An exciting new programme of events and activity is being put together as part of innovative plans to invest in a sustainable future for historic Kirkstall Abbey. Following a public consultation earlier this year, the project will see new entrance charges introduced for non-Leeds residents visiting the abbey ruins, helping to generate crucial income…
Keep ReadingAn exciting new programme of events and activity is being put together as part of innovative plans to invest in a sustainable future for historic Kirkstall Abbey. Following a public consultation earlier this year, the project will see new entrance charges introduced for non-Leeds residents visiting the abbey ruins, helping to generate crucial income…
Keep ReadingAn atmospheric riverside scene created by one of the city’s most celebrated artists is coming home after being acquired by Leeds Art Gallery. Reflections on the Aire – on strike was painted by Leeds-born John Atkinson Grimshaw in 1879, a rare example of one of his signature ‘moonlit’ scenes combined with a social message. Showing…
Keep ReadingA trove of centuries-old keepsakes, footnotes and family crests has been discovered inside the antique tomes of a Leeds mansion’s beautiful Georgian library. Staff at Temple Newsam House carrying out meticulous conservation work on the stunning room made a series of fascinating finds in a select few of the library’s 500 books, some of…
Keep ReadingAn innovative new performance has brought art enthusiasts of all ages together to reinvent a series of TV talk show debates at Leeds Art Gallery. Harold Offeh’s new artwork Reading the Realness has seen members of the gallery’s Youth Collective working alongside older people from its regular Meet and Make sessions to take to…
Keep ReadingFour decades of artist’s film and video will be showcased in a thought-provoking new exhibition at Leeds Art Gallery this Autumn. Opening on September 25, Radical Reel is a group exhibition and season of screenings and events celebrating 40 years of moving image from its renowned collection. Drawing connections between cinema, performance, television and…
Keep ReadingPeople in Leeds are being encouraged to seize their chance to shape the future of a neighbourhood that has a definite spark and personality all of its own. With a proud history as one of the original drivers of the city’s industrial and manufacturing revolution, Mabgate has in recent years been transformed into a…
Keep ReadingWith its unmistakable sloping stance and famous winning smile, it’s one of the city’s most instantly recognisable ancient exhibits. And over the summer holidays, history-lovers can find out the real story behind Leeds City Museum’s legendary wonky wolf as the site takes visitors back through time to the age of mythical creatures. The lopsided lupus…
Keep ReadingIt’s an historic conservation project that’s sure to strike a chord with music lovers all across Leeds and beyond. Leeds Town Hall’s one-of-a-kind organ, which has been part of the city’s heritage for more than 160 years, is set for some major restoration work designed to protect and preserve it for future generations. One of…
Keep ReadingA colourful collection of work by prolific designer Sheila Bownas has found a new home in Leeds as part of a quest to see her celebrated as a leading light in 20th Century creativity. She was the little-known Yorkshire artist whose eye-catching creations encapsulated the wave of optimism which swept across post-war Britain. The Sheila…
Keep ReadingArts and cultural organisations in Leeds are set to get some crucial extra support to help them bounce back from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leeds City Council’s Arts@Leeds funding scheme provides grants to more than 40 arts groups and venues, each playing their part in delivering a huge programme of exciting, city-wide…
Keep ReadingThe arts and culture sector in Leeds is set for a significant post-COVID recovery boost thanks to successful bids for important grant funding.…
Keep ReadingA remarkable image captured more than 120 years ago has revealed the bizarre day Leeds residents constructed a huge archway from bread to welcome an aristocrat. The half-baked idea is just one of thousands of the city’s unique stories ready to be discovered in the newly-relaunched Leodis photo archive managed by the Leeds Libraries…
Keep ReadingA fascinating new partnership project has begun to weave together the histories of female textile workers in Leeds and Shanghai through the power of Chinese opera. To coincide with celebrations for Chinese New Year, the project has seen Leeds Industrial Museum team up with researchers at the University of Leeds to explore the commonalities…
Keep ReadingA project giving budding curators in Leeds the chance to work with one of the country’s top contemporary art collections has scooped a prestigious industry award. Leeds Art Gallery’s Youth Art Collective received the Volunteers for Museum Learning award for Yorkshire from The British Museum and the Marsh Christian Trust during an online ceremony…
Keep ReadingHe was the heroic abolitionist who escaped slavery on a US plantation and came to Leeds to spread a message of freedom and equality. Now a thought-provoking new display paying tribute to the extraordinary life of Fredrick Douglass has been unveiled at Leeds City Museum as the city marks Black History Month. Telling the…
Keep ReadingBlack History Month is a very important time where we celebrate the history and achievements of black contributions to the UK. Iconic buildings were illuminated to mark the start of activities to celebrate Black History Month in Leeds. Leeds Civic Hall, Leeds Town Hall, and Leeds City Museum were lit up as the city…
Keep ReadingA 500-year-old checklist detailing the complete contents of Temple Newsam House when it was first built has gone on display in an exhibition exploring centuries of life above and below stairs. Compiled for Thomas, Lord Darcy, thought to be the house’s first official resident, the fascinating inventory would have served as comprehensive stocktake of…
Keep ReadingSingers and performers from Leeds are being asked to help capture the sound of a city as they collaborate on a beautiful new series of musical mosaics. The imaginative idea will see submissions by musicians, choirs and spoken word artists from all around the city synchronised as part of a stunning soundscape at Leeds…
Keep ReadingThe Leader of Leeds City Council and executive member for culture, Councillor Judith Blake, has responded to an announcement from government that £1.57bn will be made available to help Britain’s arts, culture and heritage industries tackle the ongoing impact of coronavirus. Leeds has a thriving arts and culture sector from individual artists to nationally…
Keep ReadingAn innovative grants scheme has helped cultural organisations in Leeds generate more than £56m for the local economy in just one year, new figures have revealed. The Arts@Leeds project, run by Leeds City Council, gives arts organisations across the city financial support to create exciting events and activities in venues and communities. Now…
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