Seacroft’s Surprising French Connections

As an ancient village that dates back to the Domesday Book that later transformed into one of Europe’s biggest council estates after the Second World War, Seacroft has a long history of welcoming people from other places. In recent years, however, Seacroft expanded its ties to the wider world in some unexpected ways through a project creating links with Leeds’ twin city of Lille, France.

This month, that French link will make a leap forward when more than twenty musicians and radio makers from the Lille come to spend a week, from 20^th to 26^th October, making music and connections in the community.

It all started four years ago when the Deputy Mayor of Culture from Lille came to town and they brought her to Seacroft for a radio interview at Chapel FM.

“Things really clicked, one thing led to another, and then a group from the We Are Seacroft network were invited to visit Lille and explore different community projects to see what we could learn from one another,” said Howard Bradley, CEO of LS14 Trust, adding: “In particular we connected with groups from a neighbourhood there named Moulins, which means windmill. We knew right away that we shared lots of the same values and ideas about things like ABCD (Asset Based Community Development) and how community projects could be fun and festive while still tackling serious stuff.”

The heart of the Moulins, Lille partnership has become the connection with a community music and arts organisation named La Compagnie du Tire-Laine a collective of more than 100 artists and volunteers that works to make art accessible to everyone, to open the doors to culture without borders, and to create spaces for encounters and celebration.

People from We Are Seacroft network organisations visited Lille several times, including a trip this February when ten local teenagers took the train and work alongside their new French community arts friends to create new songs and stories and stage a Radio Cabaret, all of which can be seen in this documentary made by Seacroft-based filmmaker Evie Press from Offshoot Productions.

As the next step in Seacroft’s French twin neighbourhood adventure, the 20+ artists from Tire-Laine plus radio makers from a Radio Boomerang in Lille will come work with Seacroft artists and community members to put on a mix of concerts and workshops while also spending time developing ideas about how this connection can grow even more in the future.

The Lille, French visitors will be in Seacroft from 20^th to 26^th October doing a wide range of workshops and performances that anyone in East Leeds and the wider city and join. These include:

A music and poetry improvisation event at Chapel FM Arts Centre called “Playing the Poem” on Wednesday 21^st October at 7pm.

A workshop where anyone can learn some French songs at the Imagination Station on Thursday 22^nd October starting at 4pm followed by a concert at 6:30pm.

An outdoor concert – the “Into the Wild Guinguette” in the Seacroft Forest Garden on Friday 23^rd October at 6:30pm.

A farewell concert at Chapel FM Arts Centre on Sunday 25^th October at 7:30pm.

Musicians from Tire-Laine will also be recording several original songs with Seacroft residents during their visit.

All events are free and supported by a Seasons of Culture grant from Leeds City Council Cultural Investment Programme and West Yorkshire Combined Authority. The project is also supported by the Franco-UK Regional Cooperation Fund through the British Embassy in Paris which has been supporting the Seacroft and Moulins, Lille long-term partnership.

One of the musicians from Tire-Laine, Aurélien Gainetdinoff said of the upcoming visit, “A few months ago, it was just an abstract idea. Leeds. Words. Then, some of you came to Lille. A special momentum of exchange during which we discovered two songs written for the occasion and then performed a live public radio show, starring some of our guests artists from Seacroft and our own orchestra. That already was a pleasant moment and meeting of music, poetry and exchange. Music truly is a universal language. It is a joy to see that as an occasion to strengthen the bond between us, both from Lille and Leeds. I cant wait to discover Seacroft and the rest of your city!”

Some of the young people and third sector staff from Seacroft who travelled to Moulins, Lille early this year shared their thoughts on the experience:

“Even with language barriers, things like music brings everyone together and I think that’s very important,” said Amos Pearse de Wolf.

Lidia Ruddy said, “I did not think that I would be doing this. I did not think that I would be singing in French and Romany! I feel proud.”

Tshayi Hercules youth worker with LS14 Trust said, “Young people from LS14 Trust [who travelled to Lille earlier this year] came up with their own story about a Seacroft shark, this was off the back of them going around Lille seeing murals and graffiti art… the bigger thing is seeing how we can connect this with our own community. During the cabaret in Lille our young people shared back what they got up to. It was such a proud moment. Confidence is definitely something that came out of this for all the young people.”

Najma Bouakaze-Khan, Head of Communications and Engagement from the British Embassy, Paris, which has been supporting the Seacroft and Moulins, Lille projects said, “I think it’s really important to have these people to people exchanges. It enriches understanding between communities across two sides of the Channel.”

Agnes Leonowicz, Chapel FM Head of Radio said about the experience, “When we arrived at Tire Laine we immediately thought ‘this is our kind of place, this is like Chapel FM’… I think what was so beautiful to see was young people connecting with other young people. Broaden your horizons as a young people, to play music with French people is so special and inspiring.”

The fact that Seacroft has a twin community in Lille, France opens up many possibilities for the future including more travels back and forth, chance for local schools to join in, work placements and jobs for young people, and so much more.