Culture

Making culture accessible to all

We recognise the vital role culture plays in economic prosperity, community identity and wellbeing.

Our initiatives support growing regional opportunities in the creative industries and contribute to inclusive and accessible cultural participation.

The National Poetry Centre, set to open in 2029, is expected to attract at least 100,000 visitors annually, enhancing Leeds' global cultural profile.

We're a principal partner of the Leeds International Piano Competition, an international celebration of the piano which started in 1963 and takes place in the city every three years. 

And our campus hosts events and installations for Light Night Leeds, the UK’s largest annual arts and light festival.

Our Cultural Institute works with organisations of all sizes across the cultural sector, bringing together researchers and industry professionals to build relationships that spark new ideas. Learn more about our partnerships.

Work with us

Email our Civic Exchange team

 

Our partnerships in action

  • Becoming an 'Irregular' Art School

    Learn about our work with Leeds-based art studio Pyramid, to boost the recognition and celebration of learning disabled artists.

    Dominique Ghataora, Stephen Harvey, Andrew Wonnacott at the I Am An Artist exhibition at The Tetley (2018).
  • Making cultural investment impactful and equitable

    A strategic placement by our Centre for Cultural Value within Leeds City Council’s Culture Programmes Team has transformed how Leeds City Council thinks about and evaluates its cultural investments.

    Children sat at a table drawing on sheets of paper with felt tipped pens.
  • The Sapling Fund, one year on

    The fund aims to support the development of research projects by building meaningful connections between researchers and individuals from communities, charities, and cultural organisations.

    A close up of a flat surface of metal with an interesting patina of marks and colours