About Quarry Arts Intro

Quarry Arts engages with communities for creative and performing arts inspired by quarries changing public perceptions.

Yorkshire Quarry Arts was established in the University of Leeds in 2003 and its projects were funded by the Minerals Industry Research Organisation (MIRO) and Natural England through Defra’s Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund. Appreciation of the quarries has been underpinned by understanding of the geology of the quarried landscape and throughout our projects geologists have provided insight into the quarries that have inspired our creative activities.

Excellent example of collaborations can be seen in the YQA publications The Naked Quarry and Creative Children and at the Brantwood Musical Stones Exhibition in Coniston, The Coldstones Cut and the Lithophone at Clitheroe Castle Museum.

At the beginning of 2020 QA moved to 1 Hawksworth Street, ILKLEY following some five years in the iCentre in Ingleton in the Yorkshire Dales. The premises will enable us to develop our workshop programme with new communities, increase our project portfolio and create more musical instruments. Since Lockdown we are developing online activities to support home arts activities.

We have an Advisory Group to oversee our activities.

We have formed collaborative partnerships with MIRO, Clitheroe Castle Museum, Lancashire Education Services, the Yorkshire Dales National Parks Authority, Purple Patch Arts, Skipton Camerata, the Ingleborough Dales Landscape Partnership and Leeds Literary and Philosophical Society as well as with a number of schools in Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales. We are continuing to develop applications for funding for our projects with community groups, schools, artists and museums in the North of England. 

If you feel you can Volunteer and support us please do so through becoming a Member or Sponsor.