Babylon Gamelan

27-30 May 2025

A vibrant interactive fusion of art and sound for all the family + workshops and creative activities

IOU Creation Centre Dean Clough, Halifax

Event information

Location Icon IOU Creation Centre Dean Clough, Halifax

Costs Icon FREE

Availability Icon Drop In Session

Meet The Artist

Tues 27 May & Thurs 29 May
2pm
Babylon Gamelan creator Dave Young -a founder of Rag & Bone – and in his own words ‘an artist, maker, bodger, artificer, and apprentice rogue alchemist.’ He has also worked as sculptor, animator and film-maker, blacksmith, metalworker, pyro-technician, set-builder, puppeteer and workshop leader.

Don’t miss an opportunity to chat to Dave and find out first hand about the literal blood, sweat and tears that went into the making of Babylon Gamelan and his other giant puppets and great beasts.

This May half term holiday, come along to the IOU Creation Centre, to meet Babylon Gamelan and get hands on with this tower of noisy joy and sonic chaos.

Standing four metres tall,  made from recycled materials and found objects, and inspired by the Tower of Babel, ‘Babylon Gamelan is a joyous mechanical sound sculpture and interactive percussive installation’.

Tuesday 27-Friday 30 May 2025
10am-3pm
FREE – drop in session
Meet The Artist 2pm Tues 27 & Thurs 29 May

Created by Rag & Bone artist Dave Young, Babylon Gamelan is a series of mechanical sound sculptures and noise-making machines designed for hands-on exploration and suitable for all ages. Come and join us to touch, drum and trigger sensors, creating a vibrant soundscape through this playful installation at IOU Studio, Dean Clough. 

“Ever since Babylon Gamelan landed at our Studio during its final stages of development we knew we’d love to be able to host it to the public here at IOU, Dean Clough. Such an amazing, tactile and playful sculpture deserves to be shared with as many people as possible. We can’t wait for visitors to come and experience the joy of interacting with Baby G.” Rich Warburton, Creative Director, IOU Creation Centre

Created by Rag & Bone artist Dave Young, with Spencer Jenkins and Julia Snowdin, Babylon Gamelan was commissioned by Artichoke Trust as part of Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council’s Creative Explorers Programme. MORE

Half Term Workshops with Babylon Gamelan
A week of noisy fun and creative chaos at the IOU Creation Centre 

Wednesday 28 May
Scavenger Workshop with Noisy Toys
Get hands on with e-waste in this playful and inspiring workshop all about hacking, tinkering, fixing, breaking and up-cycling.
Free/ Pay As You Can
Booking essential as place are limited
BOOK HERE 

Friday 30 May 
Cairn Building/Decorating by artist EsK
Join artist EsK (Stewart Knights) for a relaxed session where we will get creative with rocks, stones and stories, building a community cairn in the IOU Studio.
FREE – drop in session
10.30am-1.30pm