People Play by Alice Irwin

"People Play" is a vibrant and imaginative sculpture collection that explores the intersection of Halifax’s rich textile heritage and the limitless creativity of childhood. Each brightly coloured piece is designed to evoke a sense of wonder, celebrating both the community’s history and its playful spirit. These sculptures serve as both a memorial and a celebration, inviting viewers to engage with art in an interactive, thoughtful way.

Join us on this pop-up tour across Calderdale and experience the magic as these sculptures find new homes and audiences at each location.

People Play is kindly on loan from The Piece Hall Trust who commissioned the project with support from Arts Council England, NLHF and Sir George Martin Trust, in partnership with Arts Charity Dean Clough, The Artworks and Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Arts Crawl tours with local artists highlighted below will also be available during the pop-up days. The artist will take a group round the sculptures and discuss them, then attendees can use their own arts materials to make their own creations inspired by the sculptures. Ten spaces are available for adults to join the Arts Crawls, and these are bookable via our Ticketsource linked below. Children can accompany an adult but must remain under their supervision. Please bring your own art materials.

Dates, times, and locations:

Please note: you do not need to book to see the sculptures, only to take part in the tours at the allotted times.

18 April - Todmorden, Burnley Road opposite Todmorden Town Hall and at the top of Water Street

Join Zeke Clough's Arts Crawl from 10am-12pm

18 April - Brighouse, Commercial Street

Join Zeke Clough's Arts Crawl from 10am-12pm

19 April - Hebden Bridge, St George Square

Join Penny Moe's Arts Crawl from 2pm-4pm

19 April - Elland, Southgate

20 and 21 April - Halifax, outside the Victoria Theatre and George Square

20 April - Join Sarah O'Doyle's Arts Crawl from 2pm-4pm

21 April - Join Zeke Clough's Arts Crawl from 2pm-4pm

Meet the artists

‍Zeke Clough

Since 2005, Zeke Clough has worked with numerous electronic music labels on projects such as animated videos, record covers and t-shirt designs. His first graphic novel is due to be published by Castles in Space. He is an experienced workshop facilitator using a variety of materials from ink to iPads as a method of communication and a way to enhance mental well-being. Drawing is an everyday activity for Zeke and he is rarely without his sketchbook, believing that drawing is something many people can enjoy regardless of experience or skill level.

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Penny Moe

Penny (she/her) is an intersectional feminist, queer woman with Burmese ethnic originally from Burma, now based in Calderdale. She is a multidisciplinary artist with activism background. She involves with art and community scenes in Bradford, Calderdale, Leeds and Manchester. She is a CultureDale Ambassador and at the moment very excited to the project launching she did her commission drawing in watercolour, with Bradford 2025. She is interested in stillness, but moving as in natural, taking times and observing the senses, to experience in our daily living.

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‍Sarah O'Boyle

Sarah O’Boyle graduated with a degree in Woven Textiles from Glasgow School of Art in 1998. After spending 15 years working in both Primary and Secondary schools, she established a base in Halifax, working as a Multi-Disciplinary Artist and Artist Educator since 2016. She has a passion for both floral and therapeutic drawing processes and loves to use a variety of natural, recycled and manmade fibres to create 2D and 3D woven pieces inspired by nature, science and traditional textile techniques. Sarah’s experimental approach to creativity has led to extensive delivery within both educational and community settings including Everybody Arts, Halifax, and as a Creative Practitioner for the NHS. Her educational work offers inspiration to children, families and adults of all ages and backgrounds, with a special interest in ensuring that Art for Health and Wellbeing is at the core of every area of her practice.