Huddersfield is emerging as a hotbed of creativity. Being one of the first in the UK to declare itself a ‘Creative Town’, the town then went on to put its money where its mouth was and created The Media Centre.

After being in operation for 14 years the centre has a client list that boasts designers, new product developers, software developers and support agencies, all with their finger firmly on the creative pulse.

Clare Danek, marketing manager for The Media Centre, believes the area has a bright future: “Huddersfield and the surrounding area has been used as a great location for film and television for years, but now the landscape is changing and we are seeing a steady stream of web developers, bloggers, and designers attracted to the area. We are in easy reach of the big cities but still provide a close knit community of creative professionals with the high-end services they need in a beautiful setting.”

Part of the wider Kirklees area, Huddersfield borders Batley, Dewsbury and Holmfirth, all with an established tradition for the creative and cultural arts. From Batley’s famous Variety Club, which once played host to legendary artists including Dame Shirley Bassey, to the sleepy streets of Holmfirth in Last of the Summer Wine, the area is no stranger to the lime light. This November will see the 31st annual Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, an international festival over ten days consisting of approximately 50 events, including concerts, music-theatre, dance, multi-media, talks and film.

This year’s line up will welcome the UK premiere of The Leuven Triptych, part of Ictus Ensemble which was co-commissioned by BBC Radio 3, alongside London Sinfonietta and a mesmerising performance from MusikFabrik of pieces from some of the finest English-speaking composers of our time.