UN report on AI to launch at global conference in Bradford
A major new United Nations report calling for artificial intelligence (AI) to be used to support people, not take their place, will be launched at a global conference hosted by the University of Bradford. The Human Development Report 2025, produced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will be a key focus of the annual…
The future is now: two landmark exhibitions
Redefining Contemporary Art This Autumn 19 September 2025 – 25 January 2026 At a time when the UK’s cultural spotlight remains firmly fixed on London, From Memory to Possibility and Future Tense signal a meaningful shift. These are not satellite shows or regional supplements – they are major exhibitions with national and international relevance, rooted…
Sky Lounge Leeds shines in new collaboration with local film school
Valor Hospitality joins forces with leading multimedia school to support arts education Film students in Leeds have been given exclusive access to produce a new film showcasing the city’s highest rooftop bar – Sky Lounge at DoubleTree by Hilton – in a brand new partnership between MetFilm School Leeds and Valor Hospitality. The new film,…
Yorkshire and London creative firms join forces to provide content marketing service
A business partnership between Artus, a Yorkshire copywriting business and Visualise, a London graphic design firm, that began online during Covid, has developed into a formal collaboration designed to serve the needs of small businesses. Artus and Visualise have joined forces to launch a comprehensive, multi-channel approach to content marketing. Bringing together over thirty years’ combined expertise, the Visualise x Artus…
Sudha swaps Corrie cobbles and Virdee squabbles for campus
A former soap star says she is honoured to be named Artist-in-Residence at Theatre in The Mill, the University of Bradford’s arts organisation. Sudha Bhuchar, who has starred in EastEnders and Coronation Street, will host masterclasses with district residents and stage performances of her solo show, Evening Conversations, as part of her residency, which helps…
Leeds College of Building launches aspirational new branding and website
Leeds College of Building (LCB) has marked its 65th anniversary in education with refreshed branding and a new website. The rebrand launch follows 18 months of work with branding agency Born Communication to help find a way to better reflect a modern and inclusive construction industry workforce. The project involved months of planning and research, as well…
New research-informed podcast series launched to help boost SME productivity
A new joint podcast series from Leeds Beckett University (LBU) and business support experts Exemplas is bringing research-led insights to business owners and policy makers – offering practical, real-world advice on how to drive productivity and sustainable growth. The six-part series of bite-sized, accessible episodes are focussed on what really makes a difference when it…
Laughter, legacy and local pride: The Cryer officially opens at GSAL in honour of Barry Cryer
The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) marked the official opening of The Cryer on Saturday evening – a state-of-the-art performing arts centre and landmark investment in the arts at the school, named in honour of the late Barry Cryer (OL53), renowned comedian, writer and Leeds Grammar School (LGS) alumnus. The special launch event brought together…
Young Creatives tackle smart glasses design challenge
Students at Bradford College have been given the unique opportunity to design packaging for a new range of smart glasses. The competition by Zanco, a digital tech firm set up by former Bradford College student Shazad Talib, will see Professional Services and Leisure learners compete to design the best packaging for new Zanco Smart Glasses. The…
Star-studded line-up for Bradford Literature Festival
TV stars and political figures will be among the contributors to this year’s Bradford Literature Festival events with University of Bradford links. Bradford Literature Festival 2025 will be held at a host of venues across the city, including the University of Bradford, a strategic partner of the event, between Friday 27 June and Sunday 6…
British creative studio announces US book tour
Leeds-based design studio, Buttercrumble, has set their sights on the USA. They are proud awardees of a highly competitive bursary delivered through the Creative Export Accelerator programme. The accelerator (designed by Full Circle and funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority) aims to provide creative entrepreneurs with the confidence to break into international markets. The bursary…
Blacks Solicitors shows ongoing commitment to supporting emerging regional music talent
Leading Yorkshire law firm, Blacks Solicitors, is the proud sponsor of the ‘Sounds Of Leeds Conservatoire’ event series, an initiative focused on supporting and nurturing emerging regional talent and connecting budding artists with experienced industry professionals. The ‘Sound Of’ series, hosted by specialist music and performing arts school Leeds Conservatoire, offers students and the public valuable…
Bradford School of Art students support large-scale textile installation for world heritage site
A group of Bradford School of Art higher education students were given the opportunity of a lifetime after being selected to support one of America’s most distinguished visual artists. We Will Sing is a new, large-scale, site-responsive installation by renowned artist Ann Hamilton, commissioned for Salts Mill as part of Bradford 2025 UK City of…
GSAL announces partnership with Leeds Literature Festival
The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) is proud to announce its latest partnership as a sponsor of the 2025 Leeds Literature Festival (LLF), taking place between 14-22 June 2025. Now in its seventh year, LLF has become a dynamic celebration of words, ideas and performance, attracting acclaimed writers, poets and speakers from across the UK…
Notre Dame alumnus hits spotlight
Tyler Pickles, Notre Dame alumni, is currently starring in Channel 4’s new coming-of-age dance school drama ‘Dreamers’. The show explores the lives of the ‘Chapeltown Collective’, an eclectic group of Leeds dance students making moves as they navigate romance, rivalry and ambition, both on and off the dancefloor. The series’ characters are inspired by true…
Trinity’s LUFC promotion party display can be seen for ‘smiles’ around
Shopping Centre’s 306sqm Leeds United ‘Smiley’ Badge is City’s Biggest Display To celebrate Leeds United’s promotion – and to hopefully see them crowned Champions tomorrow (Saturday) – Trinity Leeds has emblazoned a 306-square-metre LUFC ‘smiley’ club badge on the shopping centre’s glass dome roof. As seen on this season’s cult yellow away kit, the huge…
University part of anti-drug overdose kits video campaign
Scenes for a hard-hitting campaign video to promote how the public can use life-saving medication on people who have a drug overdose were filmed at the University of Bradford. The campaign, launched on Monday 31 March, shows the impact drug overdoses can have on families and how the public can use naloxone, a medicine that…
Tour plans for play based on story of fake doctor
Producers behind a play based on the story of a fake Bradford doctor hope to stage a national tour following its initial success. Teaspoon of Shampoo is a dramatisation based on the life of Muhammed Saeed, who falsely worked as a doctor in Manningham, Bradford, from 1961 until 1990. He prescribed one patient suffering from…
Nature-inspired bench art revealed ahead of Front Street celebration event
Art of Protest has installed the first phase of new artwork in Acomb ahead of the mural reveal and celebration event later this month. Each of the 8 wooden benches have been transformed with a unique design to reflect links to nature. Each bench is painted with a leaf design from the local woodland. This…
Painting & Decorating students tackle striking football mural
A recent collaboration between Leeds College of Building and local artist Nicolas Dixon resulted in an eye-catching football mural at the GOALS soccer centre in Kirkstall. An all-female group of City & Guilds Level 1 Painting & Decorating Diploma students spent two weeks working with the artist, whose artwork can be seen around the world, completing…
Final days of Doggerland interactive map and animation
AI will help us find ‘goldilocks’ zone for human life Archaeologists from the University of Bradford have created an interactive simulation tool to chart the evolution (and demise) of Doggerland – the Ice Age landmass that once connected the UK to mainland Europe. It is part of a project known as Unpath’d Waters, funded by…
Fake doctor who prescribed shampoo inspires play
The story of a man who falsely posed as a doctor for 30 years is the inspiration behind a new play produced by Theatre in the Mill, an arts organisation based on the University of Bradford campus. Muhammed Saeed treated thousands of patients from the practice he ran in Darfield Street, Manningham, Bradford, but he…
Bradford Literature Festival’s Syima Aslam announced as member of new creative industries taskforce
A new taskforce, led by Baroness Shriti Vadera and Sir Peter Bazalgette, will help deliver a plan to grow the creative industries. CEO and Artistic Director of the Bradford Literature Festival, Syima Aslam, was announced as one of the members of the taskforce. Leaders of organisations including Creative UK, the British Fashion Council and the…
Bradford Literature Festival receives Culture Award at Yorkshire Post Tourism Awards
Bradford Literature Festival is proud to have been recognised with the Culture Award at the Yorkshire Post Tourism Awards. The honour celebrates those who have made a significant impact or contribution to the cultural offer across Yorkshire. During its 10th anniversary year, Bradford Literature Festival delivered an acclaimed international programme with record-breaking footfall. BLF is one…
Bradford College student to receive £150,000 business funding
A Bradford College student has been making waves in the business world with Microsoft pledging £150,000 funding towards digital infrastructure for his start-up. Abdul Rahman Majid’s innovative idea, ‘Kallabot’, was initially formed when he moved to Bradford and experienced difficulties trying to communicate with utility companies regarding bill payments. Kallabot is described as an ‘AI-powered call-centre solution’ which offers automated…
Leeds’ iconic artist finds more permanent home at the Merrion Centre
Burley Banksy’s urban art returns to Merrion with a permanent base in the heart of Leeds Following the phenomenal success of previous year’s pop-up art studio, Leeds-based artist Andy McVeigh, famously known as Burley Banksy, is set to have a longer-term presence at the Merrion Centre from Friday 30th January. Fans of his vibrant and…
TEDxLeeds Beckett University brings together leading voices in law, history, sports science, and art
Four leading minds from Leeds Beckett University are set to share their unique views on the challenges of living in our changing world at an upcoming free public event. TEDxLeeds Beckett University, an independently organised TEDx event, will take place on 12 February at Leeds School of Arts and will feature thought-provoking talks designed to…
Castle Howard reports Christmas event as the most successful to date
Castle Howard reports Christmas event as the most successful to date, with 30% of visitors travelling from outside of Yorkshire, and thousands of free or subsidised tickets issued to Essential Carers and other groups Castle Howard has announced record breaking visitor numbers for their 2024 Christmas event, reaching 100,000 visitors on the closing day, Sunday…
Merrion Centre plans biggest Chinese New Year celebrations for 2025
The Merrion Centre in Leeds is set for the biggest Chinese New Year celebration yet, earmarked to take place across two weekends in 2025. Following the overwhelming success of last year’s event, visitors are invited to enjoy a vibrant programme of free cultural activities, performances and workshops, celebrating the Year of the Snake. In partnership…
Netcompany announces further digital careers inclusion investment with Ahead Partnership expansion
Netcompany UK, part of the fastest-growing IT services company in Northern Europe, has committed to a further three-years of collaboration with Ahead Partnership to support young people through digital skills inclusion and gender inclusivity initiatives. The two have worked together since 2021, with Netcompany having been an anchor sponsor of Ahead Partnership’s well-established Growing Talent Digital…
York teenagers give community space a makeover
York teenagers have been working with experienced tradespeople and an artist to breathe new life into a youth and community centre in The Groves. Community interest company Volunteer It Yourself provides free, hands-on work experience opportunities for local young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and at risk of becoming NEET. Whilst renovating…
Buttercrumble boosts visibility for North Yorkshire’s cultural gems with award-winning branding expertise
Award-winning design agency Buttercrumble continues to support North Yorkshire Council’s cultural institutions with their branding to increase attention, visibility and footfall. For the past 5 years, Chamber member Buttercrumble has been working with galleries and museums in North Yorkshire, including Harrogate’s Mercer Gallery, the Royal Pump Room Museum, and Knaresborough Castle. Throughout a host of…
Startup programme supports stained glass studio launch
A stained glass studio has been supported in its early business stage by a startup programme, commissioned by City of York Council. Since they first met several years ago while studying for their MAs in Stained Glass Conservation at the University of York, best friends and Megan Barnett and Zoe Harrigan have been united by…
Accu celebrates with fightfest competition winner
Accu, a leading Huddersfield-based supplier of high-precision engineering components, invited the winner of this year’s FightFest Featherweight robot fighting competition to its headquarters in Huddersfield to judge its own robot combat competition, as part of its commitment to innovation in robotics and engineering. Winner Ellis Ware, 28 and from Shropshire, was presented with his prizewinning…
York pupils screen their short films at international festival
Last weekend, pupils from schools across York showcased their filmmaking talent as part of special celebration at York’s international film festival, the BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2024. Now in its 14th year, the festival attracts audiences and filmmakers from across the world to York over a five-day period. This year, it developed the citywide Filmmaking in Schools project…
Alice’s Christmas Wonderland at Castle Howard
Fall down the rabbit hole into an experience like no other: Castle Howard opens their jaw-dropping Christmas extravaganza The iconic North Yorkshire stately home is transformed into Wonderland, until 5th January Castle Howard has opened their 2024 Christmas event, Alice’s Christmas Wonderland. The 300-year-old House becomes an immersive Christmas experience, dressed in set pieces, decorations,…
Final phase of construction project brings rooftop reading space to the Leeds Library
The final phase of capital works project The Next Chapter is underway at The Leeds Library. In the biggest expansion in its 255-year-history, completion of the project will make the library accessible for the first time, unite its collection and archive, and create a new event space and a rooftop reading terrace. The library acquired…
Council welcomes creative industry leaders to York
This week, York will welcome creative industry leaders from around the world as the city celebrates ten years of being a UNESCO City of Media Arts. York is one of 26 cities globally to have won the City of Media Arts designation and the only city in the UK to hold the title. The tenth…
Iconic Leeds artist returns to The Merrion Centre
The Return of Burley Banksy: Leeds’ Iconic Artist Brings Back Pop Up Store to the Merrion Centre Urban Art Returns to the Merrion Centre with city centre Burley Banksy Pop Up Studio Leeds – November 2023 – Following the success of last year’s pop-up art studio, Leeds-based artist Andy McVeigh, known as Burley Banksy, is…
Bringing World War II to life for young readers: York St John University professor’s new book uses family experience to connect the generations
“It’s easy to think of the past as distant and irrelevant, but stories like these show us how connected we really are.” This November sees the release of The Poppy Project, a new book by Professor Tom Dobson, Professor of Education at York St John University. The book aims to bring the history of World…
Future generation – schools given opportunity to shine with Drax’s 50th anniversary art competition
Schoolchildren are being invited by Drax to submit their designs for a poster that visualises the energy industry workers of the 21st century. Winners will see their designs showcased at the power station’s history display, as part of its golden anniversary celebrations. Renewable energy pioneer, Drax, is offering schoolchildren in communities local to Drax Power…
Castle Howard collaborates with gothic Yorkshire baker and writer Helena Garcia on spook-tacular Halloween events
Iconic Yorkshire stately home Castle Howard has partnered with popular baker, writer, and Great British Bake Off star Helena Garcia to create a series of events for Halloween. Helena starred on Series 10 of Bake Off in 2019, delighting the judges and viewers alike with her spooky style. She has since written multiple baking and…
The power of premium packaging to enhance your bottom line
Packaging often plays a pivotal role in competitive business-to-business (B2B) commerce. While its primary function is to protect products, premium packaging goes beyond mere protection, serving as a strategic tool that can significantly enhance a company’s customer retention and profitability. This article delves into the benefits of high-quality packaging and how it can drive business…
Illustrators support children’s charity with live portrait drawing at Henley Royal Regatta
On 7 July 2024, Chloe and Abigail Baldwin attended the Henley Royal Regatta where they illustrated portraits of patrons and regatta guests at a pavilion hosted by Copas Events to support Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity. The pair are the dynamic duo behind Buttercrumble, the award-winning design and illustration studio based in Leeds. Among their…
York businesses gain competitive edge with Google’s AI programme
For the second year running, York hosted a meeting of medieval architecture and cutting edge technology as local businesses boosted their digital skills and learned how to use AI to grow their enterprises. Over 80 businesses from York and North Yorkshire gathered on Tuesday 16 July for a day of free digital skills training delivered…
The Modern .NET Show celebrates one million download milestone, strengthening .NET community connections
The Modern .NET Show, hosted by RJJ Software’s CTO and esteemed Microsoft MVP, Jamie Taylor, has recently reached a significant milestone: one million downloads! This accomplishment highlights the show’s growing influence in the .NET community and its impact on fostering connections between developers and engineers. Since its inception, The Modern .NET Show has featured interviews…
Students bring York Minster Collections to life for hospital patients
Photography students from York St John University have been part of a unique collaboration with York Minster, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Foss Park Hospital to find new ways of showcasing the cathedral’s historic collections. The students were offered the opportunity to photograph some of the fantastic artefacts that are not…
Main Contractor for The Beacon – Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture
Tender – Closing date: 9pm 15 July 2024 Bradford 2025 are looking for a main contractor to provide pre-construction advice and act as the main contractor during the construction of The Beacon, a touring theatre that will travel across Bradford District in 2025. The contractor will work with the design team to build The Beacon and move the theatre from site to…