Leeds 2023, stylized as LEEDS 2023, was a designated year of culture taking place in Leeds, West Yorkshire, during 2023. Years of culture are specific years where a city or region dedicates significant resources to investing in cultural initiatives. Initially proposed as a bid to be the host city for European Capital of Culture, post-Brexit exclusion from European Union initiatives meant that Leeds could no longer bid. This resulted in Leeds City Council and partners deciding to run an independent year of culture in 2023.

LEEDS 2023
TimeJanuary to December 2023
Duration1 year
TypeUnofficial year of culture
Organized byLeeds Culture Trust
Leeds City Council
Websitehttps://leeds2023.co.uk/

Leeds Culture Trust, a charity separate to Leeds City Council, was established in 2019 to develop the programme and fund raise for the year of culture. Kully Thiarai was appointed Creative Director in 2019. The year was launched at Headingley Stadium, and was followed by a range of projects in every ward in the city. New performances and public artworks were commissioned, such as Hibiscus Rising by Yinka Shonibare.

Background

edit

Leeds is a city recognised for its cultural offering in the fields of art, architecture, music, sport, film and television.[1] In 2015, after a fourteen-month consultation and a public vote, Leeds City Council (LCC) approved the creation of a bid for the city to the UK's nomination for European Capital of Culture in 2023.[2] On 27 October 2017 the city submitted its proposal for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS); the other cities to put in bids were Nottingham, Dundee, Milton Keynes and Belfast.[3][4]

Leeds' initial proposal cost £800,000: the council invested £145,000 and another £600,000 came from private investment.[5] The proposal included the construction of a lighthouse commemorating John Smeaton on the south bank of the Aire, as well as an extension of the city's Light Night festival.[3] The initial bid proposal was chaired by Sharon Watson, principal of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, who at the time of the bid was artistic director of Phoenix Dance.[6] The bid team stated that they "aim to develop a 100% local and 100% international programme".[7]

 
A house during Stavanger's Year as capital of culture, 2008

At the point of bid submission, all cities were under the impression that Brexit negotiations would not have an impact on their applications.[3] However, in November 2017 the European Commission wrote to DCMS stating that due to the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the country could no longer be involved in the European Capital of Culture programme.[5] This was despite the fact that the cities of Istanbul, Reykjavík and Stavanger, are all in countries outside the EU, that had previously been capitals of culture.[8] In response to the EU's decision, Leeds City Council and its partners decided to build on the existing momentum and to run a year of culture in the city, independent from EU support.[9][10][11][12] This move was described by the Financial Times as: "When its bid to be European Capital of Culture was thwarted by Brexit, the city decided to anoint itself and start partying anyway".[13]

Organisation

edit
 
Kully Thiarai and Gabby Logan outside LEEDS 2023 offices at Brewery Place

Leeds Culture Trust, a charity separate to Leeds City Council, was established in 2019 to develop the programme and fund raise for the year of culture.[14] Leeds Culture Trust's first chair was Ruth Pitt, who joined in 2019 but stepped down in June 2021.[15][16] Frank Findlay became acting chair, prior to the recruitment of Gabby Logan to the role in November 2021; she took up the position in January 2022.[17][14] Logan stepped down as chair in September 2023, and was replaced by Findlay as acting chair for the remainder of the year of culture.[18]

Kully Thiarai was appointed Creative Director in 2019, leaving her role as Artistic Director of National Theatre Wales.[19] She has previously worked at Cast, Contact Theatre Manchester, the Leicester Haymarket Theatre, Theatre Writing Partnership and Red Ladder Theatre Company.[20] She took up the post in January 2020.[21]

Major investors in LEEDS 2023 include: Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Arts Council England, Leeds Community Foundation,[22] the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, British Council, KPMG, HBD, Mott MacDonald,[23] Bruntwood,[24] amongst others. In June 2023, LEEDS 2023 received a £2.1 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.[25] The British Council was Leeds Culture Trust's core international partner.[26] Leeds Culture Trust agreed to wage and working conditions set by a range of artistic unions, including Equity.[27] Supported by Tracy Brabin, Mayor for West Yorkshire, the year of culture was followed by extensive cultural programming in Kirklees and Calderdale in 2024, and then by Bradford 2025, bringing further regional cultural investment.[28]

Programme

edit

With the strapline 'Letting Culture Loose', LEEDS 2023 announced a community-driven programme in late 2022.[29] The year of culture was also planned to support the city's post COVID-19 pandemic recovery.[30] It described its mission as "an independent, not-for-profit Year of Culture supporting hundreds of creative and cultural events across the city and beyond.".[31]

 
Neighbourhood Hosts posing in the Corn Exchange at the City Without Seams Launch.

The programme worked across every ward in Leeds, recruiting 'Neighbourhood Hosts' to make hyper-local connections and link communities with funding opportunities under the banner of 'My LEEDS 2023'.[32][33]

Sport was included in the definition of culture, with the year of culture drawing the Junior British Lead Climbing Championships to the city in September,[34] as well as Leeds United wearing themed kits and Elland Road hosting a unique light-show to celebrate the year of culture.[35][36] Skate boarding featured through partnership to promote skating to women and people of marginalised genders.[37][38] Unsung Sports focussed on the important roles that gaelic football, table tennis, women's basketball, aikido, roller skating and petanque play in Leeds.[39][40] By Spring 2023 over 75 artists had been commissioned to produce works, divided into three seasons through the year, entitled Awakening, Playing, and Dreaming.[41][42][43][23][44]

Season 1 - Awakening

edit
 
Crowd view from stage featuring carnival dancers on stage. The Awakening.

Held at Headingley Stadium in January, The Awakening was the opening event for LEEDS 2023.[45][46] Hosted by Gabby Logan and Sanchez Payne, a 10,000 strong crowd was entertained by a range of performers and presenters from Leeds, including: Corinne Bailey Rae, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Kadeena Cox, George Webster, Simon Armitage and his band, LYR, as well as the chorus of Opera North, Leeds West Indian Carnival, spoken word artists Testament and Danmark Cleary, Ntantu and Graft, as well as tabla expert Inder Goldfinger.[47][48] Its finale was a drone display featuring a giant, speaking to the people of Leeds.[49]

 
Mother and daughter view hanging artworks. The Awakening.

The audience received their tickets in exchange for sending in original or images of artwork they had made: the programmers took an inclusive view of 'art' citing TikToks as just as valid an artistic expression as painting.[6] These works were exhibited in person at the Merrion Centre under the title Waking the Artist, as well as featuring on billboards and poster drums around the city.[50][51] It also included a themed beer of the same name, a collaboration with North Brewing Co.[52][53][54]

 
Peter Bartram and Rowena Godfrey in Sinfonia as part of 1001 Stories

Early partnerships included Noah's Flood by Benjamin Britten, performed by children in collaboration with Manchester Collective,[55] and the Leeds Literature Festival, featuring Lemn Sissay.[56] In April, Leeds Playhouse launched 1001 Stories, a series of performances created by The Performance Ensemble, designed to celebrate "older people's vast creativity".[57] As part of the series of performances, Alan Bennett read from his diaries.[58] Sinfonia, one of the pieces developed by The Performance Ensemble was due to go on a national tour after the end of the year of culture.[59]

Season 2 - Playing

edit
 
Barnraisers working together to construct WOW Barn.

Unveiled in May 2023, in partnership with Women of the World Festival, the WOW Barn was a new barn built entirely by over 300 women and non-binary people, who undertook training at Leeds College of Building to learn the skills to raise it.[60] The building was used as the venue for Leeds' first iteration of the WOW festival.[61] Initially located on Woodhouse Moor, the barn later moved to Kirkstall Valley Farm.[61][62] The same month the exhibition Feeling Her Way by Sonia Boyce was shown at Leeds Art Gallery.[63]

 
Making A Stand from above, City Square.

In June, Making a Stand, a seven metre tall installation in City Square, inspired by the forests that used to cover Leeds, was revealed to the public.[64] Created by artist Michael Pinsky with Studio Bark, the "sculptural forest" intended to connect the civic realm with themes around sustainability and conservation.[65][66] The same month, Conservative councillor Alan Lamb stated that the year of culture had the potential to be a "damp squib" and that public imaginations had not yet been captured by the programme. This opinion was rebuffed by Labour councillor Jonathan Pryor, who stated that there had already been an undeniable positive economic impact on the city.[67] This view was reiterated by artistic director, Kully Thiarai, citing that the LEEDS 2023 expected to double the investment made by Leeds City Council.[45]

 
Group of performers playing instruments. Otley.

Children's Day Reimagined was held at Roundhay Park on 14 July.[68] Inspired by the history of Children's Day in Leeds, which ran from 1922 to 1963 and included parades organised by local teachers, the event was designed by children to celebrate their place in Leeds's society today and was produced by Fevered Sleep.[69][68] The same month, further criticism was voiced by councillors that central city wards benefitted more than outer ones.[70] My LEEDS Summer was a programme of community-led events in all of Leeds' 33 council wards, which included food and music festivals, led by the Neighbourhood Hosts.[71][72]

 
Floating stages lit up on lake at RSPB St Aiden's

In August the programme announced Nest, a site-specific outdoor theatre production by the National Youth Theatre that took place at RSPB St Aiden's in September. The play, set in 2050, the deadline of the Paris Agreement, imagined the future of climate crisis in the region.[73] It was written by Emma Nuttall and directed by Paul Roseby.[74]

Season 3 - Dreaming

edit
 
Man looking through telescope outside the Moon Palace mobile observatory.

Inspired by the achievements of civil engineer John Smeaton, Smeaton 300 is a programme celebrating science and creativity. Moon Palace is a mobile astronomical observatory, designed by artists Heather Peak and Ivan Morrison.[75] The bus toured Leeds in the second half of 2023.[76] In partnership with Leeds Industrial Museum, an exhibition entitled Engineery opened in October 2023, which used objects to discuss Smeaton and civil engineering.[77] This included designs for the Eddystone Lighthouse.[78] Another collaboration with the museum was Any Work That Wanted Doing, a series of artists' interventions which explored the lives of disabled mill workers in the nineteenth century.[79]

September saw the launch of A City without Seams, a project between artist Keith Khan and Burberry, celebrating Leeds' textile heritage and the identities of each of its wards.[80] This included designing new logos for the wards, which were exhibited at Leeds Corn Exchange.[81] Criticism of the project, specifically of the logo for the ward Rothwell, was raised by councillor Diane Chapman.[82] Khan and artistic director Kully Thiarai defended the illustration, stating that it depicted rhubarb growing by candlelight, an agricultural practice that the area is famous for.[82]

 
Ofrenda table from All That Lives.

In October the programme included a series of events entitled All That Lives by artists Ellie Harrison and Zion Art Studio from Mexico, who used Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations to explore death and dying in Yorkshire.[83][84] The multimedia installation This is a Forest also launched, bringing indigenous artists working with Invisible Flock to display newly commissioned work to Leeds.[85][86] Artists included Jenni Laiti, Anushka Athique, Vandria Borari, Nwando Ebizie and Outi Pieski.[87][88] And She Built a Crooked House was another commission, in collaboration with Artangel UK, where artist Gemma Anderson-Tempini created installations in an empty Victorian villa, which explored themes of string theory and motherhood.[89]

 
Hibiscus Rising sculpture from above.

The first permanent outdoor sculpture by Yinka Shonibare was unveiled in November 2023. Entitled Hibiscus Rising it commemorates David Oluwale, a Nigerian homeless man who was persecuted by officers from Leeds City Police, leading to his death in 1969.[48] New installation of artworks under Leeds Train Station on Neville Street were also unveiled as part of the year of culture.[90]

 
Performer David Anthony Bevan Lane on the ceremonial mound during The Gifting.

Included as finale projects were Northern Dreaming and The Gifting, linked together as creative storytelling. The Gifting, which took place in December, directed by Kully Thiarai and Alan Lane of Slung Low, was co-produced with the British Library.[91][92] The show was a piece of immersive theatre, where audience members wore headphones.[92][93] Northern Dreaming distributed copies of a new book to every child born in Leeds in 2023 as part of a partnership with the British Library.[94]

Legacy

edit
 
Pink heart art installation as part of Waking the Artist Exhibition.

In January 2021, it was predicted that LEEDS 2023 would create 10% growth in the Leeds visitor economy, bring in £114 million of additional direct and indirect revenue, bring 1310 new jobs, create 1000 freelance roles and train 2000 volunteers.[95][96] Final evaluation of the year of culture was undertaken by The Audience Agency and the Centre for Cultural Value at the University of Leeds.[97][98][99][100]

An initial review by the BBC suggested that although the year had suffered bad luck related to the COVID-19 pandemic and poor weather, it "may help change perceptions of the city".[101] Those challenges were reiterated by Kully Thiarai, speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post in December 2023, however she went on to state that the year "put Leeds on the cultural map, nationally and internationally – and I think we can certainly say that that's happened in the way people talk about the city".[102]

References

edit
  1. ^ "A look at the arts and culture scene in Leeds". Great British Life. 10 April 2019. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  2. ^ Walsh, Tina (10 April 2015). "Leeds' bid for European Capital of Culture 2023 gets green light". Time Out Leeds. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Leeds submits 2023 Capital of Culture bid". BBC News. 27 October 2017. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  4. ^ Leeds, University of (27 October 2017). "Capital of Culture 2023 – the bid is in". www.leeds.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Leeds plans own 'Year of Culture' after European let-down". ArtsProfessional. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b Vinter, Robyn (10 January 2023). "I get knocked down: Leeds' year of culture rises from the ashes of Brexit". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  7. ^ Richardson, Sarah Harvey (2017) The Hepworth Wakefield and its Audience(s): The Importance of Scale, Space and Place in Constructing Social Relations in the Art Gallery. Archived 8 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine PhD thesis, University of Leeds, p.135.
  8. ^ "UPDATED: Leeds's capital of culture hopes are dashed as European Commission confirms UK city can't hold title after Brexit". Yorkshire Evening Post. 2017. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Events". Art Monthly. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  10. ^ Rowlinson, Liz (8 June 2023). "Homebuyers feel the lure of Leeds, Yorkshire's unofficial 'city of culture'". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  11. ^ Bowdin, Glenn A. J.; Allen, Johnny; Harris, Rob; Jago, Leo; O'Toole, William; McDonnell, Ian (31 July 2023). Events Management. Taylor & Francis. p. 2033. ISBN 978-1-000-90445-1. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  12. ^ Evans, Graeme (2 February 2024). Cultural Spaces, Production and Consumption. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-003-83789-3. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  13. ^ "In a reinvigorated Leeds, a summer of celebrations is just beginning". www.ft.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  14. ^ a b Media, Insider (25 November 2021). "Gabby Logan named Leeds 2023 chair". Insider Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Executive board ready to back Leeds Culture Trust". Leeds City Council News. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Leeds 2023: Chair of Leeds Culture Trust Ruth Pitt steps down amid workload and health concerns". 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  17. ^ Release, Press (25 November 2021). "Gabby Logan joins the LEEDS 2023 team". South Leeds Life. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Gabby Logan MBE is stepping down from her role as Chair but will continue her ambassadorial duties as Patron of LEEDS 2023". LEEDS2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  19. ^ Writer, Staff (14 June 2019). "Kully Thiarai Leaves National Theatre Wales for New Role at Leeds 2023". Theatre Weekly. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Kully Thiarai". Centre for Cultural Value. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Arts supremo Kully Thiarai: 'Break the rules! They need breaking'". The Guardian. 4 October 2021. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  22. ^ "Business Plan". LEEDS2023. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  23. ^ a b Collins, Francesca (1 February 2022). "Leeds 2023 announces creative partners for year of culture". Museums Association. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Bruntwood Announced as Headline Sponsor for LEEDS 2023 Year of Culture". Bruntwood. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Leeds 2023 awarded over £2 million in National Lottery fund support for year of culture and heritage". 21 December 2023. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  26. ^ "Leeds Year of Culture 2023 | British Council". 21 December 2023. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  27. ^ "Leeds Culture Trust sign up to union agreement for LEEDS 2023". Equity. 5 December 2022. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  28. ^ "Investing in culture and the creative industries is key to levelling up in the North". Politics Home. 23 February 2023. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  29. ^ "Leeds 2023 launches community-driven programme". Museums Association. 1 June 2021. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  30. ^ Leeds, University of. "Helping to deliver a cultural showcase". www.leeds.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  31. ^ "Our story". 21 December 2023. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  32. ^ "Meet the Neighbourhood Hosts: 33 inspiring people shining a light on the communities of Leeds". LEEDS2023. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  33. ^ "Sweet Dreams". Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  34. ^ "Junior British Lead Climbing Championships heads to Leeds for 2023 edition". www.thebmc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  35. ^ "Leeds United show support for LEEDS 2023 with specially dedicated match". LEEDS2023. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  36. ^ "Elland Road to light up in LEEDS 2023 colours as club dedicates Liverpool match to the city's Year of Culture". 2 January 2024. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  37. ^ "How LEEDS 2023 is helping to empower skateboarders in city and combat stigma | Yorkshire Evening Post". 6 May 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  38. ^ Post, Guest (13 September 2023). "Street Skating Together with LS-TEN". South Leeds Life. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  39. ^ "Irish Centre to host celebration of 'hidden' sports in Leeds such as gaelic football | Yorkshire Evening Post". 17 May 2022. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  40. ^ "Unsung Sports: Leeds arts project celebrates 'vital' groups involved in aikido, petanque and women's basketball". 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  41. ^ Elliott, Jenny (10 April 2023). "Leeds must: 10 hidden gems to see during the city's Year of Culture 2023". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  42. ^ "Leeds Year of Culture 2023 | British Council". 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  43. ^ "The last part of Leeds 2023 will be a reflection of a city of dreamers – Kully Thiarai". 28 September 2023. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  44. ^ Cumming, Laura; Empire, Kitty; Clapp, Susannah; Maddocks, Fiona; Fox, Killian; Hogan, Michael (19 March 2023). "The best free spring culture in Britain, chosen by Observer critics". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  45. ^ a b "LEEDS 2023 director rejects 'damp squib' criticism". ArtsProfessional. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  46. ^ "Four star review of Leeds 2023 opening ceremony The Awakening". 21 December 2023. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  47. ^ "Leeds 2023: City's year of culture to bring 'lasting legacy'". BBC News. 6 January 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  48. ^ a b "LEEDS 2023 – CEO Kully Thiarai: 'The Awakening' show will light a torch of creativity for the year ahead". Asian Culture Vulture. 7 December 2022. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  49. ^ "Leeds 2023: Drones create giant head above Headingley Stadium for The Awakening show - video Dailymotion". Dailymotion. 8 January 2023. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  50. ^ "Waking the Artist". LEEDS2023. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  51. ^ westleedslife (5 April 2023). "Review of Waking The Artist: Exhibition". West Leeds Dispatch. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  52. ^ Darren (22 April 2023). "North celebrates culture in Leeds with new collaboration –". beertoday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  53. ^ "Waking The Artist: Leeds 2023". North Brewing Co. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  54. ^ Guild, Beer (24 April 2023). "Introducing Waking the Artist – the beer collaboration between North Brewing and Leeds 2023". The British Guild of Beer Writers. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  55. ^ canderson (30 March 2023). "Manchester Collective and Slung Low stage Benjamin Britten's community opera Noah's Flood". Colin's Column. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  56. ^ "Leeds Lit Fest returns to the city for its fifth year | Yorkshire Post". 27 January 2023. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  57. ^ "1001 Stories – Leeds Playhouse". Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  58. ^ Wild, Stephi. "Alan Bennett Joins Lineup For 1001 STORIES at Leeds Playhouse". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  59. ^ Wild, Stephi. "New Dolly Parton Musical and More Set For Leeds Playhouse Spring/Summer 2024 Season". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  60. ^ "MOVERS AND SHAKERS: EDITION 444". feweek.co.uk. 4 December 2023. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  61. ^ a b "Leeds 2023 volunteers raise a barn in 24 hours". BBC News. 2 May 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  62. ^ westleedslife (26 May 2023). "WOW Barn finds a new home at Kirkstall Valley Farm". West Leeds Dispatch. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  63. ^ "Gallery going for gold with award-winning musical exhibition". Leeds City Council News. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  64. ^ Pandey, Geha (22 June 2023). "Leeds 2023 Making A Stand: The story behind the huge sculptural forest in Leeds City Square". Yorkshire Evening Post. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  65. ^ "Member's Blog: Making a Stand By Wilf Meynell". Woodland Heritage. 28 July 2023. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  66. ^ "Studio Bark designs "sculptural forest" timber installation for Leeds". Dezeen. 27 July 2023. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  67. ^ "Leeds 2023 festival branded 'damp squib' by Conservative leader". BBC News. 23 June 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  68. ^ a b "Children's Day: Reimagined". Fevered Sleep. 25 May 2023. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  69. ^ "Children's Day reimagined: portraits of the kids of Leeds – in pictures". the Guardian. 18 August 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  70. ^ "Cultural events will stop 'brain drain' to London – top councillor claims". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 17 July 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  71. ^ Morton, Jeremy (17 February 2023). "Community call out to take part in My LEEDS Summer". South Leeds Life. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  72. ^ "Leeds 2023: My Leeds Summer kicks off with city's 33 wards hosting music shows, food and fashion events | Yorkshire Evening Post". 3 July 2023. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  73. ^ "Leeds nature reserve to host climate change play". BBC News. 5 September 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  74. ^ "Nature park hosts theatre piece featuring cast of more than 100 young people". The Independent. 5 September 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  75. ^ Brown, Mark (4 August 2023). "Moon Palace: the observatory bus bringing 'awe and wonder' to Leeds". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  76. ^ "Leeds 2023: Mobile observatory bus begins city-wide tour". BBC News. 5 August 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  77. ^ "Historic lighthouse designs a beacon of brilliance in city's new exhibition". Leeds City Council News. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  78. ^ "John Smeaton's Eddystone lighthouse designs shown in Leeds". BBC News. 29 October 2023. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  79. ^ Crawshaw, Gill (18 September 2023). "Any Work That Wanted Doing – the stories of disabled mill workers". Disability Arts Online. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  80. ^ "Burberry celebrates the city of Leeds with bespoke textile artworks – Burberryplc". 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  81. ^ WW, FashionNetwork com. "Burberry links with artist for Leeds textile project". FashionNetwork.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  82. ^ a b "Leeds 2023: Rothwell logo likened to 'Voldemort and dementors' from Harry Potter books". 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  83. ^ "Discussing death and dying". spotlight.leeds.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  84. ^ "Leeds 2023 to see a reimagining of Mexico's Day of the Dead as elements of the 'epic' programme revealed | Yorkshire Post". 2 October 2022. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  85. ^ "Leeds 2023 presents – "This is a FOREST" at Moda, New York Square – Moda Living". modaliving.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  86. ^ "Art collective Invisible Flock's latest project This is a Forest reimagines city as a forest". 27 October 2023. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  87. ^ jennilaiti.com. "This is a FOREST". Jenni Laiti. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  88. ^ "This is a FOREST – Exhibition, Leeds". Nwando Ebizie. 6 October 2023. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  89. ^ Brown, Mark (19 October 2023). "Leeds art installation helps children grapple with fourth spatial dimension". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  90. ^ "New outdoor artworks celebrate history, life, and culture of Leeds". Network Rail Media Centre. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  91. ^ "Leeds 2023: Kully Thiarai and Slung Low come together for a 'magical' Christmas show to close Year of Culture". 12 October 2023. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  92. ^ a b "VERSA Leeds Studios Hosts First of its Kind Immersive Theatrical Experience | LBBOnline". lbbonline.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  93. ^ "TSOTA Recommends: Cultural Christmas Alternatives". The State Of The Arts. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  94. ^ Release, Press (24 October 2023). "Northern Dreaming: a book for all Leeds babies". South Leeds Life. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  95. ^ Murgatroyd, Karen (7 March 2023). "Update on LEEDS 2023 Year of Culture" (PDF). Leeds City Council. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  96. ^ LEEDS 2023, ‘Reimagining where we live: cultural placemaking and the levelling up agenda’ Archived 21 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine Evidence presented to UK Parliament, 2023
  97. ^ AHC (4 January 2022). "Evaluating Cities of Culture: A case study of Leeds 2023". ahc.leeds.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  98. ^ Elliott, Jenny (22 March 2023). "Adopting a creative, rigorous approach to researching LEEDS 2023". Centre for Cultural Value. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  99. ^ "New research and evaluation partners to redefine 'value' of cultural investment". LEEDS2023. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  100. ^ Dowlen, Robyn (10 May 2023). "'Leeds 2023': can investment in culture improve a city's health? Yes, but more ambition is needed". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  101. ^ "Leeds 2023: A look back on 12 months of culture and its impact". BBC News. 31 December 2023. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  102. ^ "LEEDS 2023 creative director Kully Thiarai on the challenges, highlights and legacy of the Year of Culture". 2 January 2024. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
edit