OUGD505 - Studio Brief 01 - Leeds Public Spaces - Initial Event Research

As a starting point, I researched into a variety of historic events that occured in Leeds and tried to find one that is still very much significant to the city.

The Black Prince Statue

This was revealed in 1903 to the city, and was commissioned by Thomas Harding, the Mayor of Leeds, to celebrate Leeds' new status as a city.

Leeds locals were somewhat confused when Edward the Black Prince was unveiled in stone in 1903 - the Black Prince has no connection to Leeds at all. The answer for this was that, in history, there was no figure with local associations heroic enough for the site. It was essential an equestrian statue should be selected; the difficulty was to find the subject. Henry de Lacy, the Crusader, has a place in local traditions by reason of the share he is reputed to have taken in the foundation of Kirkstall Abbey, but it was thought crucial for a larger figure in the national history to be represented. At that time there were no memorials of the great Duke of Marlborough, of Henry V, or of Edward III, and his son, the Black Prince.

In terms of a historic event, this was a symbol for how Leeds had become an official city. Similar to Marks & Spencers, whilst it is not an actual event, it could be used for a celebratory poster.

Marks & Spencers

Marks & Spencers was formed in 1884 when Michael Marks, a Polish refugee opened a market stall in Leeds, with the slogan ‘don’t ask the price, it’s a penny’.

On his arrival in England, Marks worked for a company in Leeds, called Barran, which employed refugees. In 1884 he met Isaac Jowitt Dewhirst while looking for work. Dewhirst lent Marks £5 which he used to establish his Penny Bazaar on Kirkgate Market, in Leeds.

The birth of Marks & Spencers came in 1901, when Marks moved to the Birkenhead open market where he amalgamated with Spencer. The pair were allocated stall numbers 11 & 12 in the centre aisle in 1903, and there they opened the famous Penny Bazaar. The company left Birkenhead Market on 24 February 1923.

Whilst this is not so much a physical event, it is a historic event that could be celebrated - highlighting how Leeds was the birthplace of Marks & Spencers.



Leeds West Indian Carnival

The festival has been going since 1967, and will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2017. Over 160,000 people flocked into Leeds for the carnival in 2016 and it is considered to be Europe's longest running authentic Caribbean carnival parade.

Started by Arthur France and fellow Caribbean students. they needed something to bring people together. They wanted to make their mark and celebrate their roots and African heritage by putting on a carnival for people to join in with.

This, I believe, shows the most potential for a celebratory poster, as it is 50 years since the carnival launched. For this reason, I am going to complete some further research into the carnival, to find out more about it and try to generate some initial ideas.