Leeds & Bradford Piano Trail
Pianos transform public spaces into cultural hubs and unlock hidden talent throughout our communities.
Piano Trail Gallery
We were delighted to present 10 new sculptures in public spaces across Leeds city centre, for Leeds International Piano Festival 2021.
Each of the discarded pianos that we use in our sculptures contains treasures; coins, hairclips, a torn postcard a century old, which weave stories of the people who played them and made them. The sculptures of the piano trail, open to all and scattered across public spaces in Leeds city centre may similarly become treasures for people to seek out or to stumble across, that tell a myriad of stories of the piano. We offer this gift to the people of Leeds in the hope that it will bring joy.
We aim to use our theoretical knowledge and experience to create artistically creative experiences for local communities that will unite individuals and offer new explorative opportunities.
The United Art Project is founded upon 5 pillars of operation, its purpose is to facilitate unique and bespoke experiences that offer: ‘Art for Free’, ‘Art to Unite’, ‘Art to Heal’, ‘Art to Aspire’ and ‘Art to Seek’.
The aim is to provide free and easy access to art, painting and other forms of creative expression to members who are willing to engage with our services and projects. We will continue to manifest the belief that access to arts and its process should be made available for all to experience and partake in regardless of social economic status, age, or level of ability. Our art experiences do not and will not exclude any form of free-thinking, exploration, or representation within our society!
Made with Music is a charity in Leeds who provide accessible and educational live music experiences for families and young people. They use signing and singing to encourage learning and fun.
Made with Music operates on the social model of disability. This looks at how we can adapt our working environment and society as a whole, to accommodate the needs of those we work with, rather than expecting disabled people to overcome barriers.
The Brudenell is a lively and fun loving venue that embraces music and art under a wide and diverse umbrella that has no boundaries.
The Brudenell Piano Sessions provide the public with an opportunity to gather around the piano at the Brudenell, to enjoy the breadth of music composed for and performed on the piano, in a relaxed, friendly and engaging atmosphere, and providing opportunities for new musical discoveries. It’s piano music; for everyone.
The Hollybush Project is open to people (aged 18+) with learning disabilities who are eligible for day care through Leeds City Council Social Services.
Our site at Kirkstall has facilities to offer opportunities to enjoy the benefits of being outside in nature and in a varied working environment.
Gardening: we have raised vegetable and flower beds and a large polytunnel and grow flowers and produce for sale, to provide displays on site and at our raised beds at Kirkstall Abbey, as well as to use in our café and cook in our classroom.
Future Projects
Piano Planters:
With funding from Kew Garden’s Grow Wild programme, we created a trail of Piano Planters for Leeds and Bradford.
Gardeners, allotment holders and community gardening groups all over Bradford and leeds will grow native, pollinating plants, flowers and vegetables to fill the planters. The planters will go out onto the Leeds Piano Trail as part of this year’s Festival, as beautiful, curiosity-inspiring additions to the public realm in their own right, and to highlight the bio-diversity crisis that is often overlooked when we consider the effects of climate change.
After the Finals, the planters will go back to the community groups who made them, where they can be looked after and replanted each season. We have some funding for materials – seeds, plug plants, compost etc – and to cover people’s travel expenses into the city centre to fill the planters.
After the Finals, the planters will go back to the community groups who made them, where they can be looked after and replanted each season. We have some funding for materials – seeds, plug plants, compost etc – and to cover people’s travel expenses into the city centre to fill the planters.
Designing/planning/sowing/planting – May – June
Cultivating/growing – June to August
Filling the planters in their city centre locations – End of August
Festival – 31st August to 21st September
Planters go back to the community groups who made them – after 21st September
Cultivating/growing – June to August
Filling the planters in their city centre locations – End of August
Festival – 31st August to 21st September
Planters go back to the community groups who made them – after 21st September
2021 Pianodrome Sculptures
Piano Artists
Piano Trail Partners
