skipton. It’s free, and it’s got one of only four Shakespeare First Folios on permanent public display
in the world. There are also lots of interesting exhibits, short films to watch, interactives for children (and adults) and a good, inexpensive, museum shop. See
www.cravenmuseum.org Go to Skipton Castle. Over 900 years old, Skipton Castle is one of the most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England and is well worth a visit at any season of the year, whatever the weather. See
www.skiptoncastle.co.uk for details of admission charges, plans of the castle, and check out the Fun Page for free downloadable activities for children before you visit.
Dress up in waterproofs and go for a walk around Skipton woods. Admission free and you can spot dippers and kingfishers if you’re lucky. If you go to the famous pork pie shop on Mill Bridge (ask someone the way in Skipton High Street) and stand with your back to the shop you can see the path to the woods on the other side of the road next to the canal. The path gives you a fantastic view of the back of the castle – see if you can spot the loo! - and you pass the old quarry. There are lots of free downloadable children’s activity packs at
http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/packs. For more details on Skipton woods, see
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/our-woods/Pages/about-this-wood.aspx?wood=4482 Finally, pop into the Tourism Information Centre, now located in Skipton Town Hall. Helpful friendly staff will be able to give you some great ideas about other things to do in the area.
Enjoy your day in Skipton, whatever the weather!
Visual Arts in Craven
Whether you're a visitor or a resident, you might be interested in the Visual arts calendar - these are some of the visual arts events that happen annually here in Craven:
· North Yorkshire Open Studios www.nyos.org.uk . A free event that combines culture with an opportunity to meet the artists, breathtaking views and a chance to hone your navigation skills. Every June. · Art in the Pen Held at Skipton’s Cattle Market, this unique event showcases artists from all over the country offering a wide range of work for sale. Every August. www.artinthepen.org.uk · Contemporary Craven Christmas Annual selling exhibition of contemporary work made by artists and makers living and/or working in Craven. See www.cravenmuseum.org for more details. Late October – December every year at Craven Museum & Gallery. Admission free.
For professional artists/makers
Art Connections is a Chrysalis Arts project that aims to support and promote professional artists, makers and other creative businesses based in York and North Yorkshire. They provide a range of services for artists at different stages in their careers, and promote the work of York and North Yorkshire artists through an online Artists Database, which aims to showcase the quality and diversity of work to be found in the county, and to provide a resource for galleries, commissioners, collectors and art buyers. There is also a free bi-monthly artists e-newsletter. See www.art-connections.org.uk for more details.
Public art
Chrysalis Arts is an artist-led public art company, training and arts development agency based in Gargrave. It is always worth checking Chrysalis Arts’ website to see if there are any temporary public art installations or other events of interest being organised by them www.chrysalisarts.com
Permanent installations within Craven:
- 2000 Millennium stone carving commission by artist stonecarver Fiona Bowley near the entrance to the church at Clapham (within the national park). Below is the guide to the carving - take it with you when you visit, to get the most from the carving.
1. John de Clapham, supporter of the Earl of Warwick, owner of Clapdale Castle 2. Arnold Brown with candlestick to illuminate the caves 3. 12th Century monks (monks travelled to the Lake District along ‘Ecclesia’, now Eggshell Lane) 4. ‘Dalesman’ gate 5. The village hall 6. Hall Garth and tree with lights at Christmas 7. Three of the bridges over the beck 8. Miss Hazard’s ducks 9. St James’s Church 10. Dame Alice Ketyll (witch) and nine dead cockerels |
Interested in making art/craft yourself?
View the Things to do on a Rainy Day in Skipton on this website - there's a list of shops in Skipton which can supply you with creative ideas and materials which may be of interest. Shops in other locations will be added soon.
Craven District Council supports the visual arts through:· The annual Contemporary Craven Christmas exhibition held at Craven Museum & Gallery, Town Hall Skipton. This exhibition showcases 50+ professional artists and makers, all of whom either live and/or work in Craven. There is a selection process to be included in the exhibition and schools/colleges also regularly visit this show – more details are available from the Arts & Exhibitions Officer (see below). Also see www.cravenmuseum.org. If you wish to find out more about a particular artist based in Craven, please contact the Arts & Exhibitions Officer.
· Public art projects. The Council is currently integrating Sustainable Art & Design in the Public Realm guidelines into its planning policies to enable more public art work to be developed within the district. Please see below for information about what already exists.
· The Craven Events website publicises all arts events happening within Craven. The accompanying Craven Events leaflet is published three times a year – pick up a free copy at the museum.
· The Craven District Council’s Arts & Exhibitions Officer, Catherine Johnson curates the Contemporary Craven Christmas exhibition and assists visual artists based within Craven, as well as supporting arts development in all art forms across Craven. Email cjohnson@cravendc.gov.uk or telephone 01756 706408.
We've put together a list of the major events that happen annually in Craven, to help you plan your trip to this beautiful part of the country:
Annual events in Craven
March
· Flowers of the Dales Festival - a celebration of the wonderful wildflowers of the Yorkshire Dales www.ydmt.org 015242 51002
June
· Clapham Art Group Annual Exhibition 01729 823326
July
· Craven Classic, Skipton at Craven Bowling Club 01756 795979
August
September
October
· Contemporary Craven Christmas,
selling exhibition of professional artists and makers work including paintings prints ceramics jewellery cards and textiles Craven Museum & Gallery
www.cravenmuseum.org 01756 706407
November
December
All year round
And remember, to keep up to date with what’s happening in the district, please add this email address
www.cravenevents.org.uk to your web favourites, and if you're an events organiser, add your own event, so long as it's happening within Craven.
Thank you.
The Settle Storytelling Festival has teamed up with social networking website Audioboo to launch a competition to find the best amateur storyteller in Britain.
Audioboo allows users to record and share audio clips online and Settle Storytelling Festival’s collaboration with the company marks the first time the technology has been used for a storytelling competition, anywhere in the UK.
To enter, budding storytellers simply need to go to the Festival’s website www.settlestories.org.uk and click the tab for competition. There are storytelling tips and information on what the judge is looking for. Once uploaded, all the clips will be available for anyone to share and enjoy. What's more the competition is free to enter.
Stories will be judged by the UK’s storytelling laureate Taffy Thomas MBE and the winning entry receives a luxury two night break ( B & B) for a family of four at The Coniston Hotel, Skipton, North Yorkshire. Runner-up prizes are available and the overall winner will be announced at the festival. The competition closes on 25 September 2011.
Produced by Settle Stories, the Settle Storytelling Festival takes place between 6th to the 9th of October in North Yorkshire and the 2011 programme boasts a family friendly line up of established and contemporary storytelling talent from home and abroad.
Get your early bird on-line discounts for the festival now.
Go to www.settlestories.org.uk and book NOW!