Georgian gem helps a city’s artistic rebirth to bear fruit

There are towns and cities around Yorkshire that can lay claim to all manner of creative triumphs.

Sheffield has put culture at its heart, Leeds has an internationally touring dance outfit in Northern Ballet and also boasts Opera North. Ilkley has one of the top literature festivals in the North and you can’t move in York without walking into a piece of history.

Wakefield, however, has seemingly struggled. Despite a proud and rich history and the fact that it is the birthplace of John Godber, David Storey and Barbara Hepworth, it appears to be a little city that has punched below its weight.

That’s all changing.

The city welcomed with open arms the Hepworth Wakefield, a £35m new gallery which opened in May 2011. While there were detractors when the Chipperfield-designed building was first unveiled – it was considered a little brutal by some – it has attracted visitor numbers far in excess of what it had expected or even hoped for.

It seems the time has come for others in Wakefield to galvanise around the success of the Hepworth and claim their own part of the glory.

Step forward the Orangery.

Hidden from view, closed off by walls and fences, the Orangery is a Georgian oddity, but it is being put firmly back into the city’s hands.

“Cultural hidden gem” is one of those tired cliches that gets bandied around, but sometimes cliches are true. Such as in this case.

A varied history has seen the building serve all kinds of purposes, but it is now at the heart of the cultural renaissance happening in Wakefield, sitting within spitting distance of the Art House and new civic library and museum. In November this year, when a new Wakefield Westgate railway station is complete, thousands of commuters will once again pass by The Orangery, presenting an opportunity for the public to rediscover an important and unusual part of Wakefield’s past.

The current tenants of the building, arts charity BEAM, helps to put art in public spaces. It is also now concentrating on bringing the public into its own space to experience great art.

This summer the Orangery has played host to A Maze for Yorkshire, an installation work created by internationally renowned artist Richard Woods. A large-scale 3D maze, described by the artist as a “cartoon Yorkshire dry stone wall”, it has proved hugely popular and most importantly has brought people to the gardens of the Orangery, a public that seemed previously reluctant to breach the venue’s walls.

Not any longer. The maze is just the start.

While people will be able to visit the grounds and the maze for another week, when it is removed it is hoped it will mark the start of a new way of the public interacting with the venue.

Robert Powell, creative director of BEAM, says: “This is a catalyst for a series of creative events and community activities that will be shining a light once again on this beautiful historic gem.”

A series of cultural events throughout the autumn

A Maze for Yorkshire is open to the public until Sept 29, but other events will be happening throughout the autumn based either around The Orangery, or organised directly by BEAM. 
Events include: Sept 21: The Rhubarb Ogre by 145 Collective: A live storytelling session which will be held in the Trinity Shopping Centre.

Sept 25: Wakefield Wordwalk led by Andrew Loretto. Commissioned for the Wakefield Lit Fest (21-30 September), Wakefield Wordwalk will take audiences through the city centre for one-off performances of new local writing.