For the past 7 years, creative businesses and cultural organisations have thrived in the meanwhile units on the Piazza in Huddersfield, the site of Our Cultural Heart regeneration in Kirklees, West Yorkshire. 

Their presence has brought immense value to the community, fostering innovation, collaboration, and cultural enrichment, welcoming thousands of residents and tourists.

Now, as Kirklees Council has decided to directly manage the food hall due to the lack of a commercial operator, we see an opportunity to integrate these local creative industries into the building and business model of the food hall. We urge Kirklees Council to embrace this opportunity. 

Sign this petition to support the integration of local creative businesses and cultural organisations in the food hall building. I launched a petition on the Kirklees Council website for Kirklees residents, but I've had a number of messages from residents struggling with the technology to sign the e-petition and also from people who live out of area but who would visit if a cultural industries hub was part of the food hall offer, supporting the visitor economy - an important ambition for any aspirational cultural hub.

CREATIVE ECONOMY

Building on an established creative network in the town will de-risk and vary the business model, attract footfall to the OCH, support the talent of the creative industries and embed locally grown culture into the Cultural Heart from the start.

West Yorkshire’s creative sector is among the fastest-growing in the UK. As one of six national "priority places" for the creative industries, West Yorkshire has secured a share of £150 million in government funding to accelerate new initiatives and attract private investment. If we don’t support the incredible talent in the creative sector in and around Huddersfield, Kirklees will lose out.

I am bringing this petition now as it’s a pivotal time for the Cultural Heart. Kirklees have decided to run the food hall themselves similarly to Barnsley Market Glass Works. However, this is predicted to cost £3 million and will put pressure on the other food businesses in town. Including the nearby Packhorse Kitchen and planned outdoor market development. In a town where we have a huge and varied array of well loved local food businesses, it seems a shame to introduce more competition.

The Glass Works in Barnsley has a cinema and bowling alleys to help draw people in, Spark in York has studios and events. Many food halls simply do not draw people into town on their own and need other activities to encourage dwell time.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

There are over 200 creative businesses and non-profit organisations around the town, many are also looking for spaces in Huddersfield town centre and struggling to find or afford them. A business model that builds in rental of creative spaces not only generates revenue, it ensures that a varied programme is always on offer. From pop-up retail opportunities to studio hire, grassroots exhibition spaces and larger units for mid-to-long term rental, incorporating a place and pipeline for the creative industries boosts footfall and spotlights a priority growth sector for the UK.

Many local creative enterprises have experience leading exceptional cultural events, delivering best practice programming and have the trust of local citizens already. I believe the £3 million could be better spent to support these enterprises and create a truly home grown cultural heart.

DELIVERING FOR RESIDENTS & VISITORS

Since the closure of the Piazza, I have heard how many people miss the experience that has been offered through creative organisations. Through my own experience as a Director of Thread Republic CIC, our consultation shows that local residents and tourists miss popping in to buy affordable and sustainable fabrics from us as well as feeling connected to a welcoming place for socials and workshops. Other people have commented that they miss the free and accessible creative family activities and feeling part of a wider creative community.

Combining creative spaces with the food hall offer is a real opportunity to create a truly cultural gem for Huddersfield. While many towns may have a food hall we have a chance to build a Cultural Heart that celebrates:

- Creative Health: The powerful links between creativity and wellbeing are well documented globally. With experiences, projects and workshops delivered by skilled practitioners and organisations who know how to do this best, they already know the residents and their needs.

- Lifelong Learning on the High Street: We know that organisations based on the Piazza brought thousands of people into the town centre. During a time when many people are finding fewer reasons to come into the town centre, we’d like skill sharing, intergenerational learning and aspirational creative sector support to be part of the solution to bring people back in.

-Sustainability: Including sustainable enterprises such as Thread Republic CIC and Huddersfield Repair cafe, we can ensure the Cultural Heart has sustainability at its core.

-Local businesses: So many local enterprises are struggling for space, OCH could be a space to catapult what we already have rather than competing with it. As many people currently feel disconnected from our town centre, this could be a way to put them back in the heart of it. Organisations that have already been delivering from the town centre have learnt to adapt to the needs of local communities, with a reactive approach that reflects those needs rather than making decisions from the top down.