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  • A woman smiling at the camera - Anna Turzynski, Arts Director, Sunny Bank MillsAnna Turzynski has been appointed as the new Arts Director at Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley.

    Anna was a Senior Producer at LEEDS 2023: Year of Culture and responsible for some of the year’s most successful events, including The Awakening, The WOW Barn and The Gifting.

    Anna, who was born and educated in Sussex, before moving to Yorkshire in 2011 to study Theatre and Performance at Leeds University succeeds Jane Kay who, in conjunction with co-owners William and John Gaunt, has established Sunny Bank Mills, and its acclaimed art gallery, as one of the finest independent art and making spaces in Yorkshire.

    Anna commented: “It is such an honour and a privilege to take over from Jane at Sunny Bank Mills. Jane’s are big shoes to fill.

    “The team have taken a cultural organisation and made it a key part of the community, creating a neighbourhood space which has the power to inspire, teach and learn from people who visit it.

    “Having worked in small organisations across Leeds for the majority of my career, I recognise the care and personal effort it takes to achieve such a feat.”

    “My vision for the Arts Programme at Sunny Bank Mills is to build on the fantastic reputation it already has and to strengthen its offer as a destination for local, regional and national visitors. So, I will be planning exceptional exhibitions, events and opportunities that are rooted in the local area but have international relevance and significance.”

    “I am blessed with a fabulous team to work with, who share my vision and commitment. I love Leeds so much and this wonderful new job provides me with the opportunity to make a real difference to the cultural life of the city. I am so very lucky.”

    William Gaunt, co-managing director of Sunny Bank Mills with his cousin John, and a passionate advocate for arts and culture, revealed: “We had a good many applications for the post but Anna was the outstanding candidate. Her vision for arts and culture at Sunny Bank Mills aligned with ours, while her valuable experience with LEEDS 2023 and her positive and vibrant character made her the best person for this important post. Her appointment reinforces our commitment to arts and culture here.”

    “We appointed Anna because she has a wide skills base. Whilst the Gallery is at the core of our arts offer, we cannot wait to see what exciting developments Anna will initiate to cement our reputation as one of Leeds’ leading arts venues. She will be building on the foundations already laid and taking the arts here to a whole new level.”

    “Anna is hitting the ground running, with new exhibition Ones To Watch opening on    March 2 alongside Open Studios and Printed Bound events over the same weekend. Meanwhile she is already planning a series of exciting exhibitions and events for later in the year. This is a new era for us and we are confident it is in the safest of hands.”

    Ones To Watch, which runs until April 21, is the Gallery’s annual exhibition of emerging artists and makers based in, or from Yorkshire. It is now in its 11th year.

    Anna concluded: “A new challenge awaits, and I am so proud to be given this exceptional opportunity at Sunny Bank Mills.”

  • Printed Bound market shot

    Printed Bound, Sunny Bank Mills’ annual Artists’ Book and Print Fair, is back over the weekend of 2nd-3rd March in the iconic 1912 Mill.

    Leeds’ biggest Print Fair, Printed Bound returns and features over 50 printmakers, bookmakers, collectives and studios ready to sell their work as part of a weekend celebrating traditional and contemporary print and bookbinding techniques.

    Expect to see screenprints, monoprints, risographs, collographs, zines, hand-bound books and more. There will be a wide range of stallholders from across the UK, including Basil & Ford, Angela Hall, West Yorkshire Print Workshop, Ploterre, Concrete Nature and Abbie Lois to name but a few.

    Natalie Kolowiecki, Arts Events Co-ordinator at Sunny Bank Mills, explained: “We’re very excited that our prestigious Artists’ Book and Print Fair is back.

    “There will be 100s of prints and books to see from a wide selection of artists, from early career zine makers to traditional printmakers. Visit the fair’s craft café for cakes, savoury food, and hot & cold drinks.

    If you want to learn a new skill or brush up on an existing one, we have a range of pre-bookable workshops happening throughout the weekend, including stencil screen printing with Wendy Roby, notebook binding with Concrete Nature, drypoint etching with Cath Brooke, printing cyanotypes with Short and Few, Japanese notebook binding with Ciarrai Samson  and zine making with Laura Alice. We’re also welcoming back Shaeron and the Artmakers from Henshaws Arts and Crafts Centre for an introduction to lino printing. Some of our workshops are sold out but you will be able to book on the day if there are spaces available.

    “Or drop in to the fair and screenprint your own Ellie Way 1912 Mill travel postcard, from her brand-new design created for Printed Bound 2024!

    “If all of this is not enough, our artist community is holding Open Studios in both the Twisting and Spinning Mill where you can meet them, find out more about what they do and buy art direct from the makers. In the Gallery, our Ones to Watch exhibition opens, showcasing the work of 40 Yorkshire-based emerging artists. On Saturday, our Museum and Archive is open to drop in where you can find out about 180 years of cloth production and the lives of our former mill workers.”

    Make a day or even a weekend of it by visiting Printed Bound. All of the Mills usual retail and food and drink outlets will be open. There’s free parking and U12s have free entry into the Print Fair.

    Full details are here.

  • Ceramic bust by artist Jo Lee

    Sunny Bank Mills Gallery in Farsley, near Leeds, celebrates 10 years of arts and culture at the award-winning mills complex with an exhibition that showcases a curated selection of some of the artists and makers who have contributed to the Gallery’s success in that time.

    Woven Stories also marks one of the final exhibitions curated by Jane Kay, the inspirational Gallery Director who is leaving Sunny Bank Mills after a decade at the helm.

    Over 30 artists and makers are taking part in Woven Stories with work that includes painting, print, textiles and ceramics.

    Jane Kay explained: “All the artists have exhibited with us before, sometimes more than once and virtually all of them are from Yorkshire. Their work includes painting, printmaking, ceramics and textiles. The exhibition will be changing and growing over the next few months as more artists are invited.

    Jane explains: “This is a  personal exhibition for me as it will be one of my last as Creative Director and many of the artists and makers have been part of my own journey over the last 10 years. It makes me so proud to reflect on the superb quality of work on show.

    The exhibition broadly follows a number of threads which reflect the story of arts and culture at the mills. Everyone involved either has or have had studios or residencies at Sunny Bank Mills or have exhibited with us previously.

    For example, Mel Davies, one of our longest standing studio holders, has exhibited every year either in the Gallery or Spinning Mill Loft. He was also co-founder of our popular Life Class Live with another exhibiting artist, Kim Coley. Some of the exhibitors have been part of our regular life class since it began including Emma White who is also a mill tenant and jewellery maker and was runner up in All That Glitters – Britain’s Next Jewellery Star in 2022.

    Mia Symonds won the judges prize at our annual Ones to Watch exhibition in 2021 and is an example of one of our core values – to help artists develop their personal practices. After Ones to Watch she went on to study an MA at Goldsmiths University of London and is being commissioned by the mills to create a new sculpture for Weavers’ Lawn.

    Some of the exhibitors have undertaken residencies or volunteered in the Sunny Bank Mills Museum and Archive whilst others have grown organically with us becoming staff members. In this respect Alice Chandler was my assistant for six years and Millie Rothera is one of my current assistants. Both have been commissioned to make new work specifically for this exhibition.”

    Meanwhile, a number of the exhibiting artists have been artists in residence at the mills, including Des Pattison who introduced Jane to Sunny Bank Mills.

    Jane continued: “Des suggested we look at doing an exhibition in a mill close to where he worked and lived; that mill was Sunny Bank Mills which was only hosting pop-ups at the time. I came to an open day, met William and John Gaunt and the rest is history!

    Other local exhibiting artists include sculptor Dominic Hopkinson whose work is based on the mathematical theory of phi, printmaker Laney Birkhead who visitors may remember from Swarm; a massive installation comprising more than 50,000 bees printed by the community, and the wonderfully joyful artmakers from Henshaws Arts and Crafts Centre in Knaresborough.”

    Woven Stories runs until December 23 and is free to visit.

    • Taking part in Woven Stories are: Alice Chandler | Anna Lilleengen | Ann Povey | Barbara Place | Brisbane Taylor | Carole Griffiths | Caroline Machray | Clare Lane | David Fox |David Questa |Deborah Beck | Des Pattison | Dominic Hopkinson | Liz O’Connell | Emma White | Faye Hall | Hannah Robson | Henshaws .artmakers| Hester Cox |Ian Scott Massie | Jane Walkley | Janis Goodman | Jo Lee | Kim Coley | Laney Birkhead  |Lorna Jewitt | Mairi Beaton | Mel Davies | Mia Symonds | Myles Gould  Nel Whatmore  |  Robert Wyatt | Si Smith | William Watson West.

     

    • Opening times: Tuesday-Saturday 10-4pm, Sunday 12-4pm. Closed on Mondays. FREE ENTRY.

    Image: ceramic head by Jo Lee

  • Creative Director Jane KayJane Kay, the inspirational creative director at Sunny Bank Mills’ acclaimed Art Gallery in Farsley is leaving after 10 years at the forefront of the Mills’ creative regeneration.

    Jane, in conjunction with Sunny Bank’s co-managing directors William and John Gaunt, has established the Gallery as one of the finest independent art and making spaces in Yorkshire.

    Jane, who arrived at Sunny Bank 10 years ago after a successful legal career with a top Leeds law firm commented: “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved at the Gallery over the last 10 years.”

    “What started as a small independent pop-up gallery has developed into a fully curated independent Gallery and shop, with an event and engagement programme providing artists and makers with spaces not only to exhibit and sell work but also to make it.”

    “Our diverse programme aims to make art accessible to everyone and demonstrate what art can be. In the past 10 years we have had exhibitions as varied as Throw Up which featured graffiti in the former weaving sheds and included the world’s longest painted carrot; the People Powered Press; Panel Show, an exhibition about comics; Lullabies in Lockdown, charting the experience of new parents in lockdown and. artmaker, supporting Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre. “

    “I am particularly proud of our popular annual Ones To Watch exhibition, which has helped to launch and support the careers of over 300 promising artists and makers who are either from or studied in Yorkshire. Many of these have gone on to exhibit elsewhere, exhibited again with us and have remained in Yorkshire.”

    Jane went onto say: “the creative offering at Sunny Bank is so much more than the Gallery. With William and John’s support, the last 10 years has also seen the development of 25 artists’ studios providing the Mills with a creative community. This brings its own vibrancy and appeal to Sunny Bank as a destination for culture whilst adding to the diversity of its tenants and helping fill a general shortage of studio spaces in Leeds.”

    Similarly, the growth of annual events enabling artists and makers to sell their work directly to the public; this year Threads, a new textile festival adding to Printed Bound and the Christmas Market has opened the Mills to thousands of new visitors and a diverse audience. Additionally, our workshop and engagement programme is now an established part of the cultural landscape of Leeds; supporting artists and makers and providing a space for people and families to explore their own creativity.

    Jane continued: “But it’s time to step aside now and let someone with fresh ideas take the Gallery to another level. When I arrived in 2013, I had a dream and a blank canvas. With fantastic support from William and John, whose aims aligned with mine, we have turned my dream of creating a fantastic independent gallery into a reality.

    “The sad truth is that there aren’t enough large gallery spaces for aspiring artists and makers in Yorkshire, but at least we have created one. That is a legacy of which I am tremendously proud.”

    Jane will be greatly missed by everyone at Sunny Bank Mills.

    William Gaunt said: “Jane’s constant whirlwind of creativity has helped create Sunny Bank Mills into a leading arts space in Leeds. She leaves a tremendous legacy for the arts community in Yorkshire. Jane’s vision has masterminded the creation of an ambitious visual arts offering at the Mills and has helped so many talented fine artists from across the country to further develop their practices whilst at the same time giving the visitor to the Mills an amazing experience.”

    John Gaunt said: “The arts and creativity are essential ingredients in the successful sustainable regeneration of Sunny Bank Mills. Over the last 10 years Jane has developed a creative programme that has been adventurous, bold and innovative and should be credited with bringing the Mills alive in areas that money just can’t reach.”

    “Alongside our ambitions of mill regeneration, she has achieved her ambition to make art accessible to the local community and arts space accessible to artists to practice and sell their work.”

    “Jane’s legacy of creative regeneration and accessible arts programming is now woven into the fabric of these Mills and we look forward to working with a new arts director to build on this amazing legacy.”

    Recruitment for the next Sunny Bank Mills Arts Director will start at the end of August. Full details will appear on the website: www.sunnybankmills.co.uk and on social media.

  • Artist Woo Jin Joo for Tailored

    Internationally renowned textile artist collective, the 62 Group, is returning to Sunny Bank Mills Gallery in Farsley with a new exhibition called Tailored.

    Tailored celebrates textiles and their place in the local community and economy as part of the celebration of 10 years of arts and culture at Sunny Bank Mills.

    The exhibition starts on Saturday May 13 and runs until Sunday July 2.

    Jane Kay, Creative Director at Sunny Bank Mills, explained: “We are delighted to welcome back the tremendously talented 62 Group to Sunny Bank Mills. The exceptional work in Tailored explores the multiple meanings of the word itself and what it means to the artists themselves.

    “This exhibition is particularly relevant to Sunny Bank as Tailored is a word we most associate with suits – and suits were the most common use of the cloth at the mill. The depth and breadth of textile art as a medium in this exhibition is astonishing.

    “Some of the 32 artists exhibiting in the show consider the process of making – the design and weaving of cloth and the pattern, pinning, cutting and sewing of a garment. Other artists take a more narrative and personal approach to the meaning of Tailored. Techniques include stitch, knit, casting, drawing and film, sculpture and installation.”

    Hannah Lamb of the 62 Group commented: “We previously exhibited at Sunny Bank Mills with the 62 Group in 2019, with an exhibition entitled Construct. That show came about through a conversation between myself and Jane Kay, whom I’ve known for a long while. I first exhibited my own work at Sunny Bank in 2015, when the mill was far less developed than it is today.
    “I was fascinated by the heritage of the place and its strong connection to the local textile industry. This, of course, makes it an ideal venue for a textile-themed exhibition, which can draw on the themes around textile manufacturing and also the broader Leeds industries around tailoring and garment production.

    “However, this exhibition isn’t just about heritage and tailoring, it covers some current topics around clothing, identity and also playing on the words and ideas of cutting, piecing and constructing with cloth.”

    Hannah added: “As a group, we love exhibiting at Sunny Bank Mill because it’s a warm, welcoming and creative place that puts art at the centre. We are really looking forward to returning to the gallery this summer with another strong show of fine art textiles.”

    Tailored features work by: Ann Goddard| Athenea Nemeth| Atsuko Yamamoto| Caren Garfen | Caroline Bartlett | Catherine Dormer | Claire Barber | Debbie Lyddon | Ealish Wilson | Ezsther Bornemisza | Flox den Hartog Jager | Hannah Lamb | Hannah White | Heather Belcher | Helen Banzhaf | Helen Davies | Isobel Currie | Jae Maries | Jane McKeating | Jane Walkley | Jennifer Smith | Louise Baldwin | Lucy Brown | Mark McLeish | Paddy Killer | Sally Spinks | Shuna Rendel | Sian Martin | Sue Stone | Teresa Whitfield | Vanessa Rolf |Woo Jin Joo.

    Jane Kay added: “Because this is the 10th anniversary of the launch of our Art Gallery, we have decided to base this year’s exhibitions around our heritage, its legacy and its future. We will look back in order to look forward and celebrate all things textile – the processes, the people and the fabric of the buildings that created cloth which reached all corners of the globe.

    “The Mill has always been at the centre of the Farsley community, both physically and socially. Generations of local residents have worked here and now return to explore their past and the Mill’s legacy. This exhibition is an integral part of this legacy and we are very proud to host it.”.

  • 4 people standing outside with the background of Sunny Bank Mills2023 is a year of celebration at Sunny Bank Mills, the historic family-owned mill complex in Farsley, between Leeds and Bradford.

    It is exactly 10 years ago that cousins John and William Gaunt embarked on an ambitious programme of cultural regeneration, which has transformed the former textile mill into one of the largest and most successful cultural communities in Leeds.

    In 2013 the Gaunts, the co-managing directors of the mill, made two key appointments to lead the cultural regeneration programme, Creative Director Jane Kay and Heritage Director Rachel Moaby.

    William Gaunt explained: “These appointments enabled us to develop and grow our arts and heritage programmes which have fostered the creative zeitgeist that has developed and flourished at the mill. We are very proud of our reputation as one of the most innovative and exciting cultural centres in the region.”

    The two cornerstones of  the cultural regeneration are the Art Gallery which runs a rolling exhibition, events and engagement programme supporting regional artists and creatives, and the mill’s historic Archive, one of the most significant and substantial woven textile archives in the UK, which has received a substantial grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

    These have been supplemented by 25 artists’ studios and, in recent years, the development of the Old Woollen, a 500-capacity events venue.

    In the past 10 years, the Gallery has hosted 75 exhibitions supporting over 1,000 artists and makers, and introduced creative events including a regular print fair, vintage fairs and a hugely successful Christmas market; while the Old Woollen has welcomed a host of household names including comedian Arthur Smith, national treasure Gyles Brandreth, historian and television personality Lucy Worsley and writer and DJ Mark Radcliffe. Sunny Bank Mills already had a strong artistic background as Yorkshire Television’s hugely popular series Emmerdale and Heartbeat were filmed there between 1988 and 2008. There are now 500,000 visits to the mill annually.

    John Gaunt commented: “If I had been told those figures as projections 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have believed them. But thanks to an excellent team we have exceeded all expectations.”

    William Gaunt explained: “The growth of our cultural offering has been crucial to the sustainable development of the Mill so whilst we are maintaining our proud connection with the arts and heritage, we are doing this alongside the sustainable development of the mill complex, which means a delicate balancing act between commercial and cultural interests. We have recently welcomed our 100th business on site, with 400 new jobs created, but it is crucially important that we create an environment where people don’t just love to work, but also to play, live and learn.”

    John Gaunt added: “Creative placemaking uses the power of art and culture to reinvigorate our mill community and its spaces. Both the Art Gallery and the Old Woollen, with their varied and exciting programmes, enable Sunny Bank to thrive as a proper community and not simply as a business centre. Together with our Archive, they are the beating heart of the mill.”

    Creative Director Jane Kay said: “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved over the last 10 years. What started as a small independent pop-up gallery has developed into a fully curated independent gallery, shop, event and engagement programme providing artists and makers with spaces not only to exhibit and sell work but also to make it. Our diverse programme aims to make art accessible to everyone and demonstrate what art can be. In the past 10 years we have had exhibitions as varied as: Throw Up which featured graffiti in the former weaving sheds which included the world’s longest painted carrot;  the People Powered Press; Panel Show an exhibition about comics; Lullabies in Lockdown charting the experience of new parents in lockdown and .artmaker supporting Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre.

    Ones to Watch, our annual exhibition promoting emerging artists who are either from or study in Yorkshire, is also 10 this year, launching the creative careers of numerous artists, many of whom have returned to exhibit with us as established artists or gone onto success elsewhere.

    Sunny Bank’s cultural anniversary coincides with Leeds 2023, with the city showcasing its artistic and cultural strength. Sunny Bank will be embracing this celebration, as Leeds takes centre stage in the UK’s cultural landscape.”

    Jane Kay added: “In these challenging post-Covid times, with the cost-of-living crisis and the war in Ukraine, the nourishing power of art and culture has never been so important. So Leeds 2023, our role within it and that of other arts organisation in Leeds is both timely and an amazing opportunity to celebrate the power of culture.”

    Heritage Director Rachel Moaby commented: “In a similar vein the last 10 years have seen an immense development in the Archive; transforming it from little more than storage of Sunny Bank Mills’ history into an Accredited Archive.  A team of volunteers has grown over the years and now numbers 20.  Committed to preserving, enhancing, and sharing the history and stories of the mill and its people, our volunteers are invaluable to our continued development”.

    “The significance of our Archive has been recognised by several grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England enabling valuable work on the collection and creating accessibility to as many people as possible.  This has included the development of school workshops focused on the Industrial Revolution and World War 1 helping us share the unique collection and the stories of the people that worked here.  The Archive has helped many research projects with undergraduate, MA and PhD students which really shows the diversity of the collection and how it can connect with so many subjects.  The latest funding has enabled us to carry out an on-line project called Weaving the Web in conjunction with the West Leeds Specialist Learning Centre, which has made our Archive much more accessible and inclusive.  The Weaving the Web project has developed an exciting 360 inventory of the collection which showcases the collection with the newest technology.  The future of the collection is exciting and is a constant source of inspiration to all that step into the space.”

    And it is to the future that Sunny Bank Mills is now looking, building on the achievements of the past 10 years. There’s little doubt that the next 10 years will be equally exciting and successful, enhancing Sunny Bank Mills’ reputation as one of the brightest stars in Yorkshire’s artistic and cultural firmament.null

Business:

  • Maze Recruitment Group, a leading Yorkshire-based education recruitment specialist, has moved to the historic Sunny Banks Mills in Farsley, near Leeds.

    Maze has taken high-quality space in the iconic 1912 Mill at Sunny Bank Mills, where Yorkshire Television’s Emmerdale and Heartbeat were filmed.

    Maze joins over 100 other companies which have moved to the renovated mill complex during the past 11 years.

    Nicola Wilson, the managing director of Maze, explained the reasons behind the decision to relocate to Sunny Bank Mills.

    “We set up our business in 2020 initially working from home but the plan was always to open our own office in the Leeds area. We’re now in the second phase of scaling our business and have been looking for suitable office space for a while”.

    “Our new offices in the 1912 Mill are perfect, and we now have the right space to expand. We love the amenities at Sunny Bank Mills – the gym, yoga rooms, eateries, pub and so on. It’s a little community all in one place. The grounds are lovely, the woodlands, local parks, the outdoor area and the fact Sunny Bank Mills is dog friendly was a bonus”.

    “The landlords William and John Gaunt are lovely and have been very welcoming and very transparent. Free parking is always a plus and value for money in comparison to the offices we were looking at in the city. “

    Maze offers a range of comprehensive recruitment solutions, including business psychology services, which are tailor-made to suit individual client requirements and which help to create sustainable improvements in performance, whilst enhancing employee well-being.

    Nicola explained: “Using cutting edge, innovative technologies we successfully source quality candidates for clients across the north of England in the education sector. In addition, our specialist professional services and highly developed resourcing model allow us to successfully offer professional interim and permanent recruitment services for executive and senior roles in all sectors across the UK.”

    Since 2012 Sunny Bank Mills, one of the most famous family-owned mills in Yorkshire, has been transformed into a modern office and mixed-use complex for the 21st century, creating more than 400 sustainable new jobs.

    John Gaunt commented: “We are delighted to welcome such a forward-thinking, dynamic and successful company like Maze to Sunny Bank Mills. This move is a resounding endorsement of the quality of our flagship 1912 Mill, where the flexible space will allow the company to thrive.

    “The progress of Maze during the past three years speaks for itself and we are confident that their decision to join a vibrant business and cultural community here at Sunny Bank Mills will suit the company perfectly.

    The 1912 Mill is the most prominent and spacious building in the mill complex. Plans are now being drawn up to refurbish the building’s remaining 15,000 sq ft into quality office space over two floors, which will be available to let in a variety of configurations.

    When Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Sunny Bank Mills last month, he commented: “It has been fantastic to meet local artisans and entrepreneurs at Sunny Bank Mills and to see the transformation of this former textile mill into a thriving hub for businesses.

    “It is vital to back the incredible people and businesses of Leeds. I have been talking to some of them at Sunny Bank Mills, together with Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew and they are incredibly entrepreneurial people.”

    Sarah-Jayne Lishman, of Leeds-based marketing agents Dove Haigh Phillips, commented: “The owners of Sunny Bank Mills took the brave decision to invest heavily in their mill and this decision has paid dividends.

    “This is one of the most significant mill regeneration projects in Yorkshire. Steeped in history and with massive potential, Sunny Bank Mills is now one of the prime business locations in the West Leeds area.”

  • Rishi Sunak at Sunny Bank Mills

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has praised the dramatic transformation of the iconic Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley from an old textile mill into a thriving business, artistic and community hub.

    Spending an afternoon at Sunny Bank Mills, one of the most historic family-owned mills in Yorkshire, Mr Sunak spoke to over 20 business owners and tenants in an informal and relaxed question-and-answer session.

    He was welcomed by John and William Gaunt, the joint managing directors of the award-winning mill complex.

    The Prime Minister commented: “It has been fantastic to meet local artisans and entrepreneurs at Sunny Bank Mills and to see the transformation of this former textile mill into a thriving hub for businesses.

    “Last week the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced tax cuts that will benefit over one million small businesses like those I have met at Sunny Bank Mills. By backing British businesses and taking long-term decisions to grow the economy, we will see entrepreneurial areas in and around Leeds, such as Sunny Bank Mills, continue to thrive.”

    While visiting Sunny Bank Mills, Mr Sunak also stressed the importance of devolution and making sure that local people were in control of their own destiny, while revealing that businesses could expect to see cuts to their rates in the next year.

    “It is vital to back the incredible people and businesses of Leeds. I have been talking to some of them at Sunny Bank Mills, together with Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew and they are incredibly entrepreneurial people.”

    The Prime Minister also made some jewellery when he visited the award-winning Sunny Bank Mills jeweller Emma White, who was a finalist in the popular BBC-2 show All That Glitters: Britain’s Next Jewellery Star. Emma said: “It was very interesting to meet the Prime Minister when he visited my jewellery studio (thejewellerymakers.co.uk) in the Twisting building at Sunny Bank Mills

    “After a brief chat about my multi-faceted business, he had a go at punching a silver star and hammering a texture on to a silver bangle.  We discussed the positive impact of creative pursuits and I asked him if he’d bought his wife a Christmas present yet.”

    John Gaunt commented: “The fact that Sunny Bank Mills attracted a visit from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is a real milestone in the successful regeneration of the mills, as well as being an incredibly exciting moment for us all. “

    “It is a reflection of how far we have come, and all the hard work we have all put in, not just William and I, but our staff team and mill community, the local community and all those who have supported us. “

    William Gaunt added: “It was a great pleasure to welcome The Prime Minister to Sunny Bank Mills and to get him in front of our business owners to hear about their challenges. He was also able to see what a wonderful community makes up Sunny Bank Mills, bursting with creativity and energy.”

    During the past 11 years Sunny Bank Mills has been transformed into a modern office and mixed-use creative complex for the 21st century, creating 500 sustainable new jobs, with more than 100 companies on site.

    Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew said: “I was absolutely delighted that the Prime Minister visited Sunny Bank Mills to see for himself the wonderful transformation of an old textile mill into a fabulous business centre and community asset. What has happened here is inspirational and has had a massive impact on the economy and the life of Farsley. Huge congratulations are due to William and John Gaunt for overseeing the renaissance of the mill complex.”

    Photo courtesy of the Conservative Party

  • A brand-new specialist vinyl record store has opened at Sunny Bank Mills, the award-winning mill complex in Farsley, near Leeds.

    Managed by ex-Mercury Prize nominee and vinyl obsessives Choque Hosein, Colin Griffiths, Jaimie Styan and John-Paul Craven, Record Plant opened its doors on National Album Day, October 14th.

    Choque was a member of the Leeds band Black Star Liner, whose album Bengali Bantam Youth Experience was shortlisted for the prestigious Mercury Prize in 1999, alongside Blur, the Chemical Brothers, the Stereophonics and the Manic Street Preachers.

    Choque commented: “While we had an amazing time at the Mercury Prize awards ceremony, rubbing shoulders with icons like Damon Albarn and the Manics, I think I am more excited by our new shop. This is a dream come true for me.

    “Vinyl is a massive, massive part of my life and the Record Plant is a celebration of this. We don’t just have a wonderful array of brand-new and second-hand records, we also provide a first-class vinyl cleaning and de-warping service.

    “We also have some fun items, like Kurt Cobain key rings, a Nodding Elvis and pop-up Spice Girls, which would make ideal Christmas presents for those with a sense of fun and a love of pop and rock culture.”

    The Record Plant is based in 1 The Old Engine Room, a fabulous studio space with exposed beams and old-fashioned brickwork in the heart of Sunny Bank Mills. It is next door to the 500-capacity Old Woollen venue, which boasts an ambitious and eclectic mix of music, comedy, theatre and the spoken word. The old mill building has been sympathetically restored to become one of the most exciting entertainment venues in the Leeds region.

    Choque, who has previously worked at iconic Leeds record stores Jumbo and Crash, explained: “Being next door to The Old Woollen couldn’t be more appropriate. It is an incredibly flexible and dynamic space that has already hosted famous names like John Lydon’s Public Image Limited, Shaun Ryder, Mark Radcliffe, Gary Delaney, The Great British Sewing Bee’s Esme Young and legendary TV historian Lucy Worsley.”

    He added: “I am tremendously grateful to William and John Gaunt, the owners of Sunny Banks Mills for providing such a special home for our vinyl shop.”

    William Gaunt commented: “I have been an avid record collector, gig goer and follower of the Leeds music scene for years. I first met Choque whilst he was behind the record counter of Crash records, when they opened opposite Leeds University in the mid ‘80’s. So it feels like coming full circle with the arrival of Record Plant at Sunny Bank Mills. The treasured vinyl records and discs we bought as teenagers and students 40 years ago are now highly sought after classics. Choque and his team’s knowledge is second to none.”

  • 5 men crouched down and smiling at the camera inside a gig venueTrouble At Mill, the acclaimed Leeds-based events company, now has a permanent home, on a 10-year lease, at the Sunny Bank Mills complex in Farsley, and will host year-round shows at the 500-capacity Old Woollen venue.

    Dick Bonham, one of the directors of Trouble At Mill, explained: “This is tremendous news for us. Having worked with Sunny Bank Mills to develop the offer at the Old Woollen, we’re delighted to make this a permanent move. The next year is our biggest and best yet, with double the amount of shows and some familiar household names visiting Farsley.”

    The Old Woollen, situated in the heart of the flourishing Sunny Bank Mills complex, boasts an ambitious and eclectic mix of music, comedy, theatre and the spoken word. The derelict mill building has been sympathetically restored to become one of the most exciting entertainment venues in the Leeds region.

    Dick Bonham explained: “The Old Woollen is incredibly flexible and dynamic space that has already seen us host famous names like John Lydon’s Public Image Limited, Shaun Ryder, Mark Radcliffe, Gary Delaney, The Great British Sewing Bee’s Esme Young and legendary TV historian Lucy Worsley.

    “The setting at the Old Woollen is ideal for providing all our acts and audiences with a warm welcome. As well as the main room, we are leasing the beautiful Old Engine Room, which gives us a stylish base to work from and doubles as one of the best Green Rooms in the business.

    “Our story started at the Mill nearly a decade ago in 2014 with the Trouble At mill pop-up nights, which took place in another Sunny Bank building – now demolished! All we had then were a few trestle tables, some old chairs from a church, blankets to keep out the cold, a

    pop-up bar and some hearty homemade tucker. It’s incredible to see how far things have some since then.

    “We are tremendously grateful to William and John Gaunt, the owners of Sunny Banks Mills. We share exactly the same vision for the Old Woollen and it makes perfect sense to be based at the mills, which is such a trailblazer for the arts in West Yorkshire. This is a continuation of a beautiful and productive partnership.”

    William Gaunt commented: “We are delighted to welcome Trouble At Mill to Sunny Bank on a permanent basis. This move will strengthen our relationship and ensure that the Old Woollen has one of the most exciting and eclectic arts programmes in the Leeds area.

    “Bringing the Old Woollen back to life was a true labour of love. The building had been derelict for 50 years and had fallen into an advanced state of dilapidation. Now it is a thriving cultural and community hub and maintains the mills’ proud connection with the arts, as both Yorkshire Television’s Emmerdale and Heartbeat were filmed here, and we have a thriving art gallery on site, too,” said Mr Gaunt.

    Dick Bonham added: “We know the Old Woollen has an incredible vibe, with some brilliant acts. People always say to us they can’t believe things like this are happening in a place called Farsley – well, this is only the beginning and we are delighted to share some of the great events we have in store – with many more to come.”

    Highlights of the Old Woollen’s upcoming programme include music from The Bootleg Beatles (Sat 28 Oct), performing a rare standing show, The Wonder Stuff (Wed 15 Nov), The Wedding Present (Sun 3 Dec), classical star Jess Gillam (Tues 12 Dec) and The Loveless (Sat 16 Dec), featuring Marc Almond and Neal X.

    There’s a fantastic line up of comedy and theatre, including Nunkie’s candle-lit ghost stories for Halloween, A Warning To The Curious (Thurs 26 Oct), The Thinking Drinkers Pub Quiz (Sat 18 Nov), as seen on C4’s Sunday Brunch and ITV’s This Morning, plus top comedians such as Pheonix Nights’ Clinton Baptiste (wed 29 Nov) and Eleanor Conway with her hilarious stand-up show, the award-nominated Talk Dirty To Me (Thurs 30 Nov).

    The team are also launching the second edition of Farsley Literature Festival in partnership with local indie shop Truman Books. Highlights include events with Adrian Edmondson (Wed 18 Oct), Paterson Joseph (Tues 31 Oct), Rachel Reeves MP (Sun 12 Nov), Dr Amir Khan  (Tues 14 Nov), Professor Alice Roberts (Thurs 16 Nov) and The Sky at Night’s  Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock (Sun 19 Nov).

  • Michelle HandsMichelle Hands, the founder of the inspirational female content and clothing company She Who Dares Wins, has moved into a state-of-the-art studio at Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley, near Leeds.

    Michelle has taken space in the beautifully refurbished 10 Old Combing building in the heart of the mill complex.

    Michelle, who has spent 17 years in the male-dominated property, construction and civil engineering sectors, set up She Who Dares Wins to inspire and empower women to take up careers in these industries.

    She explained: “She Who Dares Wins is a culmination of my life’s experience, combining my training and work as an actor, filmmaker, content creator and public speaker with my life as a construction engineer, predominantly in landfill sites across the UK.

    “I have lived in a man’s world for most of my life, which has been both fascinating and challenging. Working with tough Alpha males, whose behaviour often leaves a good deal of room for improvement, is eye-opening.

    “But the experience inspired me to create a company and a brand that empowers women to challenge convention and celebrate their own strengths and I am delighted to report that this has gained real traction, bringing a strong and vibrant community together.  Hence my move to this fabulous studio at Sunny Bank Mills,” explained Michelle.

    Michelle, who lives in nearby Horsforth, studied Geography at Birmingham University, before taking an acting course in Los Angeles.

    “Whilst I loved acting, I soon realized that I preferred being behind the camera, rather than in front of it. At the same time, I needed to earn a living, and, through a friend, I found a job surveying landfill sites. Before I knew it, this has turned into a long-term career – and despite some tough times, I don’t regret any of it. It made me the woman I am today.”

    From her base at Sunny Bank Mills, Michelle runs her own clothing brand and creates content, videos and podcasts for her clients. Recent posts include the moving story about a young woman who rowed across the Atlantic and a thought-provoking essay by Michelle herself on the importance of embracing imperfection.

    “I feel so at home in my new office in the heart of a vibrant cultural and commercial community. I’d like to thank Sunny Bank Mills landlords William and John Gaunt who have been very helpful and accommodating with my move, making the whole process very smooth,” said Michelle.

    William Gaunt, the joint managing director of Edwin Woodhouse Ltd, the mills’ parent company, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Michelle to Sunny Bank Mills. Hers is an inspirational story and we are proud she has chosen our mills as her base.”

    John Gaunt, who runs the mill with his cousin William, added: “Michelle is already creating a significant reputation with She Who Dares Wins and she is a valuable addition to our community here. We wish her the very best of luck in her new home.”

    During the past ten years Sunny Bank Mills, one of the most famous family-owned mills in Yorkshire, has been transformed into a modern office and mixed-use retail and leisure complex for the 21st century, creating more than 400 sustainable new jobs.

    Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who visited Sunny Bank Mills last December, praised the mills for being a catalyst for the regeneration of Farsley, commenting: “It’s been so inspirational meeting small business owners. The range of small businesses here is fantastic and I’ve only managed to speak to a few. I have been especially impressed by the way in which the owners of Sunny Bank adapt their buildings to enable their tenants to grow.

    “Small business owners working with like-minded people will find synergies and inspiration here, which is beautiful. This is an old mill which has brought people together and been the catalyst for more small businesses opening on the rest of Farsley Town Street. It is inspirational what has been achieved so far.”

     

  • Sandsgate Building exterior

    Two new deals have been completed at Sunny Bank Mills, the historic Yorkshire mill complex between Leeds and Bradford.

    During the past 11 years Sunny Bank Mills, one of the most famous family-owned mills in Yorkshire, has been transformed into a modern office and mixed-use complex for the 21st century, creating nearly 500 sustainable new jobs.

    The two new companies moving into Sunny Bank are PQS Tech Solutions, formerly based in Pontefract Lane, Leeds, which is taking high-quality space in No 10 The Mending Rooms, and David Yeadon Ltd, which is relocating from Bagley Lane, Leeds to the iconic 1912 Mill.

    Andy Brooke, managing director of PQS Tech Solutions, explained the reasons for the company’s move.
    “We like the mill, basically because it’s such a nice place with a great sense of community. The extra parking spaces were a big selling point, as was the option of having anything from shared Wi-Fi to a direct fibre Internet connection.

    “Landlords William and John Gaunt have been great. They are very accommodating when we have wanted to look round and they went go the extra mile to find the ideal office for us.

    “As a business we have been going for 11 years. We run alongside the PQS Survey hire business and have previously just had space in their depots. The PQS Tech business model has changed quite drastically over the last 12 months and more of our staff are office based.

    “Because of this, I wanted a nicer environment for them to be in every day. It’s important for me that my staff are happy at work, and I do think that having such a friendly environment to work in every day is very positive for all of us.”

    Meanwhile David Yeadon, owner and managing director of David Yeadon Ltd, explained that he had chosen Sunny Bank Mills for its sense of community and its facilities.

    “I live locally and was aware of the history of Sunny Bank and its connection with the arts.”

    “We are a Leeds based project management company and we pride ourselves on our expertise and experience across a range of building projects within the educational sector,” said David.

    John Gaunt commented: “We are delighted to welcome PQS Tech Solutions and David Yeadon to Sunny Bank Mills. These deals are a resounding endorsement of the quality of our flagship 1912 Mill and of the historic Mending Rooms.

    “Both companies have had a successful track record in recent years and we look forward to helping them to build on their success. They are joining a vibrant business and cultural community here at Sunny Bank, where I’m sure they will thrive.”

    Other commercial space to let at Sunny Bank includes 977 sq ft in the 1912 Mill available from October, and 1,720 at 20 Spinning Mill, which is available immediately.

    Sarah-Jayne Lishman, of Leeds-based marketing agents Dove Haigh Phillips, commented: “The owners of Sunny Bank Mills took the brave decision to invest heavily in their mill and this decision has paid dividends. “This is one of the most significant mill regeneration projects in Yorkshire. Steeped in history and with massive potential, Sunny Bank Mills is now one of the prime business locations in the West Leeds area.”

Heritage:

  • Weaving Voices programme

    The historic Sunny Bank Mills Museum and Archive, one of the most significant and substantial woven textile archives in the UK, is launching an exciting programme of speaking events.

    This programme, called Weaving Voices, follows a £10,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

    The Museum and Archive is an integral part of the award-winning Sunny Bank Mills complex in Farsley, near Leeds. The Mills, which were originally built in 1829, have been in the Gaunt family for six generations and are currently owned and managed by cousins William and John.

    The programme starts at 2.00pm this Saturday (October 14) with a talk by the renowned Yorkshire weaver Agnis Smallwood in the Bobbin Room adjacent to the Museum and Archive at Sunny Bank. Agnis will explain how she uses the Archive as inspiration for her creativity.

    Agnis will talk about her practice, her collaborations with Sunny Bank Mills and her passion for sharing her weaving knowledge with others. The format will be a one-hour talk and walk around the Archive with Agnis as she intertwines and makes connections between her work and objects within the Archive. She will also deliver a weaving demonstration explaining how the loom works and the process of weaving, bringing the loom to life.

    Heritage Director Rachel Moaby explained: “This will be the perfect start to Weaving Voices, our year-long programme which will feature a variety of exciting speakers. All experts in their fields, they will look at specific elements of textile process and the Archive collection, helping to explain objects and their connection to Sunny Bank in new and exciting ways.

    “It is important to emphasise that these talks will not just highlight aspects of our precious Archive collection, but they will also illustrate how the collection is used both now and in the future.

    The programme will also promote and improve the Museum and Archive’s accessibility for both blind and visually impaired and Deaf visitors.  This will include training for staff and volunteers to explain the Collection to blind and visually impaired visitors and provision of BSL interpretation for the talking programme. These will allow us to enhance our ability to share our heritage with wider audiences throughout the project and beyond.

    “We are incredibly grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, whose support has allowed us to create Weaving Voices. The Fund has already given us a transformational grant of £40,000, which has enabled us to be much more accessible to the public in a myriad of ways”.

    The second Weaving Voices talk will be held on Saturday November 11 at 2.00pm and will be delivered by local historian Irene Froome, who will describe how a man from Farsley, Samuel Marsden, changed the face of the Yorkshire textile industry.

    But who was Samuel Marsden? In her talk, entitled One Man and His Sheep, Irene will explain why Marsden was so important to the prosperity of West Yorkshire and outline her discoveries about Samuel’s life, character and career as well as looking at how he revolutionised the textile industry in both West Yorkshire and Australia.

    William Gaunt commented: “Once again, we are delighted to be recognised by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This grant has allowed the Museum and Archive to promote a series of fascinating talks as well as continuing our vital task of making the Archive more accessible and enjoyable for the community of West Yorkshire and beyond.”

    The nationally important Sunny Bank Mills Museum and Archive consists of: Fabric records including over 300 guard books containing thousands of textile cuttings; 60,000 lengths of fabric; 8,000 fabric designs; 5,000 wool dyeing recipe cards; 100 leather bound ledgers and cash books; weaving looms; photographs and memorabilia and a library of mill-related books.

    If you would like to learn more about the Weaving Voices programme and to find out about its future speakers, please visit https://www.sunnybankmills.co.uk/calendar/category/events/

    About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

    Using money raised by the National Lottery, we inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk. Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund

  • Weaving the Web Merchandise

    The historic Sunny Bank Mills Archive, one of the most significant and substantial woven textile archives in the UK, is now available on-line.

    The Archive, an integral part of the award-winning Sunny Bank Mills complex in Farsley, near Leeds, has been transformed by a £40,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

    This grant has been used to work in partnership with the Post 16 department at West Leeds Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre (SILC) Powerhouse based in Farsley.

    Heritage Director Rachel Moaby explained: “We have used this collaboration, called Weaving the Web, to help to create lasting connections and exciting new projects at the Archive. Specifically, we have been able to create a special Online Collection, which currently features 50 unique objects from our Archive, that can now be viewed from every angle, thanks to 360 degrees photography.

    “Let me give you an example. One of our unique objects is an old rusty cauldron, which has definitely seen better days. It’s likely to disintegrate completely soon. But we have now preserved it for posterity, a wonderful reminder of an object which, once upon a time, was indispensable at the mill.

    “Other Archive objects, now on-line, include typewriters, old telephones, suit jackets and an old-fashioned calculator. Overall, this is a most fantastic fusion of the old and the new, the past and the present, bringing our wonderful Archive to vibrant life in the 21st century,” added Rachel.

    “Overall, this generous grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund has proved to be absolutely transformational for us. One of the key lessons we learned from being locked down during the global pandemic was that we needed to be much more accessible – and this grant has enabled us to do exactly that. It’s been a game-changer.”

    “This has proved tremendously exciting and productive. It has not only benefitted the students but has also increased the knowledge of our staff and volunteers at Sunny Bank Mills. Working in tandem with West Leeds SILC’s work-related learning programme, we have built much more inclusive web design and content, helping to promote inclusivity and accessibility at the Archive.

    “We feel this work is so important, both for us and for West Leeds SILC, whose students have a range of learning needs including Asperger’s, Autism, Cerebral Palsy and Downs Syndrome. They have really benefited from this project – as have we,” said Rachel.

    Please visit the on-line Archive website on www.sunnybankmills.co.uk/archive

    Digital Archive Curator Alison McMaster commented: “Weaving The Web Project has been a year-long digital exploration. The obvious largescale outcome of the project has been the launch of the Online Collection, currently 50 objects, allowing visibility and accessibility to a far wider audience.

    “The legacy of this will clearly be to provide firm foundations for continuing to improve and expand the offering. However, for me, the legacy of the project has come from the smaller details: engaging with young people in the Archive space, putting aside preconceptions and seeing what really interests them (and what doesn’t!) and learning from them.

    “I’ve also loved seeing the juxtaposition of the oldest objects in the Mills with some of the newest technology and how different groups within the community have engaged with that – not always as we might have expected. I’ve always considered myself to be a life-long learner and my involvement with this project and the Archive have reignited that passion for learning.”

    The Mills, which were originally built in 1829, have been in the Gaunt family for six generations and are currently owned and managed by cousins John and William.

    The Gaunts set up Sunny Bank Mills Ltd, a not-for-profit company in 2017 to safeguard the historic textile Archive at Sunny Bank Mills and the Archive has gone from strength to strength since then.

    William Gaunt commented: “The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant has proved transformational for the Sunny Bank Mills Archive. The grant has allowed the Archive to invest in equipment and skills to make it accessible online to not just the community from which it was borne, but to all corners of the wider community that want to see it.”

    The nationally important Sunny Bank Mills Archive consists of: fabric records including over 300 guard books containing thousands of textile cuttings; 60,000 lengths of fabric; 8,000 fabric designs; 5,000 wool dyeing recipe cards; 100 leather bound ledgers and cash books; weaving looms; photographs and memorabilia and a library of mill-related books.

    On the closure of a mill, the textile records are generally thrown in the skip. Therefore, sadly, 99% of West Yorkshire’s textile archives have been lost. The Gaunt family, however, were adamant that Sunny Bank Mills’ heritage should be preserved for future generations, so when the mill closed in 2008, all the mill records were carefully set aside.

    William Gaunt explained: “It is important to John and I that the Archive has a secure future beyond our lifetimes for generations to come, so The National Lottery Heritage grant has meant a great deal to us. The management, restoration, conservation, preservation, use and promotion of the Archive here is absolutely crucial.

    “Thanks to The National Lottery players, this important and exciting project has helped to create lasting connections with all our community and their heritage.”
    About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

    Using money raised by the National Lottery, we inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk. Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund

Find More Business Stories

We’ve included some of our most recent press releases on this page. if you’re interested in finding earlier news articles and reports on the Mill, please click the Business Desk link below.

Business Desk

Building plans work Sunny Bank Mills

Media enquiries

Further information on press enquiries, interviews and digital please contact in the first instance Fiona Gell, Communications Director.

Tel: 07773 152670

Email:  [email protected]