26 February 2025 —
Chris Mould, award-winning children’s book author and book illustrator, is coming to Kirklees as part of the Our Cultural Heart Library Festival running in March.
Chris, a local artist from Liversedge, will be showcasing his illustrative talents in workshops aimed at school groups at the Huddersfield Library Hub. Chris’ work includes illustrating Animal Farm by George Orwell and The Iron Man by Ted Hughes.
Organised by Kirklees Libraries, the Our Cultural Heart Library Festival: Create.Imagine.Explore will have exciting, free events and activities for people of all ages at venues across Huddersfield. You can have some fun with a needle and thread in embroidery and textiles workshops or try your hand at making some Origami Stars and Kusudama Flowers. If your creative talents lie elsewhere, you can take part in silk painting or learn how to book bind using recycled material and for the more literary-minded people there is a poetry and prose workshop.
Local Historian Christina Longden will be running Found, Treasured Forever at the Kirklees Local Studies Library and Our Creative Connection will run two ‘photowalks’ to help people capture images that can be used as part of an exhibition on Huddersfield’s history and community.
There will also be a series of activities delivered directly to specific community groups. Slaithwaite based The Clay Mill will be delivering workshops to groups across the town. Shape North are delivering fun activities in two Huddersfield schools to engage with children about the new library.
In the lead up to the St Patrick’s Day parade, Callaloo will be working with community groups on carnival arts inspired by Trinidadian folklore character – the Bookman! Come and see the Bookman at the parade on Sunday 16 March and visit Callaloo at their stall in Huddersfield Open Market for some fun make and take activities.
The festival aims to engage with people who can share their thoughts and ideas about what they would like to see in the new Huddersfield Library Hub.
Plans for a new library in Huddersfield are a key part of Kirklees Council’s game-changing town centre regeneration plans. In Phase 1 of the Our Cultural Heart development, the new library hub will join a vibrant food hall in the Grade II Listed former market hall and public square. Work on this first phase is already underway.
Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Finance, said:
“Our Cultural Heart will breathe new life into Huddersfield town centre. At the centre of the plans for Phase 1 is a modern, flexible library space that is designed to meet the community’s needs. I am pleased to see that work is now underway to make this a reality and I can’t wait to see it open in 2026.”
Councillor Amanda Pinnock, Cabinet Member for Education and Communities, added:
“It is an exciting time for our amazing library service as we look to shape the offer from our new Huddersfield Library Hub. The Our Cultural Heart Library Festival has some exciting, creative events and activities for adults and children, and I encourage everyone to come along and have fun. If you can’t make it, then you can always share your thoughts about what you would like to see in our new library hub by completing our online survey.”
The new library is expected to be completed by Spring 2026.