Events specifically for young people have been added to this year’s Otley Wildlife Arts Festival in October. All the new events have a nature theme and include a music making workshop, children’s art and storytelling workshops and activities.
‘Making Sound Tracks’ is a day long music workshop for young people. Wildlife Friendly Otley, the festival organisers, have teamed up with Richard Sabey at Woolpack Studios to offer youngsters the chance to make music both inspired by nature and using natural sounds. Young people aged 11 - 18 are encouraged to come and have a go at composing a track with Richard's help using birdsong, instruments and voices. Samples and instruments will be provided or participants can bring their own.
Festival organiser, Neil Griffin, said: “This is a very different, possibly unique, way of celebrating nature through music making. The workshop is about the sheer enjoyment of making music and connecting with nature, and participants will be offered the opportunity for a public platform on our website for the tracks created.
We are most grateful for the support for this event and others from Leeds City Council’s Leeds Inspired Fund which supports a wide range of arts events across the city.”
The workshop - ‘Making Sound Tracks’ - is on Saturday 8th October at the Woolpack Studios, and costs only £10 for the day (£7.50 unwaged). Places are limited and should be booked with Richard on 07956 205151 or email info@bighooha.co.uk
For younger children there will be two sessions of craft and storytelling at Otley Library on Saturday 15 October. ‘Webs of Wonder', presented by Pat Foster of Wildlife Friendly Otley, is a blend of making and story. Weave a web, craft a spider, listen to the antics of Anansi the trickiest spider of them all. Sessions are 11am to 11.45 and 2pm to 2.45. Admission is free but places are limited and should be booked through the library. Children need to be accompanied by a parent.
There will also a nature-based arts activity room for children at Otley Courthouse alongside the main exhibition on Saturday 15 October. Festival Sticker Art is being run by Alex Eve who said: “Any child can make anything; they can have fun in modelling their favourite piece of wildlife - this is truly sculpture for all!" Free admission.
The main programme of this year’s Otley Wildlife Arts Festival is on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 October and offers a very diverse mixture of events in a celebration of wildlife in art, music, talks, ideas, books, exhibits, film, and photography. It features presentations by three nationally-known authors, one internationally known film-maker, six local creative groups, a further eleven artists and seven photographers, five musicians, a well-being-in- nature practitioner, and three workshops for youngsters.. The festival also receives support from OtleyTown Council; Sinclairs of Otley and Wharfedale Naturalists Society.
Most of the events are free and further information at www.otleycourthouse.org.uk and www.wildlifefriendlyotley.org.uk/festival