Commemorative student and community documentary honours railway police officer killed in wartime air raids in York
PC Robert Smith – The Final Beat brings together students, historians, museums, businesses and creatives from across York and North Yorkshire York St John University is to host the premiere of a new historical documentary, PC Robert Smith – The Final Beat. The film tells the tale of Robert Smith, a railway police officer who was on duty the night York was targeted in the so-called Baedeker Raids in WWII. The film is produced and directed by Mick Child as his MA Media Production Independent Project at York St John University. As a former railway worker himself, the the project represents a deeply personal creative endeavour for filmmaker Mick. More than ten MA and undergraduate students from York St John University have been involved in both the film’s production and the organisation of the premiere evening. The film will premiere on Monday 27 April 2026 in the Creative Centre at the University. The date is especially significant, taking place two days before the 84th anniversary of the devastating 1942 bombing in York that claimed numerous lives, including that of PC…
Katrina Lewis champions AI innovation transforming workplace design
As a board member of the West North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and founder of Katrina Lewis Interiors, Katrina Lewis is proud to spotlight a groundbreaking step forward in workplace design innovation led by Design Tonic. Working in client development at Design Tonic, Katrina is supporting the launch of an industry-first AI-powered moodboarding tool—an idea…
York St John researcher and music activist selected to represent the UK at TED2026 with warning about AI’s cultural erasure of women
Gabriella Di Laccio MBE wins TED Idea Search London PhD student Gabriella Di Laccio MBE is to present her research at TED2026 in Vancouver after bringing judges and audiences to tears with her powerful talk about gender inequality in music through history and in the age of AI. “If we don’t fix this silence now,…
Accu to present FightFest at Smart Manufacturing Week
Leading precision engineering screw supplier Accu is bringing a thrilling, exciting and engineering-driven combat robotics tournament with FightFest to Smart Manufacturing Week held at the NEC in Birmingham on June 3rd and 4th. FightFest, presented by Accu, is a high-energy one-on-one combat robotics exhibit designed to add drama and excitement to Smart Manufacturing Week, making it…
Keane celebrates shortlisting at 2026 Prolific North Champions Awards
Recognition highlights impactful B2C campaign for Wilfreda Beehive Keane is proud to announce its shortlisting in the B2C Marketing Campaign of the Year category at the prestigious 2026 Prolific North Champions Awards, marking a significant milestone for the agency and its growing portfolio of high-impact work. The Prolific North Champions Awards celebrate excellence across the…
Bradford student champions children’s creativity in age of AI
A University of Bradford student is encouraging children to discover their creative voices at a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how we read, write, and communicate. David Ben Eke is looking for children aged between five and 17 from the Bradford district to write short stories and poems for his next two books….
Gamesmania® powers up the Merrion Centre this Easter
Retro arcade fun, immersive gaming and family entertainment arrive in Leeds The Merrion Centre is set to level up the Easter holidays with the arrival of Gamesmania®, an exciting pop-up gaming event running from Saturday 4th April to Saturday 11th April, bringing interactive entertainment for all ages into the heart of the city. Open daily from 10:00am…
Local mental health charity ensures Bradford’s City of Culture legacy lives on through major new creative health programme
Bradford District and Craven Mind is set to continue the creative legacy of Bradford 2025 with the launch of an ambitious two-year programme designed to tackle local health inequalities through arts, culture and creativity. Bradford is currently the fifth most income‑deprived district in England, facing deep-rooted challenges including economic inequality, poor health outcomes and limited…
Our brand evolves for the future…
Over the past 27 years we’ve helped thousands of companies across the UK evolve their brands or completely rebrand through visual display. Now, as we enter our next chapter, it felt right to give ourselves the same treatment. Reaching 27 years in business has given us a rare chance to pause, look back and ask…
Why Microsoft MVP expertise gives your business a strategic advantage
Microsoft’s ecosystem is shifting faster than ever, new AI features, platform changes, governance updates and Copilot capabilities arrive monthly. For most businesses, that pace creates a simple challenge: how do you make confident decisions when the technology won’t sit still? That’s where recognised expertise matters and why partners backed by Microsoft MVP leadership, like iThink…
Council commits to York Cultural Strategy
City of York Council has confirmed it will adopt the York Cultural Strategy following a Decision Session today, Tuesday 3 March. The strategy, though funded by the Council thanks to a grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, was developed independently by arts, heritage and cultural organisations across the city. It lays out a clear…
Leeds shopping centre and Yorkshire art organisation team up to raise breast cancer awareness during National Self-Check Month
Yorkshire art organisation Sand in Your Eye has partnered with White Rose Shopping Centre to showcase an impactful display highlighting the importance of breast cancer awareness: seven unique nude torsos, each sculpted from ice and snow. Created to illustrate the statistic that one in seven people will receive a breast cancer diagnosis in their life…
Leeds locals invited to be part of 400-Portrait celebration
To mark 400 years since Leeds received its Royal Charter, award-winning creative studio Buttercrumble is embarking on an ambitious creative challenge: to illustrate 400 portraits of the people who make Leeds, Leeds. During March, Buttercrumble’s twin-founders, Chloe and Abigail Baldwin, will capture residents’ faces in a celebratory drawathon designed to reflect the city’s diversity, warmth…
New member introduction: BR Apparel
The Premium Standard in Branded Workwear Across Yorkshire BR Apparel is a trusted partner to ambitious businesses seeking a higher standard in branded workwear. We specialise in supporting growing companies with 10–50 employees who recognise that team presentation is a direct reflection of their brand. Through carefully selected premium garments, precision embroidery and refined finishing,…
Castle Howard announces Vanbrugh celebration for anniversary year
Image Caption (above): Castle Howard. Photo by David Lindsay Castle Howard celebrates its creator and architect Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726) throughout 2026, the 300th anniversary of his death. Hailed as ‘The Rockstar of the English Baroque’ and ‘The original starchitect’, Vanbrugh had concurrent careers as an architect, playwright, adventurer, soldier, spy, diplomat and garden designer. Castle Howard is celebrating…
Redefining creativity in the age of generative AI
Internationally acclaimed VFX artist and Visiting Professor at York St John University to give free lecture on how generative AI (artificial intelligence) is transforming creative practice. Professor Andrew McNamara, an award winning VFX artist, creative and technologist, will share insights and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities AI presents, in a special talk on Wednesday…
Haworth manufacturer crafts replica Brontë hair bracelet for film premiere
A fourth-generation West Yorkshire manufacturer has demonstrated how heritage craftsmanship can intersect with global film promotion, after recreating one of the Brontë family’s most intimate artefacts for the red carpet premiere of Wuthering Heights. Wyedean Weaving, a Haworth-based specialist in braiding and ceremonial manufacturing, was commissioned to produce a replica of the 175-year-old mourning bracelet…
Bradford students win global satellite competition
Students from the University of Bradford have been named among the global winners of a prestigious international satellite engineering competition, beating teams from around the world and becoming the only UK team ever selected in the challenge’s history. The multidisciplinary student team was chosen as one of five global winners of the IEEE Geoscience and…
Browse the region’s best independent crafts at White Rose’s Yorkshire Market
White Rose Shopping Centre invites guests to shop local as R.S.H Artisan Markets brings a new Yorkshire Market to the centre every month, showcasing an assortment of handmade crafts and gifts. Taking place in the Central Atrium the first weekend of each month between February and October, visitors can support local businesses and find truly…
Warm Spaces cinema returns to York
York St John University’s Cinema & Social Justice team offer free film screenings for people trying to stay warm this winter York St John University is pleased to invite the local community to free Warm Spaces film screenings this winter. The University’s Cinema & Social Justice project is screening all-ages favourites Zootropolis 2 and Happy Feet at…
North Yorkshire homebuilder sponsors creative arts day with Whitby charity
Barratt and David Wilson Homes sponsors creative arts day for Whitby charity, WHISH. Barratt and David Wilson Homes sponsored a creative arts day at St. Hilda’s Hub with Whitby charity, WHISH. Nearby Barratt Homes’ Abbey View and David Wilson Homes’ Chaloners Green developments, the charity is a hub for the community, supporting many individuals with hidden impairments. The day…
Luciqo.ai – the SEO & GEO platform helping businesses understand how AI platforms perceive their brand
Search is changing rapidly. For years, SEO success was largely measured by rankings, clicks, and conversions from traditional search engines. Today, buyers increasingly discover brands through AI-driven experiences such as ChatGPT-style assistants, AI Overviews, and answer engines that summarise, compare, and recommend products and services. In this new landscape, a brand can “rank” in ways…
5 simple ways to introduce AI into your daily operations
Introduction Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer reserved for tech giants or futuristic visions, it’s here, and it’s transforming the way businesses operate every day. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), AI offers practical, affordable solutions that can save time, boost productivity, and give you a competitive edge. The good news? You don’t need a…
Bradford College launches new academy for creative skills
The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, officially opened Bradford College’s new skills development space for the creative leaders of tomorrow. ‘The Producing Academy’ is an exciting new facility designed to nurture the wave of creative talent needed across West Yorkshire, helping to position the region as a national powerhouse for the creative industries. Covering…
Dilettante wins inaugural new music stage at Aesthetica Film Festival
Aesthetica Film Festival is delighted to announce Dilettante as the winner of its first-ever New Music Stage, a showcase of the UK’s most exciting emerging musical talent. Dubbed the “UK’s version of SXSW,” the festival brings together music, film, games, and XR in one immersive environment, providing a unique platform for collaboration, discovery, and cultural exchange. This…
Winners Announced at Aesthetica Film Festival 2025
The BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Film Festival has concluded its landmark 15th anniversary edition, announcing this year’s award-winning filmmakers — a new generation of talent poised to shape the future of screen culture. For 15 years, Aesthetica has been the home of new voices in film, where tomorrow’s BAFTA and Oscar nominees and winners are first discovered. Across five transformative days, from 5-9 November…
Artist’s poignant reason behind raising funds for University’s Burns Unit
An artist whose children were at Valley Parade on the day of the 1985 fire is supporting the University of Bradford-based Burns Unit through sales of his painting of the modern-day stadium. Bob Barker, known for his ‘northern impressionism’ paintings, has released a limited-edition artwork, ‘Take Me Home’, which captures Bradford City AFC supporters walking…
Aesthetica Film Festival 2025: The UK’s Premier Screen & Media Event Opens This Week
This November, the BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Film Festival celebrates its 15th anniversary, reaffirming its position as the UK’s leading screen and media event. Taking place from 5–9 November 2025, the festival brings together filmmakers, industry leaders, and audiences from across the country in a bold celebration of storytelling, innovation, and creative excellence. Transforming York into a national hub for the creative…
Care-experienced young people from York applauded at film’s world premiere
The contribution made by care-experienced young people from York to a film about fostering, was acknowledged at its world premiere yesterday (Thursday 9 October). Members of City of York Council’s Children’s Services teams and a local care-experienced young person attended the first screening of ‘The Run’, the seventh fostering awareness film produced by award-winning producers…
International graffiti artist transforms Bradford College building with striking mural
The Bradford College ATC building had a striking makeover when internationally acclaimed artist Shamsia Hassani paid the campus a special visit. The ‘Progression to Learning and Work’ building was chosen as the canvas for an incredible new mural by Shamsia, the first female graffiti artist of Afghanistan. The inspirational work is the result of the Bradford 2025 UK…
When Labour Costs Rise, Robots Create New Value
What happens when wages climb, staff shortages worsen and customers still expect the same high standards? It is a dilemma many businesses across Yorkshire are grappling with right now. From hotels struggling to fill cleaning shifts to warehouses facing gaps on the night roster to hospitals under pressure to keep services running, the challenge is…
Aesthetica brings the future of art to the UK with landmark double exhibition
This autumn, Aesthetica presents two landmark exhibitions at York Art Gallery, cementing the UK’s position as a hub for global contemporary art. Both shows open on Friday 19 September 2025 and run until 25 January 2026, inviting audiences to experience the Aesthetica Art Prize, founded in 2007, alongside Future Tense: Art in the Age of…
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,…
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…