By KLTV Newsdesk –

Weekend of community events highlights South Asian heritage, creativity, and spring festivities in Batley

Creative Scene brought joy, unity, and artistic expression to the Bagshaw Museum in Batley last weekend with a vibrant programme of events titled Celebration of Hope.

Designed to bring together diverse communities through creativity and culture, the two-day celebration was packed with performances, exhibitions, and hands-on activities for all ages.

Women Take Centre Stage at ‘Kawateen Time’

The weekend opened with Kawateen Time – meaning Women’s Time – an empowering afternoon created by and for South Asian women in the community.

The event featured new writing by acclaimed author Abda Khan, co-created with women from Milen Care and Al Hikmah ESOL classes in Batley.

Live folk songs, storytelling, and a puppet show by singer-songwriter Kauser added a soulful touch, culminating in a heartfelt performance by Yorkshire’s First South Asian Women’s Choir, Song Geet.

This women-only event celebrated identity, expression and connection, and marked a powerful start to the festivities.

Family Fun Day Welcomes Eid and Spring

Following Saturday’s celebration of women, Sunday saw Bagshaw Museum transformed into a colourful hub of family fun.

To mark Eid and the arrival of spring, Creative Scene hosted a day packed with activities and entertainment:

• Walkabout performances by the Sonia Sabri Company enchanted visitors with their Mughal Miniatures piece, The Princess and the Peacock.

• Children explored the Play Tent – an immersive sensory space filled with games and activities.

• Local artist Helaina Sharpley led a collaborative art installation: an Olive Tree of Hope, where visitors wrote personal messages onto embossed leaves to hang on the sculpture.

Art, Light and Community Spirit

A standout attraction was the textile exhibition Peace by Piece, created by local women in collaboration with artist Ranya Abdulateef.

Displayed in the museum’s Victorian Gallery, the work celebrated themes of unity and peace through fabric and design.

As dusk fell, the Celebration of Hope concluded with a breathtaking lantern parade created by Cecil Green Arts.

Over 80 handmade lanterns glowed against the museum’s silhouette, as families and children proudly walked together through the grounds.

The evening also included communal prayer and authentic street food from local vendors, rounding off the celebration with warmth and togetherness.

A Message from Creative Scene

Iqra Rafiq, Assistant Producer at Creative Scene, reflected on the event:

“It was truly magical to see all the lanterns come together and for the people who made them to take part in the parade. We hope everyone taking part or visiting on the day enjoyed it as much as we did. We ask everyone to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see a special gallery of images from the event.”

Producer Megan Bailey added:

“It is so special to be able to bring the ideas of local people to life like this, creating special events at the heart of our communities. Huge thanks to all our artists and partners who made it happen. As we plan our next year of events, we’d love to hear from Kirklees groups and organisations who have ideas for creative events and activities with their communities. You can get in touch by emailing us at hello@creativescene.org.uk”

About Creative Scene

Creative Scene is an Arts Council England-funded programme working across Kirklees to make art and creativity a part of everyday life. Focused on areas with low levels of engagement in the arts, the initiative helps local people shape cultural experiences that reflect their lives, stories, and dreams.

From lantern parades to literary collaborations, the Celebration of Hope was a glowing example of how art can bring people together — lighting up Batley with joy, creativity, and community spirit.