Beam

20/03/2026

Calling all artists! 📣📣

Are you passionate about creating inspirational artworks in public spaces for everyone to enjoy? Do you love engaging communities in your design process?

If so, we need your creative skills to join a team of artists creating unique artworks as part of our 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 project - a programme of socially engaged public artworks across the Wigan borough, delivered by on behalf of

We currently have 𝟮 𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 in Swinley and Mosley Common (we are looking for 2 different artists to each deliver one commission).

𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁: All-inclusive fee of £12,000 per commission (inclusive of VAT if applicable)
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲: April-Nov 26
𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 12pm Monday 20 April 26
𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀: w/c Monday 4 April (date to be agreed)

Find full details and how to apply https://www.beam.uk.net/events/made-you-look-wigan/

13/03/2026

We can't wait to see this new mural by Shiraaz Ali installed 👇

New mural to be unveiled celebrating Ossett’s distinctive heritage

08/03/2026

Today, on International Women’s Day 2026, we recognise and celebrate the women and non binary artists who contribute so much to our organisation and the wider arts sector. Across career stages and disciplines, they play a vital role in shaping and creating artwork as part of Beam projects and programmes. We’re proud to support their creativity, skill and dedication.

We also acknowledge that there is more to do to ensure fair access, representation and opportunity across the arts. We remain committed to continuing that work throughout the year.

Thank you to all the brilliant artists who have inspired us over the last year

26/02/2026

Beam at 40: 🍊The Orangery Years 🍊

The second of our Beam at 40 archive series, this month we’re looking back at The Orangery, Beam’s Grade II* listed home in the heart of Wakefield (right next to Westgate Station) for twenty years from 1995–2015.

This unique city-centre space (which included The Orangery itself plus front and rear gardens) forms a pocket-park oasis in the centre of Wakefield. Over two decades, Beam worked with artists, architects, designers, educators, communities, young people, local organisations, festivals and groups to fill it with creativity - commissioning new outdoor artworks by local, national and international artists, programming bold cultural events, and hosting everything from community celebrations and conferences to weddings and more.

Since its late 18th Century beginnings, The Orangery has been many things: a private garden, a public botanical exhibition (yes, including a dancing bear 🐻), a bath house, gravesite, school and meeting place. We’re proud of the role Beam played in connecting people through culture, contributing to the rich and colourful history of this remarkable place.

The photos we’re sharing are just a snapshot - so many moments happened here during our 20 years as custodians.
✨ Do you have a special Orangery memory to share?




Images

Facade of the grade II* listed Orangery venue for exhibitions and events
‘A Maze for Yorkshire’ by Richard Woods, 2013 © Jonty Wilde
Will Alsop’s vision for a new Orangery, 2005
Aquascape by Fujiki Studio, Japan, 2009
The Nest by Jan-Erik Andersson, 2004
Nighttime events, ‘An Evening of Enlightenment’ produced by Noah Burton and Long Division festival acoustic performance 2013
Wakefield Lit Fest 2012-17, Poetry Business workshop and Black Horse Poets Poetry Party’
Small structures event and built environment summer school, 2005/ 06
Swing It!, installation by Morag Myerscough & Luke Morgan, 2014 © Bob Collier
Swing it! Continued
Orangery Collage, illustrating Beam’s wider creative placeshaping work across the region by David Mach, commissioned - mid 90’s

25/02/2026

We've got such a fantastic team of creative's supporting A Sense of Chesterfield
.mbirdie
& Access and Inclusion Uk
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📖 We’ve been busy working behind the scenes with our partners to develop, A Sense of Chesterfield, a new heritage arts trail that will guide you around the town centre and help uncover hidden history – we’re pleased to announce that we’ve appointed five poets to create new works which will enhance the trail.

Emma Birdie (.mbirdie), Kate Burns (what_k8_did_next), Charlotte Lunn (), Matthew Hedley Stoppard (), and Tyler Turner () all have a strong local connection and will each work with the community to create poems that tie to the themes of the trail.

They join Sculpture Works, based in Wirksworth, who are working to develop public artworks that will form key points along the trail.

The project is complemented by community engagement which has been taking place in schools and groups around the borough and has helped to shape the themes and stories within the trail.

We’ll be announcing more details about the trail later this year and expect it to be ready for you to explore before the end of 2026.

A Sense of Chesterfield is being funded through the Animate Chesterfield programme, with a further £80,000 awarded to this project by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible thanks to National Lottery players.

You can find out more about A Sense of Chesterfield by visiting our website. Link in bio.

19/02/2026

18/02/2026

have created ‘Twist and Shout’ which will be shown from 7pm until the event ends on a loop on both evenings.

Rob Vale, founder of Illuminos, said: "We’re so excited to be developing Twist and Shout in Chesterfield. Growing up in Matlock, I attended Chesterfield College Art Foundation course, and it was fundamental in shaping me as an artist. Coming full circle and working with today’s Foundation Students is really special and hopefully gives them ideas for their own creative journeys.

“The piece involves their work becoming a direct part of the projection mapping, asking them to imagine objects, elements and moments relevant to them and their connection to the town, then giving them a unique and creative ’twist’. Combined with the ringing ’shouts’ of the market sellers, performed for us by community participants, we hope to bring a one of a kind celebration of Chesterfield’s spirit and energy, which like its iconic spire, always has a twist.”

• • • • • •
🥳 We’re marking the completion of the multi million pound transformation of Chesterfield Markets with a brand new celebration — packed with vibrant entertainment, family friendly activities and a spectacular projection show lighting up the Market Hall.

✨ Twist and Shout by Illuminos
🎡 A 35m observation wheel
🎶 Live music and street performers
🎨 Free craft workshops and UV face painting
🛍️ Night market
🍔 Food, drink & the classic London Bus Bar

Come and experience our revitalised market spaces like never before on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 March.

Funding for the event has been provided through the Animate Chesterfield programme and from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

You can find out more about Chesterfield Glow Up by visiting our website. Link in bio.

18/02/2026

'Chesterfield Through Our Eyes' exhibition opens in The Pavements Shopping centre. Young artists from the Next Gen collective, who are supported by , have created new artworks as part of the programme for

18/02/2026

We've really enjoyed working with the Next Gen young artists collective supported by Junction Arts who created this exhibition for

Young artists present 'Chesterfield Through Our Eyes' with new exhibition inspired by our borough

17/02/2026

Delighted to be working with on this exciting new artwork in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire

with .repost
・・・
2026 has begun at full momentum in the studio, with several projects developing in parallel.

A recent milestone is the submission of designs for a new public sculpture in Catterick for planning approval. This project has been shaped by the site’s history and the many voices that define the place, responding to themes of movement, transition, and shared resilience.

The work takes the form of a circular steel structure opened into a passageway, both landmark and threshold. This gesture subtly echoes Catterick’s past, where train tracks once bisected the old camp roundabout, and now invites the public to step through a shared space of reflection and renewal.

Radiating elements extend outward like directional lines, tracing journeys and the transient rhythms of life, the many stories carried through the town by service personnel, families, and civilians alike.

The piece is a crossing of people, of time, and of stories, anchored in steel, open to all.

More to share soon.

sapien catterick planning placemaking cortensteel cortensculpture contempoaryart communityengagement yorkshiresculptureno

13/02/2026

Today we have been installing the Next Gen collective exhibition at The Pavements shopping centre. If you're in town make sure you visit to see these inspiring artworks
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🎨 Young artists from Chesterfield will be exhibiting their work in the Pavements Shopping Centre from 14 February to 14 March.

‘Chesterfield Through Our Eyes’ was created by members of Next Gen collective.

As part of the Animate Chesterfield programme the young artists were given the opportunity to respond to a professional brief to create artwork which shows what Chesterfield means to them, their connection to the town and what they think the future could hold for Chesterfield.

The exhibition is using new displays which have been purchased through the programme and will also be available for other community groups to book in the future.

You can find out more about the project on our website. Link in bio.

12/02/2026