2020 has been a year of uncertainty but one thing that’s brightened our spirits is the street art scene in Leeds and how it’s added an extra pop of colour to this gloomy year.That’s how we discovered the uber-talented Emma Hardaker – working in our next-door neighbourhood Mabgate. She’s worked alongside MAP charity to funky-up pavements around the area and is a favourite with City Centre Management too – turning dull hoardings into works of art (have a look at our last blog post for more info!).

So, we thought who better than Emma to commission a Christmas installation from?Along with sign painter Jameson Rogan, Emma has created a fun, festive and contemporary Christmas installation for us on Playhouse Square.Both artist’s work is typically graphic in style and takes reference from mid-century design, pattern and type.Drawing inspiration from traditional Christmas wrapping paper patterns and using the tag line “Together Again” – a sentiment shared by all this Christmas, the two designers wanted to create something that is vibrant and eye-catching but not overtly Christmassy, using more muted winter colours and subtle shapes and patterns. This piece is a modern take on the usual Christmas decor we see.

So, we’d like to say a huge thank you to Emma and Jameson for creating this great installation, and Happy Christmas to all our friends, neighbours and the people of Leeds, from everyone here at SOYO.

Street art in Mabgate is flourishing and in so, helping to raise the profile of the area and showcase the creative and cultural organisations which make Mabgate so great. Many local artists and organisations are now part of the street art programme, an initiative that is supported by the Leeds City Centre Management team of Leeds City Council.

Organisation Music and Production (MAP) Charity, an alternative education provider based in Mabgate have started a joint project with the council and local artists to bring more street art to enhance the setting of their building, due to go under a multimillion pound refurbishment next year. The art work has been designed by the students and staff and installed by local artists Emma Hardaker and organisation ‘Open to the Public’. The designs take inspiration from local architecture and historic bridges in the area. There are so many more plans for  street art to bring colour, vibrancy and interest to the area -and will make the area feel more of a destination during times of construction works!

The Regent Street flyover construction site, believe it or not is also the home to some great artwork too- the bright and bold colours on the new hoardings are super fun and hopefully make the area feel safer and a pleasant walk through.

To add to the already growing profile of Mabgate, it has recently received the title as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the UK by renowned travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller, among other up and coming neighbourhoods across the UK, describing the area as ‘under-the-radar zone with art at its core’.

The first ever Mabgate Annual, an outdoor artist and community led event, took place in 2019 on St Mary’s greenspace in Mabgate.

A celebration of the area’s local creative businesses and organisations, Mabgate Annual hosted numerous exhibitions from local artists and provided activities for families, fresh local produce and live music. The event is championed and led by local artists, including Emma Hardaker, East Street Arts, alongside support from Leeds city centre management.

The event has done so much to raise the profile of Mabgate across the city and define it as a creative way for local creative businesses to come together, collaborate and celebrate the area. Look out for next year’s event in 2021!

-Becci Erbillur-Gray

@leedscitycentremanagement

We’re really excited to talk about our latest onsite project – Street Stories by Found Fiction and funded by the Leeds City College Arts Fund.

Street Stories is an urban literature project which celebrates the area’s voices past, present and future. As part of Street Stories, a team of Leeds writers have written super-short stories to be displayed in public spaces, abandoned areas and prominent venues across Quarry Hill – including our SOYO site and on the fast-evolving Moda Living apartment block.  It’s core to the SOYO ethos to work closely with our neighbours, and artists in the city, especially on creative, inspiring projects like this.

The stories will be published guerrilla style – popping up in all different formats from banners, to vinyl stickers and even chalk painted murals, just waiting to grab the attention of, and empower passers by. But you’ll have to wait until the weekend of 14/15 August before we reveal where our Story will be unveiled.

Found Fiction have selected four Leeds writers for the project based on their creative talent, and personal connections to Quarry Hill.

We’re lucky enough to have our story written by Chris Nickson – a historical crime novelist who has set 26 of his books in Leeds, covering a range of centuries, from the 1730s to the 1950s. He’s explored the Quarry Hill area and it’s history in depth, from the rumours of Romans to the heyday of the flats. The past of the city runs through his blood and we’re honoured to show his story to the people of Leeds.

Whilst we’re here it would be rude not to give the other fantastic writers a shoutout!

Taiwo Ogunyinka is a published poet, performer and organiser who grew up in East End Park, Leeds. For the past 10 years of his life he has passed through Quarry Hill on morning and home commutes. Taiwo’s personal experiences and growth as an artist have been supported by Quarry Hill, through performances at our neighbours The Leeds Playhouse, rehearsals at Munro House and events at The Wardrobe.

Sarah Whitehouse is a writer based in Leeds, weaving together the threads of the past, present and future of Quarry Hill. Living for the past five years in the 1850s East Street Mills, she loved the daily walk past the ghost signs of school cap makers and tailors painted on the exterior of the mill. Her flat is in the shadow of her grandad and great grandparents, who were part of the old St Patrick’s Parish, living and going to school nearby. Sarah has recently started a new job at Quarry House, where her dad also works.

Mark is a writer, runner and baker, born and raised in Leeds (but bred here, there and everywhere!). His writing has included comics, journalism and the history of Yorkshire food. Many of Mark’s best memories of his grandma, Dorothy, were made in the Quarry Theatre of Leeds Playhouse. She would point out St Hilda’s down the road where his grandad, Jim, used to sing, not telling the nuns that he was really there for the free breakfast.

And then there’s Steve Clarkson – the force behind Found Fiction. Along with an army literary guerrillas Steve’s mission since 2013 is to bring the art of the short story to a new, unsuspecting audience.