Press Release

PAPILIO – GIANT ARTWORKS ON SCAFFOLDING WRAPS EMERGE TO CELEBRATE SELBY’S UNIQUE HERITAGE

Beautiful scaffolding wrapped buildings are emerging in the heart of Selby to celebrate the town’s rich and unique heritage as part of Selby Stories.

The stunningly beautiful but purposely fleeting and transient wraps have been designed by artist Ed Kluz to look like tumbling swags of cloth for the art installations – titled Papilio.

Papilio is Medieval Latin for ‘tent’ or ‘butterfly’ and the wraps will continue to emerge over the coming weeks on scaffolding for historic buildings being restored and improved thanks to grants in Selby’s Heritage High Street Action Zone.

The High Streets Heritage Action Zones scheme is a multi-million pound fund launched in 2019 by Historic England to champion and revive historic high streets. Selby is one of more than 60 high streets in the country to receive a share of funding from Historic England, along with funding from North Yorkshire Council. Selby Stories is the cultural programme for the HSHAZ – innovative events and art projects running until the end of 2023 celebrating the town, its history and what makes Selby special.

The wraps have been digitally printed to look like giant tumbling folds of cloth and the tent-like structure was inspired by the historic markets, fairs and festivals which have long been part of Selby’s history. The plant motifs on the drapes draw on the origin stories of Selby Abbey – the return to the fertile wilderness that the Abbey’s founder, Benedict, encountered when he arrived in the late 11th Century. They also echo the beautiful Medieval foliate carvings found in stone and wood within the Abbey building.

Creating the designs was a true labour of love – with Ed collecting real plants and shoots from around the Abbey and using modern photographic techniques to capture their forms in minute detail. Digital manipulation was then used to create repeat patterns which were printed onto real fabric and arranged into a large scale installation that was then photographed to create the final images for reproduction on the wraps.

Ed comments:

“My starting point was to sift through the early history of the town and the Abbey at its centre. I wanted to identify where its spirit of place might lie and pinpoint a visual symbolism which threads through its history to the present day.

The project coincided with the very first shoots of spring and I gathered sprigs of the native wild plants that grow around the Abbey – including yarrow, hedge garlic, wild chervil, hemlock, wood avens, ragwort and wood sorrel.

The plant motifs echo the intricate Medieval carvings of writhing foliage found in the abbey today and nod towards its origin story. The cloth seems to swaddle the buildings as restorative and regenerative works are undertaken underneath and represents the return of the wilderness, albeit in a theatrical form, to the town.”

 

North Yorkshire Council’s Executive Member for Culture, Simon Myers said:

“This is a unique piece of artwork drawing on stories relating to the origin of Selby.   I urge people from across the county to take a look when they can – the wraps will only be there as long as the scaffolding is around the buildings so catch them while you can.”

Jane Jackson from Historic England said:

“We’re really pleased to be supporting this wonderful art project through the High Street Heritage Action Zone. Scaffolding is usually a bit of an eyesore but Ed Klutz’s vibrant wraps are transforming it into something beautiful and thought provoking.”

22 Finkle Street is the first building to be covered and a further two buildings will follow. The artworks will only remain whilst the scaffolding is on site and will be removed once the restoration work on each building is complete. Catch them whilst you can.

The full Selby Stories programme is available at https://exploreheartofyorkshire.co.uk/selbystories

 

PRESS RELEASE

Selby Minecraft Block Party 3 Launched

The exciting third phase of Selby in Minecraft ‘Block Party 3’ has been launched.

The visually stunning imaginative experience enables Minecrafters to experience the town in highly creative ways – including flying through the Abbey’s towers, travelling up the River Ouse and exploring round the historic streets.

Even more people are invited to get involved this year to help shape the Selby Minecraft map. This will include hands-on drop in fun days and builds, workshops with local schools and Selby College and the launch of a new online Selby Minecraft Club.

The party starts with a FREE drop in family workshop on Wednesday 15 February at Selby Abbey from 10.30am to 3pm. Older children can explore Selby Abbey in Minecraft in short sessions on laptops, whilst younger ones can learn how to craft their own papercraft Minecraft blocks and play with Lego. No booking is required

The Selby Block Party 3 Minecraft Map is being created by professional Minecraft artist and digital noodler Adam Clarke from The Common People. He’s also known as popular youtuber – Wizard Keen. He’s working alongside John Wright who has a background in music, composition, Minecraft production and creating captivating educational workshops.

The innovative initiative is part of Selby Stories – the cultural programme for the Selby High Street Heritage Action Zone. Special events and activities are celebrating the town, its history and what makes it unique. Selby is one of more than 60 high streets in the country to receive a share of funding from Historic England, along with funding from Selby District Council.

Adam Clarke explains:

We had fantastic fun creating the Selby Minecraft world last year and welcoming people of all ages let their creativity run wild. This year is about expanding Selby in Minecraft and working with even more people to create new and exciting adventures. It’s all about the people of Selby creating the worlds that they want to explore. We’re also taking inspiration from the fabulous Selby Stories that have been shared with writer in residence, Sarah Butler and the intricate details that have shaped the tiny embroideries of textile artist Serena Partridge.”

Cllr Tim Grogan, Lead Executive Member for Health and Culture at Selby District Council adds:

“This is an exciting way to get young people to explore the history and heritage of Selby through the Minecraft universe. The first sessions, were hugely popular and these latest workshops will quite literally build on their success! It also highlights how the Selby’s High Street Heritage Action Zone is celebrating the town and delivering vibrant activities for local people.”

Jane Jackson, from Historic England, said:

“This is a fantastic, imaginative way for people of all ages to explore Selby for themselves. It’s a great example of the innovative way that the High Street Heritage Action Zone is helping to celebrate the rich history of the town and spark interest in its heritage in many different, innovative ways.”

Schools who would like to get involved in the project can email HofYIndustry@selby.gov.uk. More information about the Selby Minecraft club will be launched in the Spring.

Details of events and how to access Selby in Minecraft can be found at https://exploreheartofyorkshire.co.uk/things-to-do/selby-stories/

PRESS RELEASE

EXPLORE SELBY IN MINECRAFT

3 August 2022

Minecrafters are invited to explore the virtual world of Selby in a brand new Minecraft map of the town.

The visually stunning imaginative experience enables Minecrafters to experience the town in highly creative ways including Selby Abbey, the market, Selby Park, Finkle Street and more. Feel what it’s like to fly into the Abbey’s towers, explore hidden staircases, travel up the river Ouse and across the landmark toll bridge and then wander round the historic streets.

This latest map has been created by professional Minecraft artist and digital noodler Adam Clarke from The Common People. He’s also known as popular youtuber Wizard Keen. The map builds on a previous Selby Minecraft world that focused mainly on the Abbey. Minecrafters can claim their own plot on the new map where they can build their own creative ideas for what Selby might be like – past, present and future.

The innovative initiative is part of Selby Stories – the cultural programme for the Selby High Street Heritage Action Zone. Running until 2023, special events and activities will celebrate the town, its history and what makes it unique. Selby is one of more than 60 high streets in the country to receive a share of funding from Historic England, along with funding from Selby District Council.

Workshops will also to help as many people as possible experience the world of Selby in Minecraft. Online workshops on 13 and 27 August will enable Minecrafters to test their building skills or just have fun creating within their own Minecraft plot. Everyone, including non-Minecrafters, is also welcomed to a live workshop on Monday 22 August at Selby Abbey. There will be the chance to experience a fly through of the Minecraft map on a big screen as well as tons of hands-on activities including designing Minecraft skins and building with lego. Wizard Keen will also give hourly chats about the creation of the Minecraft world.

If you’re not a Minecraft expert, you can also see a video fly through of the site on the Selby Stories website

The project runs until late 2023 and Adam and the Selby Stories team will be seeking ideas for how the map can be developed and explored in different ways over the coming months.

Adam Clarke explains:

We’ve had great fun creating the Minecraft world and it’s a wonderful way for people of all ages to let their imaginations run wild and explore Selby in new and different ways. We’ve made links to lots of other things happening in Selby. You can even find the Selby Stories writer in residence Sarah Butler, on her market stall and the tiny embroideries in Selby Abbey by artist Serena Partridge within the map. We’re really excited about helping people explore this virtual world and to seeing how participants’ ideas will shape new and exciting Minecraft adventures over the months ahead.”

Cllr Tim Grogan, Lead Executive Member for Health and Culture at Selby District Council adds:

“This is an exciting way to get young people to explore the history and heritage of Selby through the Minecraft universe. The first sessions, which took place last year, were hugely popular and these latest workshops will quite literally build on their success! It also highlights how the Selby’s High Street Heritage Action Zone is celebrating the town and delivering vibrant activities for local people.”

Jane Jackson, from Historic England, said:

“This is a fantastic, imaginative way for people of all ages to explore Selby for themselves. It’s a great example of the innovative way that the High Street Heritage Action Zone is helping to celebrate the rich history of the town and spark interest in its heritage in many different, innovative ways.”

Details of how to access the Minecraft map and a digital fly through is available at https://exploreheartofyorkshire.co.uk/things-to-do/selby-stories

You will find details of Minecraft events at https://exploreheartofyorkshire.co.uk/whats-on/selby-stories/

PRESS RELEASE

SELBY STORIES APPOINTS WRITER IN RESIDENCE

4 July 2022

Selby market-goers will have the unique chance to chat to author Sarah Butler, who’s been confirmed as the writer in residence for Selby Stories.

Sarah, who has had three novels published by Picador in the UK and with fourteen international publishers, will have her own stall at the popular Selby Market throughout July and August. She has undertaken a wealth of previous writer residencies including for the Tate Modern, on the London Underground and at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The project, ‘My Town’, is part of Selby Stories – the cultural programme for the Selby High Street Heritage Action Zone. Running until 2023, special events will celebrate the town, its history and what makes it unique. Selby is one of more than 60 high streets in the country to receive a share of funding from Historic England, along with funding from Selby District Council.

Market visitors are invited to come along and chat to Sarah on her stall on Mondays 11 and 25 July and 15 August (9am to 1pm) and at Selby Farmer’s Market on Saturday 20 August (10am to 1pm). She will be gathering stories and chatting to people about their memories of Selby town and Selby Market.

Sarah comments:

“It’s always a privilege to work on projects like Selby Stories – listening to people talk about their town and their relationship with it. I’m really excited to get to know Selby through the stories of its people, and to share those stories on the project blog and later through temporary installations in Selby itself.”

Stories can also be submitted direct to Sarah via her blog at https://selbymytown.wordpress.com/ and more information about the market events is online at https://exploreheartofyorkshire.co.uk/selbystories/

Cllr Tim Grogan, Lead Executive Member for Health and Culture at Selby District Council, said,

“I know there will be a wealth of stories out there that local residents will be able to contribute to this project. Capturing these memories is a great way to preserve this part of our history for posterity. I hope residents will take this opportunity to share their stories with Sarah and at the same time find out more about all the activities planned as part of Selby Stories.”

Jane Jackson from Historic England added: “We are delighted to be supporting Selby Stories through the High Street Heritage Action Zone programme. This project is an exciting opportunity for people of all ages to celebrate Selby’s history and contribute their own stories about the town. I’d like to encourage as many people as possible to visit Sarah’s market stall and contribute their memories and personal tales about the town.

It’s a great example of the innovative way that the High Street Heritage Action Zones are helping to revitalize town centres, celebrating their rich history and making them more attractive to residents, businesses, tourists and investors.”

Sarah will also be hosting two free writing workshops later this Summer and these will run alongside a wealth of other special Selby Stories events that are in the final stages of being shaped up.

On 15 and 22 August there’s the chance to meet award-winning textile artist, Serena Partridge, the artist in residence for Selby Stories. Serena has been busy creating tiny embroideries and installing them in nooks and crannies around the historic Selby Abbey.

Serena will be stitching pieces live in the Abbey between 10am and 1pm and answering questions about her work and the stories behind the pieces that are gradually being added around the Abbey until December this year.

Minecrafters will be able to explore the marvellous world of Selby in Minecraft when the Selby BlockParty 2 goes live in July. Players will be able to explore the virtual Selby and then claim their own plot in which they can build their own creations inspired by the map. News of drop in Minecrafting workshops and more will be announced soon.

Other special events this Summer include a special wooden frame that will be moved around the town to capture Selby’s best views – with local residents having the chance to nominate their favourite locations.

More information about all these events and artists will be added to the Selby Stories website over coming weeks at https://exploreheartofyorkshire.co.uk/selbystories/

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

  • More information about Sarah Butler and Serena Partridge can be found at sarahbutler.org.uk and https://www.serenapartridge.co.uk/
  • Selby Stories is the cultural programme for Selby High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ)It is funded by Historic England and Selby District Council.
  • Selby Stories is a 3-year programme, running until December 2023.
  • About High Streets Heritage Action Zones. The High Streets Heritage Action Zones is a £95 million government-funded programme led by Historic England, designed to secure lasting improvements and help breathe new life into our historic high streets for the communities and businesses that use them. Historic England is working with local people and partners to unlock the rich heritage on these high streets, through repair and improvement works as well as arts and cultural programmes, making them more attractive to residents, businesses, tourists and investors. https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/heritage-action-zones/regenerating-historic-high-streets/
  • About Historic England. Historic England is the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England’s spectacular historic environment, from beaches and battlefields to parks and pie shops. We protect, champion and save the places that define who we are and where we’ve come from as a nation. We care passionately about the stories these places tell, the ideas they represent and the people who live, work and play among them. Working with communities and specialists we share our passion, knowledge and skills to inspire interest, care and conservation, so everyone can keep enjoying and looking after the history that surrounds us all.
  • Selby Stories is supported by the Selby Cultural Consortium – local arts and cultural organisations led by Selby Abbey with Performing Arts etc, Selby Big Local, Selby Civic Society, Selby & District Disability Forum, Selby Library, Selby District Council and Selby Town Council.

 

PRESS RELEASE

TINY TREASURES WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF SELBY ABBEY

Yorkshire-based artist, Serena Partridge, is busy creating miniscule embroideries destined to adorn the hidden nooks and crannies of the 900 year old Selby Abbey.

This is no traditional art exhibition and the intricate pieces will gradually appear in the Abbey from early April until at least the end of the year as her work evolves.

The award-winning mixed media artist is currently the Artist in Residence for Selby Stories, which is the cultural programme for the Selby High Street Heritage Action Zone. Running until late 2023, special events will celebrate the town, its history and what makes it unique.

The HSHAZ is part of a government-funded initiative led by Historic England. It aims to breathe new life into local high streets, from regenerating historic buildings to engaging local communities through art and cultural projects.Selby is one of more than 60 high streets in the country to receive a share of funding from Historic England, along with funding from Selby District Council.

Serena has spent the Winter gaining inspiration from almost a thousand years of history, craftsmanship and stories that surround the Abbey and the generations of people who have worked, volunteered, worshipped and visited.

The tiny hand-stitched embroideries will be lodged in discreet places that visitors might not normally look, encouraging them to slow down and discover small details and stories that often go unnoticed in a building of such scale.

The work has been inspired by the Abbey’s needlepoint and cross-stitch kneelers, which have been lovingly embroidered by volunteers over many years. Needlepoint is a new technique for Serena, who is working on a miniature scale under a magnifying lens, stitching single strand embroidery threads into fine pieces of silk gauze.

Although glorious today, the Abbey has a fragmented past. It has suffered disastrous fires, fallen into disrepair, been empty and almost derelict and used by Cromwell’s soldiers in the Civil War. It has also been re-loved, re-built and restored.

Serena comments:

“It’s such a privilege to be invited to work with and exhibit in the majestic surroundings of Selby Abbey. I’m hugely inspired by the stories I’ve heard and the intricate details all over the building, even the seemingly insignificant holes in the walls, where the limestone has suffered natural damage or where something once hung.

I’m particularly fascinated by the carvings of Thomas Strudwick, who helped restore the Abbey after the 1908 fire. If you look closely at his work on the pillars you’ll see an array of charming animals nestled among appropriate foliage. Or shine a light into one and discover a hidden carving of the King’s head.

I’m thinking of my tiny fabrications, installed in the holes and crevices of the Abbey, as if they are visible ‘mends’, similar to the darnings of a well loved jumper. It’s a nod to the ongoing restoration project and to how the building has been altered and restored over time, creating layer upon layer of unique history.”

Jane Jackson, from Historic England, said:

“This is a beautiful, imaginative way to highlight the craftsmanship and intricate beauty of the Abbey, alongside its impressive scale and grandeur. Visitors will have the excitement of a treasure hunt, discovering more about the building and its history as they seek Serena’s tiny hand-stitched embroideries.  It’s also a great example of the innovative way that the High Street Heritage Action Zones are helping to revitalize town centres, celebrating their rich history and making them more attractive to residents, businesses, tourists and investors.”

Serena will run a series of workshops and talks later in the year focusing on the inspiration and stories behind her miniature creations.