ISSUEFOUR2015

TH

E B

RO

OK

SB

AN

K A

RT

HA

US

MA

GA

ZIN

E

IssueFour2015

The Brooksbank School’s Wind and Brass Band has had a busy performance schedule recently. It began with seasonal performances over the Christmas period, when our musicians happily performed at local resident homes and department stores. There was even a wet and windy set outside 1885 The Restaurant in Stainland. Word soon spread about of the quality of the performances and more invitations followed.

Slots in two prestigious events came calling, one of them being the Mayor’s Charity Concert at Halifax Town Hall and Calderdale Council’s ‘Our Stars’ celebration at the Victoria Theatre. Both were very successful and we received some fantastic feedback.

Hul l Truck cal l ing

Music, be our guest!

Year 12 Theatre Studies students will be taking part in this year’s Yorkshire Schools’ Drama Festival. The two-day festival gives young people the opportunity to perform in a prestigious professional venue.

Students will create a ten-minute devised piece based on the given themes of: ‘Home is where the heart is’, ‘Journeys and People’ and ‘Places We Love’. Performing at Hull Truck Theatre, the chosen themes underscore Hull’s Capital of Culture celebrations in 2017.

Pi lot 3D Art and Design course takes shape

Dean Clough-based sculptor, Frank Darnley, will be working with art students who have chosen to study a brand new art course at The Brooksbank School. The Three Dimensional Art and Design GCSE Course is a new course which is being piloted by Brooksbank. Beginning in September, students will explore aspects of three-dimensional media, production techniques and processes, using traditional and new technologies. Students will be invited to Frank’s studio at Dean Clough to put these new techniques into practice.

Many will be familiar with Frank Darnley’s aluminium-ringleted ‘Ram’, which can be seen over looking G Mill. The steely sculpture was originally commissioned for Bradford Festival’s Carnival Parade in the early nineties. It was purchased by business entrepreneur and Dean Clough developer, Sir Ernest Hall. It was Sir Ernest who began the transformation of Dean Clough from a derelict industrial landscape of mills into the eclectic arts, business and commercial hub we see today.

T H E B R O O K S B A N K A R T H A U S M A G A Z I N E | I S S U E 4 | 2 0 1 5

‘Frank Darnley’s Ram’overlooking Dean Clough

^

T H E B R O O K S B A N K A R T H A U S M A G A Z I N E | I S S U E 4 | 2 0 1 5

The Headteacher and Sixth Form students from Brooksbank were invited to

take part in BBC Radio 4’s ‘Front Row’ public debate recently. The discussion dealt with the complex relationship between arts and the state and asked, ‘Are artists owed a living?’ John Wilson hosted the debate which marked the launch of the BBC’s ‘Get Creative’ campaign, which aims to encourage people to engage with art.

Kevin McCallion spoke about his passion for promoting the arts at Brooksbank, adding that it wasn’t always easy for schools to promote the arts. “Schools are accountable beasts,” he said. “Measurements by school league tables and Ofsted inspections primarily focus on student performance in English, Maths and Science. At The Brooksbank School,

we value the arts incredibly highly. We find that students who opt to study arts subjects actually become more successful in other areas.”

The Head went on to highlight the hugely beneficial links the school had developed with many artists, actors and London art gallery, Messum’s, for the benefit of its students. His comments were endorsed by members of the panel who said that education was helping to squash creativity out of young people except in really good schools. It was clear the Head’s comments had struck a chord with many in the audience too, judging by the applause he received. Art student, Emma Pollacco, expressed her enthusiasm for the arts, describing her positive experience at the school and how the arts had shaped her outlook; “I am currently studying Art, Drama and Business. The arts are a big part of my time at Brooksbank. I’m a creative person and want a career in events management. Art at Brooksbank has guided me to what I want to do, when I get older.”

From BBS to BBC

Vis i ts f romrenownedart is ts

Fancy working creatively alongside two prestigious artists? Brooksbank is hosting a series of artistic weekend workshops with two renowned artists, Tom Wood and Jake Attree, in the summer term. This is a chance for artists and creatives to be inspired by Jake and Tom’s techniques and produce some uniquely individual work.

Tom Wood is known for his celebrated portraits of Professor Lord Robert Winston and Alan Bennett which were commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery. Jake Attree is a sought-after figurative artist who captures the moods of Yorkshire so brilliantly. Readers of arthaus Extra will remember The Elemental North art exhibition, recently in the arthaus at Brooksbank, where Jake’s portrait of the school was unveiled. Details will be released soon on our website:www.bbs.calderdale.sch.uk.

Competing for Peter BrookArt Prize2015Following on from the huge success of The Elemental North art exhibition, students from Brooksbank have proudlyexhibited their work in a competition for the Peter Brook Art Prize. Held at the Smith Art Gallery, Brighouse, the Prize is awarded in memory of Brighouse artist Peter Brook, who died in 2009 at the age of 81. Students were delighted to hear that they had scooped the Prize for 2015.

Among the young artists representing The Brooksbank School were, Maria Gomez, Charlotte Dixon and Matthew Neil, whose talented paintings and photography work was a joy to see.

Remembering Peter Brook, Jeffrey Andrews of Calderdale Museums and Galleries, said: “Peter Brook was a significant local artist and it is important that his work continues to be recognised in his home town of Brighouse and throughout Calderdale. The exhibition is a celebration of his life and work but also bridges the gap between his work and the work of young and up-and-coming artists at the outset of their careers.” Peter taught Art at Sowerby Bridge Grammar School before becoming a professional artist in his forties. Passionate about Yorkshire Pennine landscapes, he was very supportive of young artists in his hometown.”

T H E B R O O K S B A N K A R T H A U S M A G A Z I N E | I S S U E 4 | 2 0 1 5

T H E B R O O K S B A N K A R T H A U S M A G A Z I N E | I S S U E 4 | 2 0 1 5

Brooksbank hosts prest ig ious music event

The main stage at Brooksbank was the venue for the regional heats of the world’s largest youth music festival. We were among fifty locations chosen by Music for Youth, a national youth music organisation, which gives young people free access to perform. The festival is open to talent from a wide range of genres from folk, world, western classical and contemporary jazz through to urban and electronic music.

Competing in the regional heats were fourteen brass bands and jazz ensembles, nine choirs and ten stringed ensembles. In all, over 800 talented young musicians, aged between 8 – 18, graced Brooksbank’s main stage to create some truly resonating sounds from all genres. Over the weekend more than 1000 people flooded through the doors to watch forty performances.

Brooksbank was well represented by the School Choir, Chamber Choir, Get Folked! and the mighty Brooksbank Blasts!, a brass ensemble of musicians from Brooksbank and its primary partner schools. The event, which was sponsored by the ABRSM, the exam board for the Royal Schools of Music, was a major success.

Experts on hand were Kate Jones, who has worked on many major Music events around the UK and is currently Programme Director of GIGS, the Mayor of London’s annual busking competition and Bill Watson, Director of Great North Big Band Jazz Festival. This national platform features 40,000 young musicians with 40 finalists going forward to perform at the National Finals at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on 7th – 11th July.

Follow the progress of the youngsters on Twitter @thebrooksbank @musicforyouth and #mfyregional.

Huddersf ie ld Phi lharmonic ’s ‘A Night at the Movies ’Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra is returning to Brooksbank. This time there are two distinct themes to the programme, beginning with three classical pieces and moving on to some evocative movie favourites. ‘The Phil’s’ Musical Director, Robert Guy will conduct: Sibelius’s ‘Finlandia’; Mozart’s ‘Clarinet Concerto in A major, K622 (Movements 1 and 2)’ and Sibelius’s ‘Symphony No 2 (Movement 4: Finale)’.

With the audience warmed up, the mood will switch gear with performances of some magical movie masterpieces. John Williams’s ‘Star Wars Theme’ , Howard Shore’s ‘The Lord Of The Rings’ ,Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer’s ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean’ and Barry Gray’s ‘Thunderbirds Theme’. Offenbach’s ‘Can Can’ from ‘Orpheus in the Underworld’ and a final triumphal finale rendition of Elgar’s ‘Pomp and Circumstance March No.1’ completes this impressive, ‘something-for-everyone’ programme which promises to be a huge success.

Tickets will be available from June onwards on 01422 374791 and online at www.bbs.calderdale.sch.uk.

Why not join us on twitter @thebrooksbank to find out about more up and coming exciting events?

Let’s

get

phy

sica

lbr

ingi

ng r

oles

to

life

wit

h S

tick

s T

heat

re

T H E B R O O K S B A N K A R T H A U S M A G A Z I N E | I S S U E 4 | 2 0 1 5

Halifax-based professional theatre company; Sticks have spent the day at Brooksbank demonstrating their skills in physical theatre.

Sticks, who recently performed ‘The Wild Adventures of Robin Hood’ at Square Chapel Centre for the Arts, champion multiple-role play and quick-change characterisation. At Brooksbank, they delivered a series of back-to-back workshops to GCSE and A level Drama students, which challenged students to discover their bodies.

Focusing on physical theatre, no dialogue was needed. Instead, students concentrated on using their bodies to convey messages and ideas. Workshops began withwarm-up games, designed to get students to focus on body language – with a game of bip-bop tennis thrown in for fun!Le

t’s g

et p

hysi

cal

brin

ging

rol

es t

o lif

e w

ith

Sti

cks

The

atre

Developing physical approaches to acting has allowed students to think more deeply about their character and explore new ways of bringing it to life. A top tip from Sticks:

For their examination, students are asked to devise a piece of drama, which is imaginative and believable with in-depth characters – an essential to audience engagement. With exams closing in, these explorative workshops have enabled students to focus on the task in hand.

“Your body is your tool box. Use it to express yourself and the roles you play.”

T H E B R O O K S B A N K A R T H A U S M A G A Z I N E | I S S U E 4 | 2 0 1 5

Back to b lack and whi te 35mm f i lm

The arthaus dark room is revealing some incredible images as interest in working with 35mm film is booming. After decades in the dark, Year 13 Fine Art and Photography students have turned to traditional methods of development, to give their work a new edge. “Using 35mm film, they have been experimenting with these century-oldtechniques to produce image that have real depth and character,” says professional photographer, Robbie Barratt.

Among them is the talented young photographer, Ben Jackson. Ben has been shooting negative film to creative some inspired portrait work of musicians with their instruments.

Chloe Dawson has also chosen to capture her artwork in the pre-digital format. Chloe chose ‘Moments Preserved’ as a theme to reflect the backstory of her Polish grandfather, who escaped a prisoner of war camp. Inspired by the artist, Christian Boltanski, Chloe has produced some moving black and white prints of war-related ephemera.

Kate Watson has been absorbed by the beautiful local landscapes that surround us. Inspired by black and white photographer, Fay Godwin, Kate’s keen eye has captured their essence extremely well. We can’t wait to see what secrets the dark room will reveal next!

‘Moments Preserved’Chloe Dawson^

LandscapesKate Watson

^

THE ARTHAUS | VICTORIA ROAD | ELLAND | WEST YORKSHIRE | HX5 OQGTEL: (01422) 374791 FAX: (01422) 310945

email: arthaus@bbs.calderdale.sch.uk www.bbs.calderdale.sch.uk

DIARY

WHERE TO FIND US. . .

Inhaus Art 2015‘Road’ & ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’

Huddersfield Philharmonic ConcertYorkshire Schools’ Drama Festival

Summer Show

April - July 2015

MayTuesday 12th - Friday 22nd

Thursday 21st

JuneTuesday 23rd

Saturday 27th - Sunday 28th

JulyThursday 9th