One of the wonderful things about Light Night is that so many people get to join in. Artists and groups all across Leeds are invited to take part. And this is one of the things that make it such a good time for Pyramid of Arts to celebrate its 21st birthday.
Pyramid of Arts was built on the idea of everyone taking part.
It's an arts charity that runs art groups for people with learning disabilities and other people from the community who have creative interests.
A typical Pyramid project will be big. Not always massive, but we do often struggle to fit them in the storage cupboard and get them out of the door when they're done.
Evolving from the ideas in the group
A project will evolve from the ideas in the group rather than follow any particular plan. No one really knows what it will be at the start, but by the end everyone feels like it was their idea.
Everyone in the group works together to produce the end product; we may all have different ability levels and different amounts of artistic skill, but we all take part and the final piece belongs to the group. I feel incredibly proud of all the projects I've been a part of.
Pyramid started at Meanwood Park Hospital. It was only meant to be a one year project; something to help long term residents make the transition to community based living as the hospital closed down.
The first Arts Club members decided what they wanted their art group to be like, and they decided they wanted it to last longer than a year. And it has. It now runs five permanent groups with members from age 14 to 80, and there are always several other short term project groups going on as well.
Now an independent registered charity, Pyramid's longevity has been made possible with input from many local artists and financial assistance from a variety of organisations and individuals, including the Big Lottery Fund, Arts Council England and Leeds Council.
Celebrate 21 fantastic years of collaborations
Pyramid of Arts' members would like to invite you to come and see them at Light Night and help them celebrate 21 fantastic years of collaborations.
Over the years, hundreds of people have been closely involved in Pyramid and their projects. It's a bit like an extended family, definitely a community and this is what has inspired our Light Night theme of Flocks.
We wanted to try and show how many people Pyramid has brought together. There are going to be flocks of sheep, flocks of birds and flocks of people on the chapel steps. We've heard rumours that some of the sheep are already roaming far and wide and if we're not careful some more may escape on the night and be found out and about in the city centre.
We'd also like your help in adding to our flock of birds. You can download a bird template here to colour in or you can design your own. Please bring it to us on the night so it can join our flock.
You can find us at Light Night Leeds on Friday, 8 October at Oxford Place (just left of the Town Hall) between 6pm and 10.30pm.
Richard Garside is a freelance web developer and a member of Pyramid of Arts.
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