A LEADING Keighley arts group is in the final stages of becoming a charity.

Keighley Creative will become a charitable incorporated organisation with Caroline Ward as the founding chairman and support from Bradford Council.

The new charity has grown out of Keighley Creative Space, a gallery and studio developed over the past couple of years in the former Sunwin House and Home department store on Hanover Street.

Creative Space, which provides workshops for many professional artists and craftspeople, is heavily involved in local arts projects including the Keighley Arts and Film Festival.

Caroline this week said Keighley Creative was continuing to support artists at the ‘hub’ in Hanover Street, and beginning to consider Covid-safe ways to re-engage the public.

She said: “We are also embarking on consultation to inform an ambitious plan for the future of our work in the town.

“We have appointed Mark Dobson to help us with this work. Mark has been involved in the development of the Bradford 2025 bid and in winning Creative People and Places funding for the district.  

“Over the coming months we are keen to hear your ideas and ambitions for the future of culture in Keighley and for Keighley Creative.”

Current Keighley Creative projects include the Drawing Box project with Naseem Darbey, this year’s online arts and film festival entitled Intimate, and the Street Gallery showcase for teenage photographers.

Members of public are invited to chat about their ideas for Keighley Creative by emailing caroline.ward05@icloud.com.