You can’t help but notice the landmark Damart chimney whenever you come to or pass by Bingley. The business has been based in the town for almost 60 years, employing almost 400 people locally in the historic Bowling Green Mills.
What might be less well known is that Damart is a staunch supporter of community initiatives and is taking centre stage supporting Bingley and Bradford District’s numerous and growing creative activities.
In the past year Damart has opened its doors and become an important community arts and culture venue. In March 2024 Damart hosted exhibitors and workshops for the Five Rise Locks 250th Anniversary. In February 2025 the basement of Damart was transformed into a magical kingdom hosting Bradford 2025’s GRUE.
For the last 18 months, local community organisations have worked together under the umbrella of ‘Bingley Creates!’ to bring more creative opportunities to Bingley, supporting the aims of Bradford District’s year as UK City of Culture.
Bingley Creates! has organised a weekend of activities on the bank holiday weekend of May 3rd – 5th. These ‘Bingley25’ activities take place at several locations including Myrtle Park, Market Square, the canal and Damart HQ at Bowling Green Mills. Saturday May 3rd focusses on heritage, Sunday May 4th on arts, crafts and community, with Monday May 5th on activity and sports including the ‘Bingley Walkers are Welcome’ Celebration of Walking.
On Saturday May 3rd (10 am – 4 pm) visitors to Bowling Green Mills will be able to see an exhibition provided by the Bingley & District Local History Society and Cottingley History Society. For the first time, members of the public will be able to access the Bingley & District Local History Society’s archive, now hosted by Damart, for the first time.
In Damart’s 1871 Cafe, there will be weaving activities for children led by staff from the Bradford Industrial Museum. There will also be an exceptional display of rare postcards of the local area from the Graham Hall Collection as well as photographs from the Frank West Collection taken in Bingley in the 1960s, which illustrate how much Bingley has changed yet retained its character.
On Sunday May 4th, Damart’s 1871 Cafe will be one of six sites for a major exhibition of artists and art groups that are linked with Bingley, with an opportunity to meet with the artists, browse their works and purchase them. The other locations for this event are The Bingley Gallery, Bingley Baptist Church Hub, The Craft House, Paula Dunn’s studio (Wellington Street) and Jane Fielder’s house (Bromley Road), with 36 artists or art groups altogether and the opportunity for visitors to take part in free art workshops.
The transformation of Damart into a location which supports the Arts has been organised by Facilities Manager, Ben Northrop, working closely with the Damart Board.
Damart has transformed the 1871 Cafe into an elegant space that is now enjoyed by members of the public during events. Damart has also commissioned several bold murals which brighten up the mill as well as an installation on their exterior wall next to Three Rise Locks.
Ben Northrop, H&S and Facilities Manager at Damart, says: “Damart opened its doors at Bowling Green Mills almost 60 years ago, and we are immensely proud to continue to be a core part of the Bingley community today.
“We are delighted to support ‘Bingley Creates!’ in its mission to bring more creative opportunities to our town, as the organisation’s emphasis on community values resonates strongly with our own.
“Having recently hosted visitors for Bradford’s 2025’s GRUE, as well as workshops for the Five Rise Locks 250th Anniversary, we are hugely looking forward to welcoming people from the local area and beyond to Bowling Green Mills this summer.
“The Bingley25 celebrations will be a wonderful way to bring our rich cultural heritage to life and allow people to experience firsthand what our town has to offer.”
Author:
Bingley resident, Marcus Rattray is president of Bingley Camera Club and a volunteer for Bingley Creates!
About Bingley Creates:
Bingley Creates! is a group of people aiming to bring community organisations and creative individuals together. The group wants to have a year-round programme of creative and cultural activities in Bingley for everyone to enjoy and participate in and to support local artists and creatives.
Damart continues to support the aims of Bingley Creates! to develop and support community arts and participation in arts. For the last year Damart has provided their 1871 Cafe for community groups to run free workshops and exhibitions every month. These monthly Bingley Creates! events are held at the same time as Damart’s popular sale and have grown from strength to strength.
Many community organisations have been hosted on these Saturday events at Damart, including Bingley Graphite Art Group, Bingley Music School, Walkers are Welcome in Bingley, The Five Rise Frocks Bingley Women’s Institute, The Soroptimists, Bingley Bellringers, and many other groups besides as well as local crafters and makers. There are always free workshops and activities suitable for all ages that have included Dorset button making workshops, bunting making and Scribble Studio’s art tasters.
The monthly Bingley Creates! programme at Damart 1871 Cafe continues to run throughout 2025, on the last Saturday of each month.
About Damart:
Damart has been creating great quality style for more than 70 years. Damart designs their ranges with surprising details that give customers the confidence to own every occasion. Their dedication to textile intelligence and detail goes into every stitch, fabric choice and style they create.
