Past Events

• 2012
• 2011
• 2010
• 2009
• 2008

2012

• 22 May 2012 A typical middle-class professional? Dr John Deakin Heaton and the Yorkshire College of Science: Talk by Dr Simon Morgan - John Deakin Heaton has been held up as a model of Victorian masculine domesticity or as typifying the 'elusive civic pride of mid-Victorian Britain' (ODNB). Ironically he has come to fill this archetypal role in part because of the very a-typical survival of his voluminous diaries, representing a detailed chronicle of his part in Leeds life and now housed in the Yorkshire Archaeological Society archive. In connection with Local History Month, Dr Simon Morgan focused on these and other documents to explore Heaton's role in the early years of the Yorkshire College of Science, the forerunner of the University of Leeds.
• 19 May 2012 The Mona Lisa of rock'n'roll? Peter Blake, the Beatles and the Making of the Sgt. Pepper Sleeve: Talk by Dr Simon Warner - Continuing in the vein of Museums at Night 2012, a Bizarre Bohemian Circus Spectacular, Dr Simon Warner gave a talk on the making of the artwork for the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s sleeve, the album that also name-checks the famous 19th century circus performer, Pablo Fanque on the track ‘Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite!’ Fanque’s grave, located in the grounds of the University, is just one of the interesting connections to the Sgt. Pepper’s album, the other being a signed copy of the artwork, now on show at the Sir Peter Blake Music Art Gallery in the School of Music. The talk was followed by a trip to see the original, which sits among other famous works by Blake.
  
• 18 May 2012 Museums at Night: The Burtons Present – The Bizarre Bohemian Circus Spectacular! - PCI students from the University of Leeds gave an installation-based performance at the Gallery, as part of the Museums at Night 2012 festival. The performance made use of visual art, circus art, popular and traditional theatre, paper crafts, music and dance to entertain and promote greater understanding of the University Art Collection through exploring the back stories of the artists who created each piece.
  
• 12 May 2012 Tall Tales and Half-remembered Histories with Liza Giffen and Richard High - In connection with Local History Month, this fun afternoon talk and discussion, led by Liza Giffen and Richard High, was focused on re-telling and dispelling of some of the weirdest and most wonderful campus myths. Exploring the history local to the University through archival sources and material from the collections, people were also invited to bring along stories and recollections of their own.
• 5 May 2012 INTERVENTION! Collage Workshop with Hondartza Fraga - On the final day of Matt Smith’s ‘Other Stories’ exhibition, artist Hondartza Fraga invited participants to explore the theme and process of INTERVENTION in this collage workshop. Smith’s interventions use stories and found objects to suggest alternative narratives relating to artworks in the Gallery’s collection. Participants responded to these narratives through creating their own interventions and weaving extracts of the stories into collages.
• 28 April 2012 Shaping a City: Talk and Tour by John Thorp MBE, Leeds Civic Architect - Leeds Civic Architect, John Thorp MBE shared reflections on his work over the years, talking about his formative artistic influences, and working on projects that have helped to define the architecture of modern Leeds. The talk was followed by a guided tour by John across the campus to finish up at one of the city’s newest architectural additions, the M&S Company Archive.
  
• 26 April 2012 Art, Religion and Women's Rights: the Life and Work of Emily Ford - Emily Ford (1850-1930) was the sister of the writer and suffragist Isabella Ford. An artist trained at the Slade School of Art in the late 1870s, the University now has a number of her paintings and drawings, three of which are hung in the University’s Great Hall. These were gifts that came about through Emily's friendship with Sir Michael Sadler, whom she met through the Leeds Arts Club. She also developed a lasting friendship with Edward Carpenter after he came to Leeds in 1874 to lecture for the Cambridge University Extension Movement. In this talk, in connection with the Gallery’s Edward Carpenter display, Janet Douglas discussed the different aspects of Emily’s life through her friendships and activities in Leeds.
• 14 April 2012 Write Me a Picture: Creative Writing Workshop with Suzannah Evans - Suzannah Evans led a creative writing workshop inspired by the ‘Pip Dickens: New Work’ exhibition at the Gallery, in turn inspired by Sir Michael Sadler's collection of Kashmir shawls. The workshop focused on the idea of fabric, patterns, making and creating.
• 3 April 2012 Pip Dickens - Book Signing and Talk - Pip Dickens and Professor Monty Adkins gave a talk to promote their newly released book, Shibusa – Extracting Beauty and the sound composition ‘Four Shibusa’. The book celebrates a number of artistic endeavours: music, painting and the skill of making in general, with particular reflection upon Japanese aesthetics.
  
• 31 March 2012 Different Ways of Seeing: Photography Workshop with Steve Rayner - In this workshop, professional photographer and tutor Steve Rayner focused on alternative ways of looking at the Gallery and the world around us. The workshop also included a feedback and review session to help participants improve their photographic skills.
  
• 24 March 2012 Edward Carpenter's Leeds: Talk by Paul Marshall - In 1874, at the age of 30, Edward Carpenter left behind his clerical fellowship at Cambridge University and headed north in search of an authentic way of life among the working people of Leeds. Carpenter developed friendships in Leeds that would last for the rest of his life. In this talk, in association with the Gallery's ‘Other Stories’exhibition, Carpenter’s Leeds connections were explored through the friendships he made and the places he visited.
  
• 22 March 2012 Sir Michael Sadler Symposium (Leeds Art Gallery, Henry Moore Lecture Theatre) - The symposium marked the launch of the re-branded Leeds Art Collections Fund (LACF), one of the UK's oldest gallery Friends' organisations, which Sadler was instrumental in establishing in 1912. The University of Leeds celebrated Sadler's role as its Vice-Chancellor from 1911 until 1923, with a series of exhibitions of artwork and textiles which he donated, at its Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery and the University of Leeds International Textiles Archive. The Sadler symposium, generously supported by the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, wass focused on reviewing and extending existing scholarship related to Sadler with a range of papers given by distinguished scholars from across the UK.
• 21 March 2012 'I throw paisleys to clouds': The Emotional Worlds of the Kashmir Shawl (Quote taken from the Kashmiri-American poet Agha Shahid Ali's moving lament for a Kashmir in conflict, 'The Country without a Post Office') - Professor Ananya Jahanara Kabir of the School of English and Fareda Khan, Deputy Director of Shisha, gave a discussion session about the historical shawls in the Kashmiri Shawl Collection and the Gallery's Pip Dickens exhibition, inspired by the shawls. The speakers will address the specific Kashmiri context of the material, including its political and emotional resonances given the region's status as a conflict zone, the historical connections between Kashmir and Yorkshire, and the wider relationship between craft and studio-based art.
• 17 March 2012 Art-Inspired Set Design: Talk by Grant Montgomery - Production designer, Grant Montgomery, talked about finding inspiration through art when working on films and series for television. Grant’s research for a number of high-profile BBC and ITV projects has taken him into many galleries and museums, including this one! Drawing from the distinctive colours and features of period paintings, Grant shared a behind-the-scenes insight into designing historical sets and using art to create the contemporary look and feel of a particular period.
• 10 March 2012 The World Within Us: Dance Workshop with Gerry Turvey - Gerry Turvey explored the themes and ideas of the Gallery's Pip Dickens exhibition in this dance and movement workshop, guiding participants through structured improvisations encouraging creative play. Small performances were shared by participants at the end of the workshop.
  
• 3 March 2012 Alternative Histories: Creative Writing Workshop with David Tait - To celebrate the Gallery’s new Matt Smith exhibition, ‘Other Stories: Queering the University Art Collection’, in association with LGBT History Month, poet David Tait ran a workshop in response to the show, focused on re-writing the narrative of the whole gallery.
• 28 February 2012 Other Stories: Lunchtime Talk with Artist Matt Smith - Matt Smith, the artist responsible for the Gallery’s new exhibition, ‘Other Stories: Queering the University Art Collection’, in association with LGBT History Month, gave a lunchtime talk the day after the opening, talking more about the artistic process and the research undertaken as part of this exciting project.
  
• 25 February 2012 Fabric Fables: Textile Printing Workshop with Margaret Chalmers - This textile printing workshop, led by Margaret Chalmers, gave participants the chance to try out basic hand-printing techniques, focusing on the iconic ‘boteh’ or paisley motif and the layering of different colours and sequences, characteristic of Pip Dickens's work.
• 18 February 2012 Education as Exploration: Michael Sadler, Eva Gilpin and Artwork at the Hall School, Weybridge. Talk by Dr Oliver Pickering - The woman who became Sir Michael Sadler’s second wife, Eva Gilpin, was also the founder of the pioneering Hall School, where subjects were taught not in isolation but as part of a broader programme of education. In connection with the Gallery’s ‘Sadler in the Archives’ display, Dr Pickering’s talk discussed the illustrated books that were produced and printed in the school, now preserved in the Harvey family archive in Special Collections, University of Leeds Library. These were shown to accompany the talk.

La Chanson de Roland, Hall School publication, 1930
• 11 February 2012 Kashmiri Dance Workshop with Shrikant Subramaniam - This creative dance workshop, led by Shrikant Subramaniam of Manasamitra, invited particiapants to learn more about Kashmiri culture and history by exploring the predominant dance styles within the region. The session provided a short introduction to the language, geography and music of Kashmir, as well as encouraging participants to respond to the artworks in the exhibition through dance.
• 7 February 2012 Charles Dickens Anniversary Talk, featuring works from Special Collections - To celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Charles Dickens’s birth, a special display of works by Dickens was mounted in the Brotherton Library, University of Leeds. In connection with the display, Christine Chettle and Simone Lomartire from the School of English gave a talk in the Gallery on the printed works and correspondence, held in the Library’s Special Collections, as well as discussing opportunities for original scholarly research.
• 4 February 2012 The Sadler Anniversary Recital - The pianoforte recital in the Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall by Orlando Shamlou included a repertoire inspired by a programme taken from the Michael Sadler Archive and contemporary with Sadler’s time at Leeds. Liszt's ‘Consolations’, featured in recital given by Mr Willoughby H. Williams on the 16 February, 1915, accompanied works by Beethoven and Schubert.
• 28 January 2012 The Shadow Followers: Projection and Photography workshop with Simon Warner - Taking its inspiration from The Shadow Followers, a piece in the current exhibition of new work by Pip Dickens, this workshop, led by Simon Warner, used layering and sequencing techniques to turn simple shadow screen images into narrative-rich photo art. Completed work was be photographed and sent out in an email for participants to keep.
• 21 January 2012 Felt Feelings: Feltmaking Workshop with Hayley McColl - In this practical and ever popular workshop, led by Hayley McColl, visitors of all ages were invited to learn basic feltmaking techniques, drawing inspiration from the new exhibition by Pip Dickens.
• 14 January 2012 Archives for the Future: Talk and Tour by Chris Sheppard and Beccy Shipman - In connection with the Gallery’s display, ‘Sadler in the Archives’, Chris Sheppard, Head of Special Collections, gave a talk on the future of the collections, which was accompanied by a tour of the Library's new digitisation studio by Digital Content Coordinator Beccy Shipman.
• 7 January 2012 "The Carving will Tell its own Tale": Archiving Eric Gill's Moneychangers: Talk by Liza Giffen - In connection with the Gallery's 'Sadler in the Archives' display, the Collections and Cataloguing Manager in Special Collections, Liza Giffen, discussed different aspects of the Michael Sadler Archive, held by the University, with a particular focus on the documentation relating to his dealings with the sculptor Eric Gill.

2011

• 17 December 2011 Winter Wonderland Cards with Sarah Mitchell - Paper artist Sarah Mitchell demonstrated how to make winter pop-up cards to send to family and friends. Taking inspiration from paintings in the 'The Sadler Gift' exhibition, participants used scissors, plenty of sparkly paper and glue to bring their own wintry scenes to life.
  
  © Sarah Mitchell, 2011
• 10 December 2011 Printed Papers with Karen Babayan - 'Pretty paper...Wrap your presents from your darling to you/Pretty pencils to write I love you'. Artist Karen Babayan had the perfect fix for your festive festooning! Visitors learned how to make their own personalised wrapping paper, using relief printing techniques in glittering holiday colours. Karen's workshop used wallpaper printing techniques with repeating patterns and motifs inspired by artworks in the Gallery's collection and the current exhibition, 'The Sadler Gift'.
• 7 December 2011 Leeds Art Walk - In December, the Walk started at the Gallery's exhibition 'The Sadler Gift' at 5.30pm, and continued on to the Wild Pansy Press Space for 6pm and finally, at 6.45 pm, stopped off at the Henry Moore Institute's 'United Enemies'.
• 3 December 2011 Write Me a Picture: Creative Writing Workshop with Suzannah Evans - The workshop used exercises based on 'The Sadler Gift' exhibition and the display 'Connecting Lives: Intimate Artworks of Bloomsbury' to inspire creative writing. The focus of the workshop was on imagining the lives of the people behind the works of art. What can we know about a collector or an artist from their works of art, and how much can we invent? What will be left behind to tell our own stories?
• 26 November 2011 Inspiration and Abstraction: Abstract Painting workshop with Nichola Pemberton - Inspired by the Gallery's feature display dedicated to abstract painter, John Hoyland, this practical workshop for adults, led by Nichola Pemberton, was based around the formal elements of abstract painting. It gave adult learners the chance to experiment with, think about and discuss colour, composition, line, space, form and emotion within a piece of abstract painting.
• 19 November 2011 Pictures of an Exhibition: Gerry Turvey's Movement Workshop - The points of departure for the dance workshop were influenced and inspired by the diverse, eclectic, but curiously thematic collection of art donated to the university by Sir Michael Sadler, exhibited in the fascinating current exhibition 'The Sadler Gift'. This was a unique opportunity to create dance inspired by a gallery environment. Gerry Turvey facilitated and guided participants to develop dance using visual image as inspiration.
• 12 November 2011 'Merchants of Modernism: Dealers, Exhibitions and the promotion of the avant-garde, 1900-1939': Talk by Dr. Mark WestgarthThe rise in the interest in the avant-garde is a story that mirrors the evolving conditions of modernity in the early 20th century. New kinds of dealers and new commercial art galleries disseminated avant-garde artworks to a metropolitan public through innovative exhibition strategies, new marketing techniques and the professional practices of the modern art dealer. Focusing on some of the most significant art dealers in the period, including Paul Durand-Ruel and Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler, and some high profile exhibitions at galleries such as Grafton Galleries, Reid & Lefevre, Leicester Galleries, this introductory talk mapped the evolution of the modern art market at a critical moment in its development.
• 5 November 2011 Felt Feelings: Feltmaking Workshop with Hayley McColl - An exciting (and soap-scented) workshop where visitors were invited to explore the rehung permanent collection, including abstract art by Alan Davie and the late John Hoyland, as inspiration for their own felted masterpieces. Hayley McColl helped visitors of all ages to realise their impressions and imagination inspired by the Gallery's collections and play with shapes and colours in the warm and fuzzy medium of wool.
• 29 October 2011 Developing Inspiration: Creative Interpretation Workshop with Louise Atkinson - Using 'The Sadler Gift' exhibition as a starting point, visual artist Louise Atkinson explored creative interpretation methods to produce new 2D works alongside the collection, using basic image making processes. The workshop enabled participants to find new ways to engage with artworks and collections as well as developing techniques to overcome creative blocks when producing their own work.
• 22 October 2011 Movement, Music and Artistic Expression: Dalcroze Eurhythmics Movement Workshop - Sir Michael Sadler was a true Renaissance man. It is a little known fact that he was also a key figure in bringing Dalcroze Eurhythmics to England. Dalcroze Eurhythmics is a unique method of learning music which allows the whole body to feel and understand music. Elements such as pulse, rhythm, dynamics and phrasing are experienced through physical movement in the class, initiated by music played by the teacher. This workshop was a practical introduction to the principles of Dalcroze Eurhythmics with Bethan Habron-James.
• 15 October 2011 An Introduction to Life-Drawing with Karen Babayan - Life drawing is the traditional cornerstone of art training and is a meaningful discipline that artists return to again and again. Drawing is a skill that can be learnt and drawing from the figure presents a new challenge.Visual artist Karen Babayan's workshop explored a variety of different approaches and techniques from eye to hand coordination to measured drawing; from markmaking to explore surface texture and shape to analytical studies of light and shade, and finally to working with movement and gesture in drawing.
• 8 October 2011 Big Draw, Big Chill: Open Gallery - Launched as a one-day event in 2000, The Big Draw is now an annual month-long festival of over one thousand events across the UK. This year the Gallery joined the campaign for drawing with a month-long community art project across campus: inspired by Stephen Chaplin's fascinating sketchbook collection in the Gallery, sketchbooks were left in busy meeting places and cafes on campus for everyone to draw in them. On Big Draw Day, 8 October the Gallery space became a cosy place in which to drop in to meet people, doodle and have a chat about art, universe and everything.
• 7 October 2011 Light Night 2011: Sideways in the Light with Simon Warner - Simon Warner's silhouette workshop, was a 'double-decker' event with activities inside and outside the Gallery. In the Gallery, Simon set up an Edwardian 'pantographer' studio, where visitors, using replica equipment and a working pantograph, produced their own silhouette miniatures, to take home in a special folder. In addition to the spectacle of the historic silhouette workshop, passers-by had the opportunity to create a 21st-century silhouette of themselves using a digital camera/screen set up just outside the Gallery.
• 5 October 2011 The Sadler Gift: Lunchtime Talk with Curator Layla Bloom - A tour of current exhibition 'The Sadler Gift', celebrating 100 years since Michael Sadler's Vice Chancellorship and highlighting his pivotal role in the development of the University Art Collection.
• 1 October 2011 Schoolroom Science and Other Revolutionary Ideas: Talk by Emily Winterburn - The University of Leeds holds an excellent collection of school science apparatus dating from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day, all once part of the university's former history of education museum. In connection with the Leeds School Strike 1911 display at the Gallery, Emily Winterburn's talk used objects from this collection and looked at the clues these objects can give us for understanding how scientists are made and how we have all come to be so technically and scientifically literate.
• 24 September 2011 Schools on Strike!: Strike Workshop with Sarah Prescott - Informal, hands-on and fun workshop in connection with our Special Display commemorating the 1911 Leeds School Strike. The group learnt about the past and present of educational strikes and industrial action in an interactive discussion and workshop facilitated by Sarah Prescott and her guests.
• 17 September 2011 Write Me a Picture: Writing Workshop in Association with LIPPFest Literary Festival - As part of Leeds Independent Poetry Press Festival, this writing workshop used the current special collections exhibition as a stimulus for writing exercises. Some time was spent in the exhibition, which explores the history of independent publishing at Leeds University.Facilitated by Leeds poet Suzannah Evans
• 6 September 2011 The Sadler Gift: Private View - Celebrating 100 years since Michael Sadler's Vice Chancellorship and highlighting his pivotal role in the development of the University Art Collection, this exhibition explores his legacy by showing the key moments in British art represented in the collection.
• 3 September 2011 'Hey, teachers! Leave them kids alone!': Richard O'Neill's Storytelling Afternoon - In connection with our Special Display commemorating the 1911 Leeds School Strike, Richard O'Neill storyteller came to tell stories about schools way back in time... His vivid and wonderful stories of school life then and now are inspired by his youth growing up in a tough part of the North East in the 1970s and his present-day journeys to hundreds of schools all over England.
• 27 August 2011 Eye of the Needle - Forgotten Everyday Sewing Skills - Inspired by the lovely ladies in John Currie's Seamstresses, the Gallery's candidate for Yorkshire's Favourite Paintings, the Gallery hosted a hands-on workshop where participants learned and practiced forgotten, but ever-so-useful domestic skills under the expert guidance of Margaret Chalmers.
  Following a short introduction to the painting, no secrets of basic stitching and embroidery remained hidden — all this amidst needles, threads, ribbons and charming original turn-of-the-century sewing samplers!
• 20 August 2011 Postcards from Nowhere: Art Workshop with Hondartza Fraga - Inspired by Carlos Nadal's landscapes and cityscapes, and focusing on the artist as an intrepid traveller, participants explored the ways we think about visiting far-away lands and foreign climes by transforming postcards of familiar sights with paint, pen or collage.
• 13 August 2011 'Why do we call it the Spanish Guitar?: Talk and recital by Tom Sitton - In connection with the Gallery's 'Carlos Nadal: Paintings in Yorkshire Collections' exhibition, Tom Sitton gave a short talk and demonstration behind the identity and idiosyncrasy of the Spanish Guitar, which was followed by a solo recital.

  Tom has worked all over the world as a performer, composer and artistic director. Having played for three royal families and written for contemporary dance and theatre companies in three different continents he is most at home on stage be it a festival, concert hall or underground club. He has led the National Youth Guitar Ensemble, been invited to play with the European Guitar Ensemble, played on BBC Radio and praised in the national press.

• 6 August 2011 Felt Feelings: Feltmaking Workshop with Hayley McColl - An exciting (and soap-scented) workshop where visitors explored Carlos Nadal's heartwarming colours as inspiration for their own felted masterpieces.
• 30 July 2011 Dancing with Nadal: Gerry Turvey's Movement Workshop - The points of departure for the dance workshop were influenced and inspired by the strong colours, shapes, energy and architecture of the work by Carlos Nadal, and Gerry facilitated and guided participants to develop dance using visual image as inspiration.
• 23 July 2011 A Fan of Colours: Fan Making and Decorating Workshop - Inspired by Carlos Nadal's colourful Catalan souvenir fan, Margaret Chalmers (ULITA) guided participants in making and decorating their own version of this elegant summer accessory.
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  © Karen Babayan, Weeping Angel, 2010
• 16 July 2011 United Colours of Fauvism: Karen Babayan's Gouache Workshop - Inspired by the work of Carlos Nadal, Karen Babayan visual artist discussed the 'Fauvist' approach to colour and its use in artistic and cultural expression. In this hands-on workshop participants experimented with painting with gouache and learned about quantities of colour, and the role of contrast and harmonies within colour compositions.
  Karen Babayan uses paint, print, photography and video as the means to explore her cultural history. Taking hand-me-down stories and family photographs as starting points, she attempts to create a sense of place and belonging. Colour is an important element of the communication of this work.
• 9 July 2011 'España es diferente': Visions of Spain under Franco - Talk by Rob J Miles - Taking in some of the context and cultural heritage of Carlos Nadal's work, Rob Miles's colourful presentation explored and contrast visions of Spain during the Franco regime. From the triumphalism of the post-Civil War years to the later ostensibly softened Francoism the panorama becomes enduringly, even officially sunny. The talk offered challenging and disquieting insights into the culture and politics behind Carlos Nadal's sun-filled, colourful works.
  Dr Miles teaches at the University of Hull. His research interests include theories of influence and trauma, modernity and cultural memory, especially representations of the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath, the experience of exile and Spain under Franco in art and film.
• 6 July 2011 Leeds Art Walk - The Leeds Art Walk is a monthly tour of exhibitions in Leeds led by Pavilion and artist Amelia Crouch. This July the art walkers set off from our current exhibition 'Carlos Nadal: Paintings in Yorkshire Collections'.
• 6 July 2011 Best Of 'Write Me a Picture': Reading Showcase - This event featured a variety of readings inspired by the gallery's 'Write me a Picture' creative writing workshops. These workshops have been running since Summer 2010, in conjunction with exhibitions such as All over the Place, Beardsley and the Book Illustrators, Virtually Real and Carlos Nadal. Participants write in response to the art work in the Gallery and this showcase will give a chance for them to perform their best work.
• 2 July 2011 Look, See, Click: Hands-on Digital Photography Workshop - Inspired by Carlos Nadal's scenic beaches, cityscapes and interest in architectural detail, this photography workshop led participants into the world of digital photography with easy to understand hands-on training.

  Steve Rayner is a photographer with over 20 years experience of professional work, who has been teaching and leading workshops for the last 15 years. Some pictures from the workshop can be viewed in our blog.

• 22 June 2011 Carlos Nadal: Between Brussels and Barcelona - Talk by Dr Angel Smith - Dr Angel Smith, Reader in Modern Spanish History at the University of Leeds, has researched on social and political conflict in early twentieth-century Spain, as well as regionalism and nationalism in Catalonia, which is the subject of his next monograph. His other publications include Anarchism, Revolution and Reaction: Catalan Labour and the Crisis of the Spanish State, 1898-1923 published in 2007.
• 11 June 2011 Write Me a Picture: Creative Writing Workshop - An afternoon creative writing workshop exploring the relationship between art and creative writing using the gallery's new exhibition of Carlos Nadal's paintings. The workshop exercises were based around ideas of colour and landscape. Suzannah Evans's popular workshop series suita those who write and have an interest in art, or artists interested in writing, or anyone who is somewhere between the two.
• 7 June 2011 Carlos Nadal: Paintings in Yorkshire Collections - Private View
• 6 June 2011 Dialogue Seminar with Andi Stamp: Northern Arts and Science Network - The Gallery was delighted to host the next workshop organised by the Northern Arts and Science Network presenting Andi Stamp. The workshop focused on fun and games in the real world; as well as how art and science manifests itself across academic and vernacular culture. Visitors explored a themed sequence of interactive, participatory individual and group games solving puzzles and revealing hidden secret connections in the cultures of art and science.
• Amazing Stories, Volume 3, 1928; University of Leeds Special Collections. Used with the permission of the Frank R. Paul Estate
  4 June 2011 Visions of the Future Roundtable - In connection with the special display on science fiction art entitled 'Visions of the Future: the Art of Science Fiction', the Gallery hosted a Roundtable of a group of people working in different fields with a shared interest and enthusiasm for science fiction.

  Participating panellists included Dr Richard Brown, Reader in Modern and Contemporary Literature from the English Department at Leeds and Dr Samuel Francis whose book on J.G. Ballard is published soon. They will be joined by Andy Hedgecock, co-editor of Interzone, Britain's longest running science fiction magazine, and Chris Pak, PhD researcher at the University of Liverpool. The roundtable was moderated by Liz Stainforth.

• 28 May 2011 Bloomsbury Collage: Amy Balderston's Mixed Media Workshop - Curator Layla Bloom's short introduction to the Bloomsbury group's Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant was followed by a creative art workshop facilitated by mixed media artist Amy Balderston.
• 21 May 2011 Here Be Lions! - Build your own Virtually Real Universe - Exploring the otherworldly artworks in the Virtually Real exhibition visitors got creative building their very own 3D fantasy world in the cavernous Parkinson Court using a range of exciting recycled materials.
• 19 May 2011 Roundtable: The Location of Contemporary Art - In connection with current exhibition Virtually Real, questioning the traditional representation of space, particularly in light of our current digital and virtual culture, commentators from different areas of the art world - Louise Atkinson, Judit Bodor, Pippa Hale, John Slemensek and Andrew Warstat - brought their views together in a roundtable followed by public discussion about changing notions of space in art and art practice.
• 18 May 2011 Lunchtime Gallery Tour: Virtually Real - Curator Layla Bloom's introduction to current exhibition Virtually Real a group exhibition of nine important contemporary artists, venturing beyond the traditional spatial realism of paintings and the flattened panes and spaces of modernism.
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  14 May 2011 The Dark Scavengers: Science Fiction Scavenger Hunt in the Dark - Visitors were invited to discover hidden details of our fascinating special display entitled Visions of the Future in complete darkness armed with nothing but a torch, competing for a fantastic prize!
• 13 May 2011 This Really Happened: Performance in the Gallery - Dark Lights Company's installation-based performance (School of Performance and Cultural Industries) was part of the Museums at Night festival taking place across Europe. Bringing into question issues of reality, truth and deception, Dark Lights Company wove storytelling, poetry and play into an exciting, interactive performance throughout the Gallery's current exhibition, Virtually Real.
• Photo: © UoLDS
  7 May 2011 Virtually Real Research: Driving Simulation - Talk by Hamish Jamson, Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Transport Studies. The University of Leeds Driving Simulator (UoLDS) is one of most advanced worldwide research environments and allows research into driver behaviour to be performed in accurately controlled and repeatable laboratory conditions.In connection with the current exhibition Virtually Real, Hamish Jamson talked about the uses of virtual reality in the dynamic field of driver behaviour research, and visitors had a the chance to try a portable research driving simulator set up in the gallery, as well as the university's spectacular scientific driving simulator built around a Jaguar S-type vehicle cab.
• 30 April 2011 Potterdoodle: Royal Wedding Mug-Painting Workshop - Suzanne Harbourne of Potterdoodle brought two hours of mug-painting fun to the Gallery on the day after the Royal Wedding, where everyone could create their own mugs - romantic or royal.
• 16 April 2011 Manasamitra: Contemporary and Traditional Indian Dance Performance and Workshop - The Gallery was delighted to join in Spring Fest Leeds by hosting a free performance and workshop by Manasamitra in the fascinating exhibition space of current exhibition Virtually Real. Shrikant's fun-filled, energetic dance session to classical tunes and popular Bollywood songs was followed by a performance by Jose Campos, founder of London-based collective Do Not Dance UK. Jose presented a response in contemporary dance to the exhibition Virtually Real.
  
• 9 April 2011 Talk and Portfolio Critique by Curators James Moore and Dawn Woolley - James Moore and Dawn Woolley gave an introductory talk about the projects they have worked on, focusing on the current Virtually Real show, addressing practical issues like the process of writing proposals, arranging funding, and project management in artist-led activities, which was followed by a one-to-one portfolio critique for early-career artists and art students. Their presentation is available here.
• 2 April 2011 Write Me a Picture: Creative Writing Workshop with Suzannah Evans - Leeds poet Suzannah Evans's ever popular writing workshop with a focus on the interplay of reality and illusion in connection with current exhibition Virtually Real, based around ideas of optical illusion, trickery and deception.
• 30 March 2011 Lunchtime Talk with Curator Layla Bloom: Virtually Real
• 26 March 2011 Felt Feelings: Feltmaking Workshop with Hayley McColl - An exciting (and soap-scented!) workshop where visitors explored the priceless permanent collection of the Gallery to gather inspiration for their own felted masterpieces.
• 19 March 2011 Mirrors and Windows: Literary Exploration by John Wedgwood Clarke - Words are not windows, but we like to look through them. "Show, don't tell" is the usual adage of the creative writing workshop, but what happens when words are set free both to make and distort the illusion of vision? This creative writing workshop led participants through a poetic hall of mirrors and windows in connection with current exhibition 'Virtually Real'. John W. Clarke, Dphil, AGSMD (Professional Acting) is a writer, editor and university lecturer, Director of Beverley Literature Festival/Bridlington Poetry Festival.
• 12 March 2011 Virtually Real Dance Workshop with Gerry Turvey - Using themes from the exhibition, Gerry Turvey's structured improvisation encouraged creative play through observation and inspiration of the images and ideas from the art works. The workshop focused on space, time and motion, both the physical space in our bodies, as well as our relationship to the gallery space, each other and works in the exhibition.
• 5 March 2011 Bruce Ingram's Artist Workshop: Miniature Worlds- 3-D collage workshop led by one of the exhibiting artists of 'Virtually Real'. The activity related to Bruce Ingram's artwork in the exhibition, where participants tried out techniques and imagery used within the pieces on display.
• 2 March 2011 The Leeds Art Walk, led by Pavilion visited 'Virtually Real' at the Gallery, before visiting exhibitions at Leeds Met Gallery and Project Space Leeds.
• 1 March 2011 Exhibition Opening: 'Virtually Real'
• 26 February 2011 Still Life and Collage: Amy Balderston's Mixed Media Workshop: The Gallery's newest acquisition, the delicate still life by Duncan Grant is being restored to finally reunite with Vanessa Bell's 'Triple Alliance' (1914) displayed in the Gallery. The two artists (and lovers) created their respective collages in the same room and of the same objects. It is a rare privilege to be able to see them side by side during the conservation phase. Curator Layla Bloom's short introduction to the artists and their works was followed by a creative art workshop facilitated by Leeds-based mixed media artist Amy Balderston.
• 19 February 2011 Landscapes on a Plate: A Talk and Workshop on Landscape Aesthetics with Simon Warner: In connection with the New Arcadian Journal display in the Education Room, the photographer, filmmaker and researcher Simon Warner introduced his Yorkshire-based projects including A Guide to Yorkshire Rivers and the Humberside/Rhine delta coastal study High Tide. Making reference to the landscape aesthetics of Jay Appleton (The Experience of Landscape, 1975) and his own mystery tour conducted on a 36 bus, as part of the Harewood House/PSL residency Transported, 2009. Simon led a short trip to the magical and hidden St George's Field after which participants are invited to further explore the landscape theme by creating miniature landscapes on plates in the Gallery. The landscapes were professionally photographed at the end of the afternoon.
• 17 February 2011 The New Arcadian Journal at 30: A Talk by Dr Patrick Eyres, Editor of the NAJ: Since 1982, the Leeds-based New Arcadian Journal has become a unique press publication combining art, scholarship and unfussy design. By championing the study of political gardening and promoting the restoration of place and meaning, the NAJ has shed new light on historical landscapes as well as contemporary artists' gardens. Dr Eyres talked about the first thirty years.
• 12 February 2011 Fairytale Ending: Aubrey Beardsley Inspired Printmaking for Valentine's Day: On the final day of our popular Aubrey Beardsley exhibition, the Gallery said goodbye to this fascinating show in style. In this workshop led by Liz Stainforth and Annie Bedford, visitors had the chance to try out a variety of different printmaking techniques, drawing inspiration from Beardsley and the other book illustrators.
• 10 February 2011 Artist Roundtable: Contemporary Illustration: Aubrey Beardsley was a pioneer in his day - but much has changed in the last 100 years of illustration! This artist roundtable with contemporary illustrators from the region, looked at their work as well as current ideas and trends in illustration today. Participating illustrators included Fiona Byrne, Jay Cover, Drew Millward, and Matthew Hodson.
• 9 February 2011 Visit to Harry Clarke Stained Glass Windows: Curator Layla Bloom's free lunchtime talk and visit to see the stained glass windows designed by Harry Clarke. The tour included Clarke's illustrations and cartoon for the 'Assumption' window at the Gallery, and the windows the chapel at Notre Dame Sixth Form College, where Father Peter Kravos of the Leeds Universities Catholic Chaplaincy discussed their history and meaning.
• 5 February 2011 Our Arthurian Imagination: Medieval and Medievalism in the Film and Television - Talk by Dr Paul Sturtevant: The myths and legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are some of Britain's favourite stories. They have been popular ever since they were invented in the Middle Ages -- Aubrey Beardsley's visions of Arthur on display at the gallery is only one in a long string of adaptations. Dr Sturtevant's fascinating talk focused on how the tales of the Knights of the Round Table still inspire our imaginations, but are no longer limited to the printed page. Today, Arthur's knights adventure across our screens on TV, in films and even video games.
• 3 February 2011 Artist Talk and Portfolio Critique with Drew Millward: Leeds-based artist illustrator Drew Millward is fast becoming an international name in contemporary illustration for his unique designs - drawn the 'old-fashioned way' with pencil and ink. Drew began his career illustrating gig posters for his friends, and his quirky but compelling style was soon picked up by big name bands such as Sonic Youth and Flight of the Conchords, as well as clothing lines and tattooists. In association with our current exhibition 'Fancy and Imagination', Drew gave a talk at the Gallery about his experiences as a working contemporary illustrator, which was followed by an open portfolio critique for up-and-coming illustrators.
• 29 January 2011 The Colours of Black: Line Illustration in Japanese Woodblock Printed Books: This illustrated lecture by Ellis Tinios (Honorary Lecturer in History, University of Leeds) was one of the most popular lectures at the gallery. Through a magnificent slideshow, the audience was led through the Japanese printing traditions in the Edo period (1615-1868), when artists of all the major Japanese schools of painting created designs expressly for publication in book form. These 'books of illustrations' represent a remarkable achievement in terms of their technical perfection, broad range of styles, subject matter, and beauty. This lecture specifically focused on books with line illustrations that would have been known to Aubrey Beardsley and his contemporaries.
• 22 January 2011 Tales from the North - Martha Sinclair's afternoon of fairy tales and doodling was as popular as ever. Martha wove yarns from the cold regions of Northern Europe, including Russia's Baba Yaga, Scotland's deathly kelpie, and the robust Thor from Norse legend.
• 18 January 2011 Curator Layla Bloom led a free lunchtime tour of the temporary exhibition 'Fancy and Imagination: Beardsley and the Book Illustrators'.
• 15 January 2011 Knit a Scare Face! - Knitting for Beginners and Advanced Guerilla Knitters: while beginners were invited to learn to knit with the LUU knitting society in the Gallery, an exciting guerrilla knitting art action was taking place in the Parkinson Court: knitted monsters and landscapes inspired by Aubrey Beardsley's world popped up in unexpected corners of the Parkinson Court. The art action was led by Rachael Moore and Alice Rix of Knit a Bear Face, Leeds.
• 8 January 2011 What A.B. Sees: Poetry Reading... and Writing with Leeds poets Stephen Emmerson and Gareth Durasow. Inspired by the grotesque and the macabre in temporary exhibition 'Fancy and Imagination: Beardsley and the Book Illustrators' Stephen and Gareth read their own poetry and invited participants to write their own collaborative poem.

  What does A. B. see? And what does his audience see? Art? Aubrey? One another?

  Stephen Emmerson lives in the North of England and his work has appeared in Jacket, Poetry Salzburg Review, nthposition, FREAKLUNG, Oxford Poetry, Eratio, and The Red Ceilings. He is the author of 'X' (The Arthur Shilling Press 2009), 'Chimera' (Erbacce 2010), 'Attack of the gas powered Angels' (KF&S, 2010) and 'Poems found at the scene of a murder' (ZimZalla 2010). He also edits Blart.

  Gareth Durasow was born in the year of the pig. His work has appeared in The Rialto, Onedit, Sunfish, Grist, Cleaves, Shadowtrain, Openned and other publications. His poetry has won prizes at Ilkley and Huddersfield literature festivals. His plays have won nothing at all.

2010

• 18 December 2010 Pyssla: Scandinavian Christmas craft fun inspired by the fairy tale world of Kay Nielsen exhibited in current exhibition 'Fancy and Imagination: Beardsley and the Book Illustrators'. Linette's cosy workshop brought the famous Scandinavian Yuletide spirit to Leeds for a cosy afternoon of pyssla - Swedish for crafting, doodling and pottering.
• 11 December 2010 Potterdoodle: Tile painting workshop inspired by the designs and colours of the Gallery. Tile painting workshop inspired by the lines, patterns and colours of the artwork in the gallery with Potterdoodle. The tiles were glazed and ready to pick up just in time for Christmas!
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• 6 December 2010 'The Quakers Tea Table Overturn'd: Moral Dangers of the 18th Century Tea Party': Talk by Oliver Pickering and Liz Stainforth. The talk discussed the unpublished 1717 poem The Quakers Tea Table Overturn'd, from a manuscript held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library. It highlighted a contemporary concern that young people in Quaker families may be tempted to partake of 'worldly pleasures' through indulging in the fashion for tea parties. The development of tea drinking was traced through observations mad by such eminent contemporaries as Jane Austen, William Cobbett and Samuel Johnson. The talk was held in association with the Gallery's temporary exhibition of late 18th century tea equipage, Vanity Ware: Affordable Luxury in the Late Georgian Period.
• 4 December 2010 - Mixed Media Book Illustration Workshop: 'The Wonderworlds of Aubrey Beardsley'. Inspired by current exhibition 'Fancy and Imagination: Beardsley and the Book Illustrators' mixed media artist Amy Balderston took our visitors on an adventure through the lands of Beardsley's imagination and explore his realms, creatures and people.
• 27 November 2010 'Write Me a Picture' Workshop: Leeds poet Suzannah Evans's ever popular writing workshop with a focus on fairy tales inspired by the current exhibition 'Fancy and Imagination: Beardsley and the Book Illustrators.' For those who write and are interested in art, or artists interested in writing, or anyone who is somewhere between the two!
• 23 November 2010 - 'Teaching Doctors to See': Talk by Dr Roger Higson, co-author of The Arts in Medical Education. Dr Roger Higson, co-author of The Arts in Medical Education, focused on how doctors can and do use art to understand and deal with emotions in their medical practice. Bringing in examples of art in general and specific artworks in the Gallery's collections, Dr Higson talked about how doctors can deal with the emotional side of their life and profession. Focusing on facial expressions and other features in the paintings from a medical point of view, Dr Higson's short tour put the Gallery's collections in an entirely new light.
• 20 November 2010 The Bookbinder's Attic: Linette Withers introduced visitors how to make beautifully handcrafted origami booklets inspired by temporary exhibition 'Fancy and Imagination: Beardsley and the Book Illustrators'.
• 16 November 2010- Exhibition Opening: 'Fancy and Imagination: Beardsley and the Book Illustrators'
• 13 November, 2010 Teatime Tales from Yorkshire: Eccentrics, Folktales and Legends
  Visitors could escape the cold weather and listened to our lovely storyteller Martha Sinclair's tales of quirky old Yorkshire, such as the adventures of the Penhill Giant, the tale of the Shepherd Lord and other mysterious curiosities of Yorkshire's past. It was a cosy afternoon among old Leeds creamware, beanbags, cake, tea, and coloured pencils to doodle with.
• 6 November, 2010 Dr Jim Nobbs talked about the psychology of colour, and the emotions and associations they evoke in art and everyday life, with special attention to the use of colours in the design and conservation of ceramics.
  Dr Nobbs and Prof Norman Tennent won the Anna Plowden Award, the 'Oscar' of the heritage conservation world in 2007 by using the latest colour science to enable conservators to see how their pigments and glazes will look in artificial light and when photographed. He is a senior lecturer in the Colour Chemistry Department and his main research interests are the effects that the appearance of objects have on our emotional state, and the relationships between language based descriptions of appearance.
• 30 October 2010 Workshop: 'Japanese Monsters and Spooky Lantern Making': Children, students and adults joined artist Fiona Byrne for Halloween-themed art fun - with a Japanese twist! This workshop turned out to be a great success and our visitors learned about Japanese masks and made their own lantern for Halloween with a spooky (or sweet) Japanese monster character.
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  23 October 2010 Performance: 'Drawing on Dance' with Gerry Turvey: Free visual dance performance choreographed by Turvey World Dance for the Gallery, in partnership with visual artist Lynnette Willoughby. Following a residency at the Whitworth Art Gallery (Manchester), the project, including dancers, musicians and a visual artist, will take inspiration from the Gallery artworks to create new drawings, sound and movement on site for its audience. Supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
• 22 October 2010 Workshop: 'Drawing on Dance' with Gerry Turvey: Creative dance and movement workshop with GerryTurvey, for dancers, artists and curious explorers, playing with the themes and images of artworks in the exhibition 'All Over the Place: Drawing Place, Drawing Space,', engaging personal stories and physical interpretation.
• 22 October 2010 Artist Roundtable: 'All Over the Place': Lively discussion of artists participating in the exhibition, 'All Over the Place: Drawing Place, Drawing Space,' about their work and the exhibition, chaired by Prof. David Hill. The roundtable was followed by an open discussion with the participation of the public.
• 16 October 2010 Workshop: Drawing Machines with Jim Bond: Visitors at this free, drop-in drawing activity joined artist Jim Bond in the Gallery to test their skills against his 'drawing machines.' Each machine has a different quirk that made the experience of drawing a special challenge!
• 9 October 2010 The Big Draw: 'On Your Marks, Get Set, Design!': Free, drop-in drawing activities for all ages throughout the Parkinson Court. Our visitors made a sustainable statement for future fashion and food packaging, drawing inspiration from the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery and the Marks & Spencer 'Marks in Time' Exhibition.
• 8 October 2010 'The People's Map of Leeds' on Leeds Light Night: Free, interactive 'People's Map of Leeds' with artist Louise Atkinson in the Parkinson Court. Light Night visitors - both young and old - participated in the creation of a large-scale drawing based on a map of Leeds. Referencing the Gallery's exhibition 'All Over the Place: Drawing Place, Drawing Space,' Atkinson led visitors to experiment with drawing and mark-making techniques in response to the daily activities and memories of the places they inhabit. Over 500 visitors visited the Gallery and made their mark on the map!
• 2 October 2010 'Write Me a Picture' Workshop: Writing workshop focusing on writing about place, inspired by the Gallery's current exhibition 'All Over the Place: Drawing Place, Drawing Space.' Facilitated by Leeds poet Suzannah Evans.
• 14 August 2010 'Shoebox Bedrooms' Workshop: Based on the Shoebox Art exhibition held at Haunch of Venison in London, participants created rooms within shoeboxes, which were then documented and displayed in a virtual exhibition online. Led by artist Hayley Goodsell. Read the Leeds Guide event preview.
• 7 August 2010 'Write Me A Picture' Workshop 4: Fourth in a series of workshops exploring the relationship between art and creative writing using artworks in the gallery. Facilitated by Leeds poets Suzannah Evans, David Tait and Rosie Blagg.
• 24 July 2010 Family Fun Activity: 'Representing the Romany'. Young people and their carers were invited to join our free art activities inspired by the current display of materials from the Romany Collection, including paper flower-making and stencils.
• 17 July 2010 'Write Me A Picture' Workshop 3: Third in a series of workshops exploring the relationship between art and creative writing using artworks in the gallery. Facilitated by Leeds poets Suzannah Evans, David Tait and Rosie Blagg.
• 7 July 2010 Leeds Art Walk
  Calendar News coverage of the Leeds Art Walk, 2 June 2010
  
• 26 June 2010 - 'Write Me A Picture' Workshop 2: Second in a series of workshops exploring the relationship between art and creative writing using artworks in the gallery. Facilitated by Leeds poets Suzannah Evans, David Tait and Rosie Blagg.
• 22 June 2010 - Exhibition Opening: 'All Over the Place: Drawing Place, Drawing Space'
• 5 June 2010 - 'Write Me A Picture' Workshop 1: First in a series of workshops exploring the relationship between art and creative writing using artworks in the gallery. Facilitated by Leeds poets Suzannah Evans, David Tait and Rosie Blagg.
• 2 June 2010 - Leeds Art Walk
• 26 May 2010 - Heritage and Science Talk: 'Metrology as an investigative tool', Prof. Liam Blunt, Ultra-Precision Engineering Centre, School of Engineering, University of Huddersfield. Sponsored by the Centre for Critical Studies in Museums, Galleries and Heritage with the support of a Faculty of Performance, Visual Arts and Communications Higher Education Innovations Fund
• 14 May 2010 - Performance: 'MAKE.ART.MOVE.YOU',MAKE.ART.MOVE.YOU was a free performance event created by students in Performing and Cultural Industries at the University of Leeds, in collaboration with the Gallery for Museums at Night 2010. The performance explored notions of changing energies and engagement with the Gallery, drawing on the artworks and space itself for inspiration. Part of the Europe-wide festival, Museums at Night/Nuit des musées
• Dance workshop with Gerry Turvey
  30 April 2010 - Alan Davie Dance Workshop with Gerry Turvey. Movement workshop influenced and inspired by the strong colours, shapes, line and energy from the work of Alan Davie, a unique opportunity to create dance inspired by a gallery environment. Gerry facilitated participants to develop dance using visual image as a stimulus.
• 21 April 2010 - Talk: 'Alan Davie's Magic,' Ben Read, School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies
• 17 April 2010 - Family Fun Activity: Symbols and Music. Young people and their carers were invited to join our free art activities inspired by the paintings of Alan Davie, involving symbols and art-making to music.
• 16 March 2010 - Exhibition Opening: 'Alan Davie'
• 12-13 March 2010 - 13th International Contemporary Artists' Book Fair. Organised by the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Leeds
• 3 March 2010 - Talk: '3D scanning of cultural heritage; experiences at National Museums,' Martin Cooper, Conservation Technology Lab, Liverpool Museums. Supported by the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies
• 26 February 2010 - Workshop: 'Drawing the Dance' with Gerry Turvey
  Dance workshop facilitated by Gerry Turvey, influenced and inspired by the vibrant colour, line and energy of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham's works.
• 24 February 2010 - Talk: 'Neutrons, nuclear reactors, particle accelerators...and museums,' Robert Cywinski, University of Huddersfield. Supported by the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies
• Iain Biggs, Iain Sinclair and Judith Tucker at 'Spectral Traces'
  13 February 2010 - LAND 2 Symposium: 'Spectral Traces'
  Land2 is a national network of artist/lecturers and research students with an interest in landscape/place-oriented art practice. The symposium considered the implications of the notion 'Spectral Traces' - borrowed from the geographer Karen Till - for practice in relation to aspects of psychogeography. Iain Sinclair was the keynote speaker; Iain Biggs presented his considerations of 'deep mapping.' Other speakers: Mary Modeen (Dundee), Claire King (UWE), Owain Jones (Countryside and Community Research Unit), Judith Tucker (Leeds), Ingrid Pollard (Goldsmiths), Stephen Felmingham (LCAD), David Walker-Barker (Leeds), and Jane Millar (Land2)
• 9 February 2010 - Talk: 'The Harrogate Art Collection and the Making of the Mercer Art Gallery,' Jane Sellars, Mercer Art Gallery. Part of the 'Questions of Collecting' Talk Series, in collaboration with the Centre for Critical Studies in Museums, Galleries and Heritage
• 3 February 2010 - Leeds Art Walk
• 28 January 2010 - Curator's Talk and Tour with Mel Gooding:

  Professor Mel Gooding, a prolific art writer and critic, and the curator of the touring exhibition 'A Discipline of the Mind: The Drawings of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham', took visitors on a special tour of the exhibition. Supported by The Barns-Graham Charitable Trust.

2009

• 10 December 2009 - Exhibition Talk and Tour with Lynne Green: Lynne Green, author of W. Barns-Graham: A Studio Life, takes visitors on a tour of the exhibition and discusses her experience writing alongside the artist and her work, as well as her plans for the new 2012 edition of the book.
• 8 Decemver 2009 - Exhibition Opening: 'A Discipline of the Mind: The Drawings of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham'
• 24 November 2009 - Talk: 'Collecting the Avant-Garde: Lascelles and Fawkes as patrons in the early nineteenth century,' Prof. David Hill, University of Leeds. Part of the 'Questions of Collecting' Talk Series, in collaboration with the Centre for Critical Studies in Museums, Galleries and Heritage
• 10 November 2009 - Talk: 'Collecting Contemporary Photography,' Gill Howard, Pavilion. Part of the 'Questions of Collecting' Talk Series, in collaboration with the Centre for Critical Studies in Museums, Galleries and Heritage
• 7 November 2009 - Haiku and Art Workshop with Clare Wigzell: Drawing inspiration from the Gallery's permanent collection, visitors explored and wrote haiku poems in response to artworks.
• 30-31 October 2009 - 'Obsession' Dance Workshops with Gerry Turvey: Creative dance workshops, open to dancers, artists and curious explorers, playing with the themes and images of artworks in the exhibition, engaging personal stories and physical interpretation.
• 26 October 2009 - Collectors' View Talk: Stuart and John Evans, father and son art collectors, responsible for developing the Lodeveans collection, shared their views and experiences building this formidable collection of international contemporary art.
• 24 October 2009 - The Big Draw: Drawing activities for young and old. Visitors shared ideas about 'our changing world' and their vision for the Leeds of the future, including building a Cardboard City in Parkinson Court.
• 9 October 2009 - Light Night 2009: Leeds artist Joe Mawson invited visitors to share in his passion for model railways with a specially commissioned colouring activity - family-friendly conceptual art!

  For more information about the artist, please visit Joe Mawson's website

  For more information about Light Night, please visit the Light Night website

• 7 October 2009 - Leeds Art Walk
• 22 September 2009 - Exhibition Opening: 'Obsession: Contemporary Art from the Lodeveans Collection'
• 2 September 2009 - Leeds Art Walk
• 15 August 2009 - Saturday Brew in the Afternoon
• 1 August 2009 - Family Fun Afternoon: Young people and their carers were invited to draw their own 'Journeys Around Home', inspired by artist Katharine Holmes and to contribute memories to the Gallery's 'Family Tree.'
• 1 August 2009 - Saturday Brew in the Afternoon
• 18 July 2009 - Saturday Brew in the Afternoon
• 14 July 2009 - Talk: Artist Katharine Holmes in conversation with Lynne Green
• 11 July 2009 - Saturday Brew in the Afternoon
• 1 July 2009 - Leeds Art Walk
• 30 June 2009 - Exhibition Opening: 'A Malham Family of Painters: Constance Pearson, Philippa and Katharine Holmes'
• 6 June 2009 - Family Photography Fun Afternoon. Young people and their carers were invited to learn how to make sun prints and decorate their own photo frames.
• YouTube video art workshop with artist Joe Mawson
  30 May 2009 - Artist-led Workshop: YouTube video art with Joe Mawson. Artist Joe Mawson invited visitors to create a YouTube videos based on a constructed model. See the video here.
• 23 May 2009 - Artist-led Workshop: Transfer-printing with Hondartza Fraga. Artist Hondartza Fraga showed visitors how to create their own transfer prints onto cards and badges.
• 14-16 May 2009 - Evolution Festival 2009 (In collaboration with Lumen):
  • 14 May, 6.30-8pm: Lux programme film screenings and talk by Lily Markiewicz
  • 15 May, 5.30-7pm: Projection Gallery programme film screenings and talk by Sheena MacRae
  • 16 May, 1.30-3pm: Curatorial Roundtable: 'What is the future for artists working with media and technology?'
• 6 May 2009 - Leeds Art Walk
• 21 April 2009 - Artist Roundtable Discussion: Short presentations by the artists in 'The Object of Photography' exhibition - Ignaz Cassar, Hondartza Fraga, Joe Mawson and Andrew Warstat - followed by a public discussion
• 7 April 2009 - Exhibition Opening: 'The Object of Photography'
• 24 March 2009 - Talk: 'A contest between two pairs of eyes': dealers and collectors,' Mark Westgarth, Lecturer in Museum Studies, School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Leeds. ('Questions of Collecting' Talk Series in collaboration with the University of Leeds Art Gallery & Museum Studies)
• 6-7 March 2009 - 12th International Contemporary Artists' Book Fair. Organised by the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Leeds
• 3 March 2009 - Roundtable discussion: The Gregory Fellowships. Short presentations followed by a public discussion about the legacy of the Gregory Fellowships in Painting, Sculpture, Poetry and Music
• 17 February 2009 - Talk: 'All the finest': Furnishing the Frick, 1914-15, Helen Rees Leahy, Director of the Centre of Museology, University of Manchester ('Questions of Collecting' Talk Series in collaboration with the University of Leeds Art Gallery & Museum Studies)
• 4 February 2009 - Leeds Art Walk: A whistle-stop tour of several Leeds art venues, visiting the pick of the month's exhibitions and a chance to view exhibitions with fellow art lovers. The Art Walk schedule can be viewed here.
• 13 January 2009 - Exhibition Opening: 'Nothing Extra: New Work by Trevor Bell'

2008

• 18 November 2008 - Talk: 'Decision Time for Authenticity: Europe 1870-1900,' Prof. Stefan Muthesius, School of World Art Studies, University of East Anglia. ('Questions of Collecting' Talk Series in collaboration with the University of Leeds Art Gallery & Museum Studies)
• 14 November 2008 - Roundtable discussion: Artists’ Collections (In collaboration with East Street Arts)
• 11 November 2008 - Talk: 'Building the Lodeveans Collection,' Stuart and John Evans, London-based collectors and developers of the Lodeveans Collection. ('Questions of Collecting' Talk Series in collaboration with the University of Leeds Art Gallery & Museum Studies)
• 4 November 2008- Talk: 'Collecting the Contemporary', Stephanie Post, Contemporary Art Society, Head of Membership and Collector Development. ('Questions of Collecting' Talk Series in collaboration with the University of Leeds Art Gallery & Museum Studies)
• 21 October 2008 - Exhibition Talk: In Conversation with Ronnie Duncan (A Friends of University Art and Music (Leeds) event): A complement to the current exhibition of works from Ronnie Duncan's collection, Layla Bloom (Exhibitions Officer) joined Duncan to discuss his life and collection.
• James Hill and Layla Bloom captured in the Night Vision Photobooth during Light Night 2008 at the Gallery
  10 October 2008 - Light Night 2008: Sheffield based artist Hondartza Fraga created a 'Night Vision Photobooth' in the Gallery space. Visitors were invited to drop in to pose in complete darkness - the resulting scenarios only became clear once the lights went up again! A separate installation using CCTV baffled visitors with is eerie, skewed sense of scale.

  For more information about the artist, please visit www.hondartzafraga.com

  For more information about Light Night, please visit the website

• 23 September 2008 - Exhibition Opening: 'Creativity Never Rests: The Ronnie Duncan Collection Part II'
• 23 July 2008 - 'From Worrier to Warrior: Isaac Rosenberg and The Great War' author talk with Shaun Levin - A ‘Friends of University Art and Music (Leeds)’ event.
• 6 July 2008 - Isaac Rosenberg Study Day- In collaboration with the Centre for Jewish Studies and with support from the Higher Education Fund.