We are delighted to announce that funding has been awarded through Grants for the Arts for two projects led by Yorkshire artists and supported by Yorkshire Dance.

Memory Box, led by Hayley Graham and Rachel Clarke, is an interactive installation interspersed with dance performance, based around childhood memories and play. It transforms an ordinary space into somewhere exciting, Memory Box creates a welcoming space for people of all generations to come together and enjoy the arts.

“ Yorkshire Dance have helped us to gain the funding and knowledge we needed to be able to develop Memory Box and take it out to the public. They provided initial match funding, were on hand with advice during the application process and always happy to offer guidance on project management.” Rachel and Hayley.

Rachel Clarke & Hayley Graham first developed a scratch of this idea for Bish Bash Bosh 2015 and since receiving a Grants for the Arts, they are now further developing the project. They have been out into the community with Young at Arts delivering dance and craft workshops to older adults, creating opportunities to access arts activities and chatting with them about their childhood experiences. The research from these workshops has fed into a residency period to develop sections of dance performance which will be performed in the space. During this process they have also been developing the play installation, creating a space with fun activities and areas that everyone can interact and engage with. Memory Box will be performed at 3 family festivals throughout summer and autumn 2017.

Kim Oakley also received Grants for the Arts investment to establish a new urban dance company to develop performance work for schools and a community based tour in North and North East Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire. This project builds on learning and development from a previous successful project and continues the legacy of Kim’s work with Street Beat.

“It’s been a pleasure supporting Kim, one of our regional catalysts, to achieve success through Grants for the Arts for this next developmental project. Kim has such vision and drive and I look forward to seeing this latest venture come to fruition.” Hannah Robertshaw, Programmes Director, Yorkshire Dance.