PEOPLE in Skipton are being invited to create a ‘soundtrack’ to the town to feature at next year’s Hinterlands International Rural Film Festival.

Organisers of the festival, which was held in Skipton for the first time in 2019, and held again this May, say they want to work with the community to express the joy of reopening post Covid, and to capture the spirit and special values of the area.

Hinterlands is asking people and businesses to make a one-minute recording of their favourite sounds, from pubs to playgrounds and the castle to the cattle - any sound that celebrates Skipton as the town comes back to life.

The sounds will feature on an interactive sound map which will form an open source audio library for anyone to listen to so that everyone can share in celebrating what Skipton sounds like.

The clips will also be edited into a soundtrack to be used by commissioned filmmakers to write and direct a short film, which will be played for the first time at next year’s event.

Geoff Bird, Hinterlands Rural Film Festival Artistic-Director, said: “We want to work with Skiptonians to bring the power of sound and film together and reflect the joy of Skipton reopening and the return of cinema. Skipton is such a cinematic town, full of wonder and possibility which makes this project so exciting.”

Sarah Bird and Rowan Cannon, Directors of Wild Rumpus, producers of Hinterlands Festival added: “Across the world, Skipton is renowned for the famous 900 year old castle, romantic ruined priory and historic cobbled High Street and outstanding natural beauty.

“But we are keen to know what Skipton means to Skiptonians. As Skipton emerges back to life, what makes the town sing? Is it the market traders, the church bells, the waterfall in the woods, your favourite pub, children in the school playground, a historical reenactment at the castle, a particular restaurant, the waterways, the cattle mart, the sheep?

“We hope that as many people across as Skipton will participate in this historical project.”

Soundtrack to Skipton’ is part of a £95,000 grant programme to fund a series of community-led activities on Skipton High Street over the next three years. Historic England has awarded the grant to Craven District Council as part of the Skipton High Streets Heritage Action Zone programme.

John Stonard from Historic England said: “We are delighted to be funding such an innovative and exciting project through the High Streets Cultural Programme. It will be fascinating to hear what sounds local people think encapsulate the spirit and character of Skipton.”

To find out more, visit: https://hinterlandsfestival.org.uk/soundtracktoskipton/