Monday, 27 October 2025
Save Square Chapel
Calderdale TUC calls for Arts Council action to save Square Chapel
Calderdale Trades Union Council has written to Arts Council England expressing its support for the Save Square Chapel Campaign and calling for the charge Arts Council England has on Square Chapel that stipulates that it must be used as an arts centre to be enforced.
Square Chapel was Halifax's major art centre for theatre, cinema, exhibitions and more, with cafe. The centre was well-used by people from this end of Calderdale.
In the letter to Pete Massey, Arts Council England Director, Yorkshire & the Humber, Northern Economy and Partnerships, Calderdale TU Council expresses its belief that Arts Council England can play a leading role in returning Square Chapel to its vital status as a community-focussed arts centre. Calderdale TU Council believes that enforcing the charge Arts Council England has on the Square Chapel building is the only way we can move forward with the re-establishment of an arts centre operating all year round at Square Chapel.
Calderdale TU Council chair Daniel Whittall said: "Square Chapel plays a central role in our local arts scene. Working with Equity and the Save Square Chapel Campaign, we're keen to see the centre reopen as a year-round arts centre that can develop an inclusive, community-focussed arts programme. We call on Arts Council England to take robust action to enforce the charge it has on the Square Chapel building."
The Letter
Dear Pete Massey
Calderdale Trades Union Council brings together union branches and members in the borough to campaign on issues affecting working people in their workplaces and their communities. Along with Equity and TUC Yorkshire and Humber Creative and Leisure Industries Committee, we organised the hugely attended Save Square Chapel for the People public meeting at the beginning of July. At this meeting the Save Square Chapel campaign was established.
We are emailing you to urge Arts Council England to enforce the charge ACE has on Square Chapel that stipulates that it must be used as an arts centre. As you are aware, Square Chapel CIC closed the centre in February this year. Between May and August this year Square Chapel CIC entered into an arrangement for Square Chapel to be used as green rooms for the Piece Hall's Summer Concert series. Calderdale TU Council believes such use was not consistent with the ACE charge and questions why this arrangement existed over five months when the duration of the concert series was closer to three months.
We understand Square Chapel CIC now proposes to negotiate such an arrangement between May and September for future years and claims it will try to find someone else to run an Arts Centre at Square Chapel for the remaining seven months of the year. Calderdale TU Council believes that such an arrangement will again be inconsistent with the ACE charge, and will not bring back anything resembling the popular, successful Square Chapel Arts Centre that existed until 2020. Further, It is difficult to take Square Chapel CIC's proposals seriously given that the https://squarechapel.co.uk web site shows a "404 Not Found" message and that there hasn't been a posting on their Facebook page since the closure announcement on February 5.
Calderdale TU Council believes that Square Chapel Arts Centre has no future under Square Chapel CIC. For any chance for Square Chapel to reopen, we call on Arts Council England to take robust action to enforce the charge on the Square Chapel building.
Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to receiving the news that ACE is taking the action we are seeking.
Regards
Daniel Whittall
Chair, Calderdale TU Council
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