Arts Diary: Will Marriott

When we saw this request, we very nearly deleted the email – but apparently it really is a genuine request – the cathedral’s congregation is looking to create an art installation and wants old footwear. The young people in the congregation, who are working on the project, are hoping to collect about 1,000 shoes to turn into an art installation around the theme of Pilgrimage. To send your shoes for the installation, opening in November, stick them in the post to Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road, Ripon, HG4 1QT.

Oh dear, Bradford City Council’s ‘communications department’. When we called yesterday to ask a question relating to Ways of Looking, the fantastic new photography festival in your wonderful city, we expected a little more help. We didn’t expect to hear you ask ‘what’s Ways of Looking?’ Especially considering the council is one of the supporters of this worthy festival that we hope will benefit Bradford. Maybe a little more communication?

Good luck to friend of the Arts Diary and Leeds author Simon Jenkins.

The winner of the British Beer Writer of the Year Award will be at Philip Howard Books, Street Lane, Roundhay, tomorrow (September 24) from 11am, signing copies of his definitive guide, The Great Leeds Pub Crawl. Once the signing is finished, we’re not entirely sure what Simon will do. We imagine it’s possible he’ll celebrate with a pint or two.

While happy to praise her, we’re also keeping an eye out for Daisy Watkiss. The 10-year-old with her own community radio show spent the summer being followed around by cameras for a TV series about her unusual Saturday job.

Now the schoolgirl has landed an interview with comedian Adrian Edmondson on her show. Daisy has been hosting Crazy Daisy’s Lazy Saturday for more than a year and can be heard every Saturday from 10.30am to 11am and noon to 1pm on 106.9FM or online at www.drystoneradio.com.

A Leeds music studio which supports disadvantaged young people and adults with learning difficulties, is hoping to strike a chord with city planners with the help of the Kaiser Chiefs.

The band have donated to newly formed charity Leeds Music Trust, which has submitted plans to develop facilities at Old Chapel rehearsal studios in Holbeck, where the Leeds chart toppers started their journey to stardom. Nick Hodgson of Kaiser Chiefs said: “We have supported the work of Old Chapel for many years because it was invaluable to us when we were young and we’d like to see it do the same for the next generation of Leeds musicians.”

Fiona Scott is just as famous as her celebrity sister Selina – in the world of portraiture. Her self-portrait is in the BP Portrait Awards exhibition in London and now she is about to have a solo exhibition of her work at Bridge Street Gallery, Helmsley, from October 6 to 22. See her work at www.fionascott.net