Holmfirth Arts Festival: Street Pianos

I’ve been helping out recently with the Street Piano project for the Homfirth Arts Festival, which has been both fun and very intriguing! The Fair Traders Co-operative has been instrumental in finding old pianos from the local area that can be jazzed up ready for the Festival itself, taking place in June. There’ll be lots going on during those few weeks to keep locals and visitors interested. Here’s how the event has been described, but we’ll keep you up to date as the time approaches:

The streets of Holmfirth will be alive with the sound of piano music during June this year. For over two weeks, as part of Holmfirth Arts Festival, pianos will be placed around the centre of Holmfirth for festival-goers to stroll up and play. Holmfirth Arts Festival and The Fair Traders Co-operative are working together to develop this event and to make it exciting, engaging and unique, with opportunities for all to take part and to enjoy the sound of impromptu piano performances across the town.

Throughout Holmfirth Arts Festival, which runs from June 11th to 26th, five upright pianos will be positioned around the streets of Holmfirth for anyone and everyone to make use of. The project provides an open invitation for the passing public to tinkle those ivories and air their talents! Even those with no piano-playing prowess are welcome to have a go – the idea is to make music and have fun for fair trade and for the Festival. It is hoped that people will get creative, bring their own accompanying instruments and make the streets of Holmfirth buzz with live music.
Each piano will be decorated differently, highlighting themes related to fair trade and sustainable living - festival goers can look out for a ‘coffee piano’, a ‘banana piano’, a ‘cotton piano’ and a ‘recycled piano’, play or listen to some music, and read about and discuss the issues behind the themes. And to celebrate The Fair Traders Co-operative’s first anniversary, a ‘party piano’ will be placed outside the shop, complete with a giant cup cake for a stool.
Helen Robinson of The Fair Traders Co-operative said “We’re really excited to be involved in this event as part of Holmfirth Arts Festival. We’re already working on customising each piano and I hope that the project will generate interest, excitement, and discussion around issues of fair trade.”
Holmfirth Street Pianos is already sparking linked events, with a Teddy Bear’s picnic planned around the ‘party piano’ on the afternoon of Saturday 18th June and a Dad’s Day event complete with beer on Sunday 19th, for all those dads who just can’t help showing off...
The event kicks off on Saturday 11th June at 4.00pm with a piano party, where cakes, music, dancing and surprises are promised at each of the five pianos. It is hoped that the people of Holmfirth will join in the festivities and get into the party spirit – and of course offer up their musical talent – or other-wise – for all to enjoy!