The Night Market comes alive at The Piece Hall

The external north wall of The Piece Hall, Halifax’s Georgian gem, is currently illuminated with a brand new bespoke animated illustration, The Night Market, as part of the city wide Spirit of Halifax Festival. Lit daily between dusk (around 4.30pm) and 9pm the work will be in place until Sunday 4 December.

Inspired by the past of the iconic architectural building, two acclaimed locally based artists – illustrator Chris Mould from Bradford and Matt Howarth, animator & Artist in Residence at Dean Clough Galleries, Halifax have created an enchanted installation depicting exotic traders and people gathering, magical potions, charms and trinkets.  While the transformation of The Piece Hall continues inside, a tale of a parallel universe unfolds outside, illuminating the external walls as characters exchange goods and meet at The Night Market.

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Bradford’s Chris Mould is known more widely as a book illustrator, most recently having collaborated with author Matt Haig on children’s book ‘’The Girl Who Saved Christmas’, while Matt Howarth is a specialist in 3D and digital special effects.

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Molly Rigg, Head of Events for The Piece Hall Trust commented: “We were really keen to be involved in The Spirit of Halifax celebrations this year and decided that the north wall would make the perfect canvas. The concept for The Night Market evolved from talking with Chris and Matt about the Piece Hall as a site for trade and exchange in a way that would fit with Christmas, and they had some great ideas for characters that could be included. Working in partnership with local artists is really important to us and something we fully intend to do more of in the future when The Piece Hall opens to the public next year.”

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