Author Archives: Quentin Budworth

About Quentin Budworth

Quentin Budworth is a hurdy-gurdy virtuoso, composer, and award-winning filmmaker, blending European folk traditions with drone music, while cycling the Highlands, indulging in cheese, and leading bands Celtarabia and Agent Starling. Author: The Secret Life of the Hurdy-Gurdy - Field Notes On Playing https://quentinbudworthmusic.com/book/

Hull Cultural Powerhouse

As an artist working in Hull I have to say it’s a really exciting time, thursday the 28th of May was an amazing day for the City of Hull.

It started well with news of the Turner prize coming to The Ferens Art Gallery in Hull in 2017 a huge win for the city and for the City of Culture Team, it is one of the biggest events in British art, when it is UK City of Culture in 2017. Unfortunately at 51 I’m too old to be in it but I’m really looking forwards to seeing it!

The Turner prize and corresponding exhibition will be staged at the city’s Ferens art gallery. It is the first event to be announced for Hull’s City of Culture year. The gallery will get a £4.5m facelift to bring it up to the required standards.

Hull 2017 chief executive Martin Green said the prize would boost Hull’s image in the art world and attract more visitors to the city.”You can only see it if you come to Hull and that’s what’s great about these major events. They act as a honeypot,” he said.”All those people who come will spend money here and stay, drink and shop here. So this is great world-class culture being used as a regenerative and economic boost to the city.” Martin Green is hoping that the year’s festivities will attract a million visitors to Hull and be worth £60m to the city’s economy.

Darren Henley New Chairman of the Arts Council’s inaugural speech from the Ferens – great stuff..

Martin Green says he believes UK City of Culture is a “once in a generation opportunity” to transform the city. I say:

“Let’s make the most of it!”

Martin spoke a lot about the strategic vision and national and international partnerships the team are making and I was really impressed by his speech and the amount of work the team has already done on the City of Culture 2017 planning.

Here is the new City of Culture film that was part of the presentation made by the City of Culture team at Hull Truck on thursday afternoon. Hull 2017:The Seasons

Governments do come and go and I’m really not a fan of politics but it is nice and extremely positive however that for a while a light will be shining in, on and from Hull and the towns and cities of the M62 corridor. It is no accident that Darren Henley’s inaugural speech was made at the Ferens Art Gallery which will be refurbished for the 2017 Turner prize in Hull City of Culture 2017. Interestingly Darren Henley’s speech included the words “Imagine a corridor of culturally driven regeneration all along the M62, linking Hull with Liverpool, and taking in Manchester and Leeds. I call it ‘The M62 Corridor of Culture’.” Which to my mind signals some strategic funding commitments from the Arts Council to Hull, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Merseyside.

Human Rights Political Wrongs

Quentin Budworth

2 hrs · Edited ·

To mess with the The Human Rights Act 1998 (also known as the Act or the HRA) is wrong. The Human Rights Act came into force in the United Kingdom in October 2000. It is composed of a series of sections that have the effect of codifying the protections in the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law.

All public bodies (such as courts, police, local governments, hospitals, publicly funded schools, and others) and other bodies carrying out public functions have to comply with the Convention rights.

This means, among other things, that individuals can take human rights cases in domestic courts; they no longer have to go to Strasbourg to argue their case in the European Court of Human Rights.

The Act sets out the fundamental rights and freedoms that individuals in the UK have access to. They include:

Right to life
Freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment
Right to liberty and security
Freedom from slavery and forced labour
Right to a fair trial
No punishment without law
Respect for your private and family life, home and correspondence
Freedom of thought, belief and religion
Freedom of expression
Freedom of assembly and association
Right to marry and start a family
Protection from discrimination in respect of these rights and freedoms
Right to peaceful enjoyment of your property
Right to education
Right to participate in free elections

A jolly good set of rights and designed to ensure humanity and fairness I’m sure we all agree.

Follow The Diversion – Symposium

A really inspiring day of Learning at the Junction in Goole – Faceless Arts presents a one-day discursive event in partnership with the Knowledge Exchange Network (ArtsKEN), exploring creativity in the regions and on the borders, with inspirational talks from UK arts practitioners, policy-makers and academics. The day will feature dynamic case-studies, thought-provoking discussions and practical suggestions for instigating creativity, and is aimed at artists, academics, policy makers and community groups.

* Follow the Diversion is a strategic touring project for 2014/15, run in partnership with Junction Goole, which aims to increase appetite for outdoor community events by exploring poignant memories, shared identity and taking time the to stop and see what is around you. Funded by Arts Council England, the project included a tour of 6 communities towards York, Hull and Doncaster, within a 45 minute drive of Junction, Goole; a series of training courses for community event managers and the Follow the Diversion Symposium. About Faceless Arts Established in 1990, Faceless Arts works at the leading edge of outdoor community arts practice with communities less well-served by creating exceptional arts experiences for everyone … everywhere.

Faceless Arts builds creative communities, bringing art and people together in the outdoors, on doorsteps, playing fields, in parks, shopping centres and at public events. The company aims to inspire, connect and energise; helping people to feel proud of who they are and where they live by exploring identity and well-being, tackling isolation and redefining outdoor spaces as places for creativity and social gathering. http://facelessco.com @FacelessCompany

About Knowledge Exchange Network The Knowledge Exchange Network conducts research exploring key issues in participation and engagement in the arts across the North of England. Coordinated by Leila Jancovich, (Senior Lecturer in Cultural Policy, Arts and Festivals Management at Leeds Beckett University) and Professor Franco Bianchini (Cultural Planning and Policy), the Network creates opportunities for knowledge exchange between cultural researchers, policy makers, managers and practitioners from across the North, to debate key issues around cultural development generally and participation and engagement in particular. http://www.participationandengagement-arts.co.uk @artsken

Amsterdam Gallery Trip Feb 2015

A reallly fantastic couple of days visiting galleries in Amsterdam with a strong eye on the curation of photography and video installations:

Day 1:
Huis Marseille – Dancing Light / Let it move you

Foam – ARAKI Ojo Shashu – Photography for the Afterlife: Alluring Hell gives a distinct reflection on the oeuvre of the Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki (Tokyo, 1940). The extensive exhibition comprises both his notorious early work, as well as his very recent series that have never been shown in the Netherlands before – A Family Portrayed – Van Loon in Foam.

Rembrandts Haus – awesome!

Day 2
Rijks Museum – Dutch still life, vanitas and 17th/18th century objects – a revelation

Stedelijk Museum – awesome exhibition ‘On the move – story-telling in contemporary photography and graphic design. Also collections.

Photos and reflections to follow

London Art Research Trip

At the beginning of February I took in a trip to London – as part of my ongoing professional development as an artist here is my itinerary with brief notes on what I thought about the galleries and exhibitions I visited:

Getty images Gallery – Year in review lot of photo-journalism – light airy space – images hung nicely on walls – video work not playing.

Photographer’s Gallery – shut for preparation of new exhibition.

National Portrait Gallery – Taylor Wessing International Portrait prize – Grayson Perry’s marvellous intervention.

Michael Hopper Gallery – Songe Mishingo Dioramas – ace gallery!

Pumphouse Gallery Battersea Park – Contracts Uses & Abuses – A-n presentation on contract rights and wrongs. E

Science Museum – Drawn by Light – Royal Photographic Society exhibition on the history of photography – Awesome! Also

Nick Hedges work for Shelter taken in the 60’s – 90’s absolutely amazing photo-reportage.

Wapping Bankside Project – arabic images very striking work in full colour.

Tate Modern – Conflict Time Photography – a most excellent, harrowing, well curated exhibition – awesome!

Hamilton’s Gallery – A commercial gallery dealing with photography.

Cirque Du Soleil at The Royal Albert Hall

Magnum Print Rooms – Shut!

Somerset House – Photographer Guy Bourdin retrospective – surrealist imagery and lovely short films. Also ‘Mapping The City’

Mick Mcgarry – One of The Changing Faces Of Hull

A fantastic portrait session for The Changing Face Of Hull project and some illuminating conversation at Hull Maritime Museum with the indomitable musical force of nature that is Mick Mcgarry – In the interview he spoke of his life really beginning with retirement and the joy that singing brings him. Mick is truly remarkable man who is changing the face of Hull through his work with the Hillbilly Troupe and his other musical activities within the city.

We are keen to work with and hear from the good people of Hull especially those with an interesting story from ALL walks of life. JOIN US! THIS Friday, 5th December between 6-30 and 8-00pm.at Princes Quay (Next door to the POP Gallery).

Changing Face Of Hull Workshop At Hull International Photographer’s Gallery

Meet one of our “Changing Faces” blogger of Hull life….

Ms Sydell Faith – ‘The Early Bird Eater’

We are keen to work with and hear from the good people of Hull especially those with an interesting story from ALL walks of life. JOIN US! THIS Friday, 5th December at The Hull International Photographers Gallery between 6-30 and 8-00pm.at Princes Quay in Hull (Next door to the POP Gallery).

The Changing Face Of Hull

The Changing Face of Hull – call for participants in arts project in Hull

Led by Artist Quentin Budworth – with second photographer Rebecca Robyns. ‘The Changing Face Of Hull’ will work with people who live in Hull to explore ideas of self, city and shared identity.

The next few months bring opportunities to participate in workshops, collaborate and co-author your portrait image to create a unique video artwork. We will also be recording audio of the sittings and image making dialogue as a part of the soundtrack for the exhibition projection.

If you want to participate in the project join our mailing list – email thechangingface@btinternet.com or call Quentin on 07877434739.

There is a website – specifically dedicated to this project you can find it here http://thechangingface.org View Post

Pictured above Steve Elliott from Iota Arts.

Dad’s Army – Shooting In Bridlington Part 2

In a press release from Screen Yorkshire about Dad’s Army we find….

‘It is 1944 and World War II is reaching its climax. The Allies are poised to invade France and finally defeat the German army. But in Walmington-on-Sea morale amongst the Home Guard is low. Their new mission then – to patrol the Dover army base – is a great chance to revive spirits and reputation, that is until glamorous journalist Rose Winters arrives to write about their exploits, setting the pulses racing and putting the local women on red alert. MI5 then discover a radio signal sent direct to Berlin from Walmington-on-Sea. There’s a spy on the loose! The outcome of the war is suddenly at stake, and it falls to our unlikely heroes to stand up and be counted’.

Universal Pictures, Screen Yorkshire and DJ Films are making a feature film version of Dad’s Army, shooting entirely on location in Yorkshire.

The stellar cast playing the Home Guard during the Second World War includes; Bill Nighy as Wilson, Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring, Tom Courtenay as Corporal Jones, Michael Gambon as Godfrey, Blake Harrison as Pike, Danny Mays as Walker and Bill Paterson as Fraser.

BAFTA nominated director Oliver Parker directs the feature film reboot of the much loved British comedy, DAD’S ARMY, originally created by Jimmy Perry and David Croft. The feature film is written by Hamish McColl and produced by Damian Jones. The film was packaged by Wiggin EP and is backed by Screen Yorkshire through the Yorkshire Content Fund.

Too read more from Screen Yorkshire’s press release visit http://www.screenyorkshire.co.uk/latest-news/dads-army-film-cast-announced

Here are some shot’s from saturday’s filming on Bridlington High Street.

Dad’s Army Filming On The Old High Street Bridlington

Just popped up to the Old High Street in Bridlington – which is in the process of being dressed as a giant set for the filming of the new Dad’s Army film – lots of excitement and work going on and some remarkable transformations taking place to shop fronts etc – take a look I did a bit of a visual smash and grab raid with a vintage grade! I hope you enjoy the images.

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