About

Arts and Culture is a core focus for the University of Leeds. It is one of the many rich and varied elements that make us distinctive and whole.

Open Up is our invitation to connect through culture — on campus, in the city, and beyond. At the University of Leeds, we believe that arts and culture should be for everyone. That’s why we welcome all to our campus to enjoy a wide range of cultural events, workshops, talks, festivals and more.

Our approach

In recent years, we’ve been thinking carefully about how to open up our arts, culture and research activities to more people — both on and off campus. Thanks to the University’s Cultural Engagement Strategy, we’re working to:

Support research development and knowledge exchange with the cultural sector
Deliver a transformative student education
Enhance experiences for students and staff
Nurture audience, community and public engagement through cultural activities

Through Open Up, we want to make our cultural work more visible and accessible, connecting people with the ideas, experiences and research that shape it.

Research and creative education

Our research and teaching inform and strengthen our cultural offer. At the University of Leeds, academics explore how arts and culture relate to people’s lives, policy and the wider creative industries. They are supported by a range of specialist research centres and programmes, including:

Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy
Centre for Cultural Value
Leeds Arts and Humanities Research Institute
Digital Creativity and Futures Hub
Creative Industries Doctoral Training Programme

Our academic Schools also support this activity, and we work closely with them to develop the next generation of cultural and creative professionals through teaching, placements and skills development.

Our partners

We collaborate closely with cultural partners across the city and beyond. These relationships help us share research, create opportunities for students and staff, and contribute to wider cultural life.