“Cos this is my Wakefield, our Wakefield. And Wakefield, this is Our Year” 

To mark the launch of Our Year – Wakefield District 2024, we enlisted the help of Wakefield-born poet Ben Taylor (Yorkshire Prose) to create an exclusive poem capturing the spirit of our district, which was performed live for the first time in January 2024 as part of the 24 in 24 launch event.

The poem’s proud celebration of what makes the Wakefield District great in the eyes of those that live there, was met with an incredible reception at the live cathedral performance. Filmed against the iconic backdrop of Wakefield’s Hepworth Gallery and the stunning scenery of Yorkshire Sculpture Park, amongst other quintessential local places, Ben’s recorded performance of the poem is not to be missed.

Scroll below to watch.

“Culture is a journey,  And one that dunt end ‘ere. But oh what a beginning. Wakefield, this was Our Year.”

To make the end of an incredible year, we asked poet Ben Taylor (Yorkshire Prose) to create a poem capturing our journey throughout Our Year 2024 and celebrate how culture is everywhere we look!

This poem was performed live for the first time in March 2025 as part of the This Was Our Year exhibition opening. There is also a recorded performance, filmed at the fantastic new Wakefield Exchange building amongst other wonderful local sites.

Scroll below to watch.