One thing that has been coming on in leaps and bounds over the last 10 or 15 years is the growing culture in Leeds - entertainment, trendy bars, nightclubs etc.

A new nightclub coming to Leeds in September is a sister to Sheffields Gatecrasher. This is Discotheque by Gatecrasher, and will be up New Briggate, in the Northern Quarter. For news click http://www.neverstandstill.com/discotheque/

Hey! thats the name of my (former) thread! Which might still be around somewhere... About this and Kaiser Chiefs, Verbalicious and the rest of the new talent coming out of Leeds promoting the city.

One thing that has been coming on in leaps and bounds over the last 10 or 15 years is the growing culture in Leeds - entertainment, trendy bars, nightclubs etc.

A new nightclub coming to Leeds in September is a sister to Sheffields Gatecrasher. This is Discotheque by Gatecrasher, and will be up New Briggate, in the Northern Quarter. For news click http://www.neverstandstill.com/discotheque/

Do trendy bars and nightclubs and indeed designer clothes shops equate to culture? I'd say not. Culture in my mind is more art galleries, museums, music (both modern and classic) and indeed creative industry.

Sorry for going off on one, but it really bugs me that Leeds CC seems to still regard getting Harvey Nicks as being a cultural achievement.

Dance music has been on it's last legs for years now anyway. In the mid 90s it was a big draw, I remember going to see Sasha play residency at Up Yer Ronson in it's heyday, but guitar music is the big draw now.

IMO Culture= music, arts, people (religions) and facilities for culture could be museums, arenas, concert halls...ect. There a reover 200 bars in the city centre, which is not a culture itself but attracts students which bring a new face to the city, aka more young culture!

When I saw the title of this thread I though that a yoghurt factory was going to be opening in Leeds.

When I saw the title of this thread I though that a yoghurt factory was going to be opening in Leeds.

Oh tramboy you never cease to crack me up... :bash:

I can't see the point in this thread, nobody seems to have a clue what culture is? It certainly isn't the opening of another new nightclub, to be frequented by people who have drunk enough booze to sink a battleship. "If we get a big art gallary, bigger than the one we have now and a museum with a big stuffed sabre-toothed tiger in it and I go to them both will that make me cultured"?

People have different ideas of culture, and I guess its the diversity of views, ideas and talents that make culture...

yogurt - A custardlike dairy product produced by fermenting milk with a culture.

...............Now real culture must be the £30m development of the Grand Theatre which has just started, along with the linked development of The Assembly Rooms....................What about the new Theatre- Carriage Works which opens shortly...........or the new Museum on the site of the old Civic Theatre which is costing £25m..........and we can't forget the imminent start on the new home for the Northern Ballet. Leeds has lots of new cultural developments, but just one more development would really put Leeds on the cultural map- a 13,000 seat Arena and conference centre, and even this is looking likely to get off the ground in the near future.

Leeds is the regions cultural centre, and it looks like staying that way in the future

...............Now real culture must be the £30m development of the Grand Theatre which has just started, along with the linked development of The Assembly Rooms....................What about the new Theatre- Carriage Works which opens shortly...........or the new Museum on the site of the old Civic Theatre which is costing £25m..........and we can't forget the imminent start on the new home for the Northern Ballet. Leeds has lots of new cultural developments, but just one more development would really put Leeds on the cultural map- a 13,000 seat Arena and conference centre, and even this is looking likely to get off the ground in the near future.

Leeds is the regions cultural centre, and it looks like staying that way in the future
And of course there's the Royal Armouries at Clarence Dock, and there will be extra facilities built there for the Armouries.

And of course there's the Royal Armouries at Clarence Dock, and there will be extra facilities built there for the Armouries.

And a new building on Clarence Road as a repository and resource centre for the museum - although I am not too sure whether this is now due to go ahead.

I think it is. It is probably quite likely that more supporting developments or extensions of Clarence Dock will go ahead if the current scheme is a success in attracting people. They said that the building could possibly be an extension for the royal armouries- Ive always thought the armouries was pretty big as it is...

Found it!
http://gold.aecom.yu.edu/id/micro/ds_pseudo-72.jpg

Seriously though, what is the reason that Leeds has little independent culture compared to its [supposed] rivals? Does it attract the wrong people (financial workers etc...)? Does it have less sense of history? Does it have to little depravation (the Tony Wilson quote that good bands are the ones that have no choice but to be on stage springs to mind)? Is it too spread out? Is it the council's fault?

Well its not deprevation- Leeds' poorest ward is only 36th? poorest in the country, and I dont really think it can be too little deprevation- I think its just by chance about the bands- Kaiser Chiefs and Verbalicious have recently added to the list, I dont really think Science (BB- I sold his autograph for £7.50 on ebay lol) can count... Something like that. The council have tried to bring culture in with things like Christkindlemarkt, Rhythms of the City, Ice cube and the rest. Leeds seems to attract, atm, young professionals and people in business, as well as students.

Leeds isnt really spread out, it has a large metropolitan area but the city is quite compact when compared to cities with similar population...

This is one of the best threads on any forum on this web site, a discussion about what makes a city more cultural than another is a very interesting one.

What is cultural to one peson means nothing to another.

For example, someone mentioned the Northern Ballet, now I would never ever consider going to the ballet, however, I have a season ticket (LMTB) at a premier league football club - what is to say that the ballet is more cultural than the football? After all more people are interested in football than ballet?

As someone has said earlier, what is culture, and how does a city gain more cluture?

Did Livepool gain culture when Liverpool won the CL?

Is London losing culture since less people are going to the West End since the bombings?

Does the Edinbugh festival make it the most cultural city in the country, if so do 'comedy clubs' such as Comedy Stores' count as cultural?

Do normal pubs count towards it, what about vodka bars?


I really find this a very interesting question, as someone with a scientific mind (as opposed to knowing anything about arts), I realise Barcelona is very cultural, however, ask me to explain why, and I cannot.


As I say, great thread, I'm very interested to hear what people see as 'culture' in their fine city.

Seriously though, what is the reason that Leeds has little independent culture compared to its [supposed] rivals? Does it attract the wrong people (financial workers etc...)? Does it have less sense of history? Does it have to little depravation (the Tony Wilson quote that good bands are the ones that have no choice but to be on stage springs to mind)? Is it too spread out? Is it the council's fault?

I receive a monthly publication called 'The Yorkshire Word', describing the literary scene in the Leeds area. Looking at that, and adding performing arts to the mix, i would say Leeds has a lot going for it culturally.
However, there seems to be this idea that a city has to produce a lot of popular music in order to be considered cultural outside its local region.

Having said that, there does seem to be, in certain parts of Leeds, a serious problem with education. It's simply not valued as much as it should be, and consequently there's very little access for young people to 'high culture' and further education. Add the 'brain-drain' to the mix, and there's a danger that Leeds and other Northern cities perpetuate an image of philistinism - stand-up comedy, football, music hall, etc.

However, and i'm probably going to contradict myself again, the idea of culture shouldn't be limited to high art; popular and working-class 'culture' is valid and should be supported.

Anyway, that's all bollocks. The old Mister craig's/Uropa site should look a bit better with the Gatecrasher development.

http://www.myleeds.net/images/bars&music/gatecrasher-discotheque271.jpg

Exactly, you have half asked the question yourself there, why is ballet cultural, however, a comedian at a Comedy Store, or a football match is not?

Is it simply that 'richer' people go to the ballet, therefore it must be more cultural?

Would going to the Nou Camp (Barcelona's ground) museum be cultural?

I find it facinating what people see as cultural, and why.

I have had a very good education (I have been very luck), I am from the north, and I go to football - if you ask a Scandinavian person if they consider certain football clubs in this country to b cultural i reckon you'd get a different answer than if you were to ask a British person.

It's not just about money, ballet is considered to be more intellectually stimulating than football, and therefore more important culturally.

Ok, but who is it that considers it more interllectually stimulating? I'd suggest the uppe class.

I could put a good case together that the tactics used by Inter Milan when they play Juve are take a very deep knowledge of the event, and have been developed by an interlectual - i.e. the coach.

To me the difference between 'cultural' and non cultural events is extremely blurred - and sometimes it is simply a case that popular things ar not cultural, whereas less popular things are, e.g. classical music = cultural, whereas pop music is not.

Obviously, there are different definitions of culture. It can be related to art or to something produced within a particular community/society.

At the moment, British culture (as in society) seems to be dominated by consumerism.

It may be that the most respected citizens of Leeds are those people with lots of money, fashionable clothes, designer haircuts and, yes, silver Mercedes. Academic success is seen to be less important than financial success, and from my perspective, (and it is only one seriously bitter perspective) that's quite a worrying thing.

Culture to me means things to do with people. The Northern Ballet and City varieties are cultural because they show of peoples talents- the City Varieties btw is a good asset for Leeds, as is the WY Playhouse. One reason why I like Leeds is because of the variety of culture- the different religions and backgrounds make in exciting place. Some people like York, but I dont, and that is one of the main reasons- its just so ordinary in the people and touristy. Its not culture that Leeds is lacking, its the facilities and the means to show it off.

One reason why I like Leeds is because of the variety of culture- the different religions and backgrounds make in exciting place. Its not culture that Leeds is lacking, its the facilities and the means to show it off.

I completely agree LN1. Hopefully the Millennium Square museum will be a start in getting cultural facilities that we can show off to the rest of the country.

Obviously, there are different definitions of culture. It can be related to art or to something produced within a particular community/society.

At the moment, British culture (as in society) seems to be dominated by consumerism.

It may be that the most respected citizens of Leeds are those people with lots of money, fashionable clothes, designer haircuts and, yes, silver Mercedes. Academic success is seen to be less important than financial success, and from my perspective, (and it is only one seriously bitter perspective) that's quite a worrying thing.

Ahhh. But do the people with fashionable clothes and designer haircuts have lots of money?

In my experience working as a barman in a highly "trendy" city centre bar (which shall remain nameless!!!) the afore mentioned people with the emmaculate hairdos and trendy kit don't have much money at all. They strut their stuff and think a lot of themselves but once they come to the bar they all want to know what the cheapest drink is!!!

Leeds I think exemplifies the trend where image is everything, and real merit is nothing.

There's also Kirkstall Forge on http://www.kirkstall.org.uk/

There are generaly three meanings to the word Culture (in the social sense)
(1) All the knowledge and values shared by a society (not generally used)
(2) A particular way of life, whether of a people or period (which LNo1 identifies with)
(3) The works and practices of interllectual and especially artistic activity (which smoggie talks about) this last use, although has become the more accepted use of the world is actually only a relatively late use of it.

I think what PS60 is talking about when he is describing Leeds growing culture is in the popular culture/way of life sense of the word. It is right to say the growing number of bars and restaurants in Leeds is culturaly significant. In the 70's & 80's Leeds city centre was desolate little more than a place to do shopping on a Saturday, work in offices for the rest of the week and had a sparse number of doggie pubs. This created a bleak image of the city to both the people who lived there and outsiders. Now with the abundence of bars, clubs, restaurants and pavement cafe bars, public spaces (city square/mellennium square), events (Rythems of the city/Film festival etc and most importantly the move into the city in residentual terms, Leeds is able to shake off its poor 'industrial city in decline' image and adopt a more European look to the city centre.

"Seriously though, what is the reason that Leeds has little independent culture compared to its [supposed] rivals?"

Seriously, what does this statment mean? How can culture be independent?

there is a european look in some areas, like albion place with the street cafés and in many of the new developments.

there is a european look in some areas, like albion place with the street cafés and in many of the new developments.

Whilst not very far away are dark dingy Market Street Arcade and shabby dilapidated Kirkgate - not exactly the best of European looks !

Ahhh. But do the people with fashionable clothes and designer haircuts have lots of money?

No, far from it. Yet, it's a particular lifestyle that is being celebrated even if it happens to be a pale imitation of the real thing, and often embarrassing.


The Guardian site below is interesting in itself, however, in the June 30th entry there's a description of Leeds as a 'provincial business town', as opposed to manchester's 'iconoclastic city'. That remark has irritated mefor the past year or so, i think probably because i realise there's some truth to it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/northsouth/0,2759,180972,00.html

The guardian is obviously biased towards Manchester seeing as it is origins are in Manchester, so its not really anything to base opinions on. Market Street Arcade and Kirkgate are to be regenerated so theres that problem solved. Quarry Hill looks like it will have a European style, and Millennium Square does, but just needs to be busier.

If it says Leeds is a provincial business town, you can obviously see its biased as its not a town to begin with.

The guardian is obviously biased towards Manchester seeing as it is origins are in Manchester, so its not really anything to base opinions on. Market Street Arcade and Kirkgate are to be regenerated so theres that problem solved. Quarry Hill looks like it will have a European style, and Millennium Square does, but just needs to be busier.

If it says Leeds is a provincial business town, you can obviously see its biased as its not a town to begin with.

I am not biased towards Manchester and have lived in Leeds longer than you Leeds No 1, but there is a lot of truth in the Guardian comment. Manchester has always had a more 'metropolitan' feel to me when I have visited there. But Leeds is trying to catch up and IS 'punching heavier than its size' vis-a-vis Manchester and other cities.

I didnt say you were biased towards Manchester...??? Those things were last year anyway and at the rate the cities are changing there needs to up to date opinions on the up to date facts. Leeds standard of living is quite high in comparison to most other cities too.

Try grabbing the other end of that stick No1.

One reason why I like Leeds is because of the variety of culture- the different religions and backgrounds make in exciting place. Some people like York, but I dont, and that is one of the main reasons- its just so ordinary in the people and touristy.

I can see where you're coming from...it was evident on Tuesday when i went for the first time that it isn't as multi-cultural/cosmopolitan (probably because it's smaller and richer) as Leeds or Manchester.
Apart from the girl i went with...i only saw maybe two black people there.
I liked York though as it was a breath of fresh air coming from a city where there's not much, if any olde England left.
I know you'd expect traditional English shops and architecture from a historic city such as York anyway...but i felt like i was in a foreign country...i'm too used to asian cash & carry's/pound shops and big chain stores!
Absolutely beautiful though...i'd move to York tomorrow if it had a gay community!
But i suppose that comment just proves your argument!
Oh well... :sleepy:

(Sorry i went a bit off topic...back to Leeds culture anyway)

You must've gone to the wrong places then. Leeds has many different cultures knocking about the place as well as "ethnicities" (I hate that word). In fact, in Burley there's a community centre specifically for "ethnicities". The best thing about it though is the awful spelling mistake. "Woodsley Road Muticutural centre".

You must've gone to the wrong places then. Leeds has many different cultures knocking about the place as well as "ethnicities" (I hate that word). In fact, in Burley there's a community centre specifically for "ethnicities". The best thing about it though is the awful spelling mistake. "Woodsley Road Muticutural centre".

I think Bim's remarks were about York rather than Leeds.

Yes they were about York.
Oh no...i know Leeds is multi-cultural...just went off on one kind of!

Sorry 'bout that.

Whilst not very far away are dark dingy Market Street Arcade and shabby dilapidated Kirkgate - not exactly the best of European looks !
You're right. These are areas which let Leeds down badly and must be tackled.

I think Harehills is the only deprived area of Leeds that I havent seen any news on.

Suburb festival aims to be state-of-the-art
By Peter Lazenby

ONE of the most successful community festivals in Leeds has launched its most ambitious programme.
Twenty-five events, from concerts to walks and poetry workshops to comedy nights, will take place. The concerts will involve dozens of artists, including some of national renown.
Chapel Allerton Arts Festival was held for the first time eight years ago and has become a focal point of the community's social and cultural life.
Daytime and evening events include children's art, a battle of the bands, poetry, graffiti art, a comedy night, jazz Sunday, a beer festival, hymn singing, music workshops and art displays.
The six-day festival draws thousands of visitors, and events take place in schools, public buildings, pubs and on the streets.

Festival chairwoman Pat Hunter said: "It's hard to believe that the festival began just eight years ago with a few stalls and has now grown to an event like this, where the brightest stars from our area are performing side by side with young hopefuls.
"We're absolutely delighted to be able to offer such a range of performances and activities to suit the many different people who visit the festival."
The festival begins on Tuesday, August 30, and climaxes on the Friday night, Saturday and Sunday, September 2, 3 and 4, when streets are closed and two stages and food stalls are erected.
On Saturday morning, the streets are lined with stalls selling and promoting everything from second-hand books and henna tattoos to homemade jam and plants.
The two stages will be used for concerts covering a range of styles, with an emphasis this year on world music.
Other highlights of the event include living statues, trapeze, tight-wire performances and a specially brewed festival beer.
The festival is organised by a 40-strong committee, none of whose members are paid. It receives funding from a variety of sources, as well as donations from people attending.
Last month Leeds licensing authorities ordered that the music should end at 10pm but the organisers are appealing against that ruling.
This month also sees work start on 'seven' - Chapel Allerton's own community arts centre.
Its creation has been an important aim of Chapel Allerton Arts Festival since the event began in 1998, and will be a permanent home for a range of arts activities, including theatre, music, poetry and dance.
It will provide:

A 100-seat venue for theatre, dance, music, film and digital arts.
Rehearsal space for theatre, dance and music.
A venue for day/evening classes.
A venue for community meetings and other gatherings.
A café bar area for informal arts events, such as comedy, poetry, cabaret and jazz.

Further information about the festival is on the website www.chapelallerton.org.uk

This is to add to the cultural coridor that is emerging on Chapeltown/Harrogate Road. Starting with the muti-cultural/ethnic Chapeltown (Mandela Centre, Holst media centre, carnival & ethnic shops) moving on to Chapel Allerton's artisan/artistic bias and the popular culture of pavement cafe/bars
that we have talked about in this thread!

Of course, yesterday was the Bank Holiday Carnival.

A cultural revolution

A cultural desert is rapidly being transformed into an oasis. But
there's plenty more work to be done. Geoff Fox reports
A WORK in progress. The Leeds cultural and arts scene is undergoing a radical transformation.
Plans to provide the facilities which the city's long established and highly successful groups deserve are becoming a reality.
Leeds is in the middle of a £150m investment programme in cultural facilities which includes the soon to be opened Carriage Works theatre, a new city museum, and a refurbished Grand Theatre.
The city has the longest running and largest Caribbean carnival outside London, the world famous Leeds International Piano Competition plus a vibrant popular music scene.
But city chiefs want to enhance both the provision and environment for the arts.
A central plank will be the redevelopment of Quarry Hill, a £100m development which planners believe will become Leeds' 'Culture Quarter'. The 8.1 acre complex is being executed by Caddick Developments.
Quarry Hill is already home to, among others, Leeds College of Music, West Yorkshire Playhouse and BBC North.
It has also been chosen as the new headquarters for Northern Ballet Theatre and Phoenix Dance.
Northern Ballet Theatre's chief executive Mark Skipper said: "From my company's perspective the most significant thing is the new development on Quarry Hill.
"Leeds is one of the very few cities that can boast its own opera company, ballet and well respected drama company.
"What we need now to go with that is a school. Most of the ballet schools are in London."
He welcomed the support Leeds City Council had afforded the arts, citing their decision to donate land next to the West Yorkshire Playhouse for the new joint headquarters building as an example of the commitment to further improve facilities in the city.
Jeopardy
Mark is hopeful work on the £22 million pound project, which will feature studio space and a small performance area, will start next March, although a £3 million shortfall has emerged, throwing its future into jeopardy.
If work starts as scheduled, the new building is set to open in 2008. Beyond that, Mark believes the next logical step would the creation of an arts school.
"We have the college of music, but it would be great to be able to have a school which has all the disciplines working alongside each other.," he said. "It's often difficult for parents to send their children to London. It shouldn't be the only option. They should be able to get as good a training, if not better, here in the north."
Leeds City Council's executive member for leisure, Coun John Procter, believes there is much to be proud of in the city, but insists there is more to do.
"One of the biggest challenges we have is to re-create a much improved art gallery," he said. "I have been chairing a group looking into this and seeing what the options are. Because the existing art gallery is such a difficult building one option we are looking at is relocating.
"No decision has been made on that. We are looking at the requirements from artists as to what they require in to exhibit major pieces of art. Some refuse to exhibit in Leeds because of issues of space.."
He added: "I would say to David Miliband, and to Yorkshire Forward, that they should recognise Leeds for what it is culturally: a regional centre. They should be supporting us increasingly. That is not always the case."
In terms of mass appeal, the prospect of an arena in the city looks increasingly likely within the next decade.
The city's cultural facilities task group has recently received a report on the back of a 10 month study exploring arts and leisure facilities in Leeds,
The group forms part of Leeds Initiative, an influential public-private partnership comprising representatives from the council and the city's corporate, education, health and voluntary sectors.
In their report, consultants PMP made three key recommendations:
l A 13,000-seater arena costing about £50m.
l New conference and exhibition facilities.
l A £20m investment that would turn Leeds Town Hall into a world-class classical music venue.
Impact
Of all the options, the arena is considered the one to have the maximum positive economic impact for the city, generating millions in turnover.
Tom Morton, chairman of the task group, believes the combination of an arena, upgraded town hall and conference and exhibition facilities would encourage Leeds to move up a league, maximise its regional capital status and provide significant facilities for all parts of the Leeds residents and business communities.
"An arena would generate an operating surplus," said Tom. "Therefore, it would probably be more attractive to a private sector partner. It would not be unlike the MEN in Manchester or the Hallam in Sheffield. There is a very large demand for something like that in Leeds."
geoff.fox@ypn.co.uk
22 September 2005

Great news from The Independent yesterday. I raise my mug of coffee to Walker Morris, good work fellas!

Saatchi show ventures north for the first time
By Louise Jury, Arts Correspondent
Published: 24 September 2005


The first major British exhibition outside London of Charles Saatchi's art collection is to be staged in Leeds next year.

Highlights of The Triumph of Painting show, which has drawn large crowds despite mixed reviews to his gallery on London's South Bank, will open at the Leeds City Art Gallery in January and run until March.

The move was a condition of a sponsorship deal between the Saatchi Gallery and Walker Morris, a Leeds-based law firm, which is supporting the third instalment of the show and a previously unplanned fourth round.

After attracting more than 360,000 visitors since opening in London in January, the show has been just extended to a six-part series running to next April.

It profiles painting, a genre Charles Saatchi said had been seen as "pitifully uncool and bourgeois" for the past 20 years but was now enjoying a revival.

The loan was welcomed by civic leaders in Leeds. John Proctor, the city council's executive board member for leisure, said: "This is a fantastic coup by Walker Morris and one that will be a significant boost to the city's national and international image."

Until now, British art-lovers have had the opportunity to see the Saatchi collection only at his own gallery or, once, in the Sensation show at the Royal Academy. This later transferred to New York where there was a row over a dung-encrusted painting of the Madonna by Chris Ofili.

The deal to take works outside the capital is a new venture for the advertising millionaire.

Nigel Walsh, curator of exhibitions for Leeds Museums and Galleries, said he was delighted. "The Saatchi Gallery has been very accommodating," he said. "The show isn't selected yet, but we'll be able to have a selection from all six parts so we might be showing things that haven't been seen [in London] yet."

He expected it would attract audiences from across the North to the Leeds gallery which usually receives around 250,000 visitors a year. It would have been very difficult for the gallery to raise the funds to mount such shows, he said, adding that it would be exciting to see the purchases of a major collector.

Charles Saatchi has admitted that he never thought the show would be a success. "It's good that the public are responding to painting so keenly," he said.

Excellent !

Great news :D Been wanting to see this exhibition for a while but can't be arsed going down to London, now I don't have to :D

I can't wait :D

shame the Northern Ballet is still being delayed. funding issues, pah.
Another damn delay. This development will be excellent and a cracking addition to Quarry Hill's cultural quarter. If it eventually gets built.

Still not sure when Caddick are going to kick off.

shame the Northern Ballet is still being delayed. funding issues, pah.
Another damn delay. This development will be excellent and a cracking addition to Quarry Hill's cultural quarter. If it eventually gets built.

Still not sure when Caddick are going to kick off.



It's really a casualty of the tremendous rate of development in Leeds. The inflation of building costs is so great as to have caused a shortfall in the required funding of I believe some £3 million.

Yes thats true, however I have a funny feeling this wil lget the money frm somewhere. I'm sure the council are really pushing for it, to compliment Millennium Square's and that areas developing cultural facilities...

Yes thats true, however I have a funny feeling this wil lget the money frm somewhere. I'm sure the council are really pushing for it, to compliment Millennium Square's and that areas developing cultural facilities...

what peeves me is that its a shortfall of £3m, now Leeds United paid £7 mill for Seth Johnson who played less than 50 games for Leeds and £11m for Robbie Fowler........ d'ya think they added as much to the City of Leeds as the Northern Ballet Theatre will? Nope!

I know, its taken in totally different context, but boy am I turned off football these days. Fortunately the Northern Ballet have got most of the funding in place, hopefully they'll be a few nice local benefactors queuing up - perchance for naming rights to the new theatre etc?

I agree with every comemnt you said. Football is so overrated and doesn't do anything at all. I bet a football stadium would get funding...

what peeves me is that its a shortfall of £3m, now Leeds United paid £7 mill for Seth Johnson who played less than 50 games for Leeds and £11m for Robbie Fowler........ d'ya think they added as much to the City of Leeds as the Northern Ballet Theatre will? Nope!

I know, its taken in totally different context, but boy am I turned off football these days. Fortunately the Northern Ballet have got most of the funding in place, hopefully they'll be a few nice local benefactors queuing up - perchance for naming rights to the new theatre etc?


Hear Hear,I have to agree with you Jimbo. Even though I personally like football rather more than I like ballet, I can still see that we as a society have a wrong sense of priorities. However I bet the film 'Billy Elliot' did wonders for publicising ballet ! I think and hope they will find the money somehow.

Saturday 8th October 2005

YORKSHIRE EVENING POST

by David Marsh

Coun Andrew Carter"These fountains should have been a symbol of Leeds as a major modern European city"

City splashing out to look for fountains faults

As the centrepiece of a prestigious city-centre refurbishment project it has never made much of a splash.

Featuring an arc of water columns which can rise to over 10ft, the 240,000 pound fountain was trumpeted as a showpiece feature of the 2.5m revamp of Leeds' City Square which was carried out nearly three years ago.

The hi-tech feature is designed so that the columns drop in colder weather and cut out completely when it is windy, so that passers-by and people sitting nearby do not get a soaking.

But the fountain has been plagued by technical problems and frequantly works at less than capacity or not at all.

Now at last the end of the trouble could be in sight.

The council has commissioned an independent technical investigation into the failures which it hopes will find a resolution to the problems.

A maintenance budget for the fountain and a system of bacteriological testing have also been established.

Improvements to water features at Eastgate roundabout and in the Calls are also planned.

Coun Andrew Carter, the council's deputy leader and a senior figure in the Liberal Democrat-Conservative-Green administration which has run the council for the past ten months said:"These fountains should have been a symbol of Leeds as a major modern European city yet the reality of these features was appalling."

"They did not work and were even a hazard as the lack of bacteriological testing added risks of waterborne infections."

"I am delighted to say that we now have a proper budget, a dedicated team and bacteriological testing is regularly monitored by the city's water management team."

"We have commissioned an independent investigation into the power failures that have blighted City Square fountains."

END

So at last something is going to be done to sort the fountains out, can't believe what coun Andrew Carter said about it been a "symbol of Leeds as a major European city", the Lib Dems didn't even want the fountains in the first place. At least they're sorting the problems out now. :)

What I can't understand about this is that surely the firm that installed the City Square fountain is responsible to ensure that it works properly ? Unless it was designed and installed 'in-house' by council employees. I feel that an awful lot of money is being wasted by the council on rectifying faults that should not have occurred in the first place. Thhough this is a project that was inherited from the Labour lot, I can't say I have much confidence that this coalition now in power is really any better.

Maybe the civic architect, John Thorp, should take some of the blame.
He does seem to be prone to the odd mistake - Fountains that don't work, paving M Square with glare attracting bright slabs, and, worst of all, putting dates on the street furniture on Briggate (and not of the edible variety).

Taken from www.leeds.gov.uk

Dated 28th October 2005

EXQUISITE LEONARDO DA VINCI DRAWINGS COME TO LEEDS TO MARK THE QUEENS 80TH BIRTHDAY

Leeds City Art Gallery is to receive on loan exquisite drawings by Renaissance master Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) from the Royal Collection as part of the celebrations to mark Her Majesty's 80th Birthday. The Royal Collection contains some of the worlds most important drawings by the artists and Leeds City Art Gallery will be one of four regional venues to show ten of Leonardo's delicate works.

Executive Member for Leisure Councilor John Procter said:

" I am delighted that Leeds has been chosen as one of four venues to host such wonderful treasure from the Royal Collection. The exhibition will provide an opportunity for the people of Leeds and beyond to view a range of beautiful drawings from one of the world's greatest Renaissance artists, Leonardo Da Vinci."

The drawings on loan to Leeds showcase the breadth of Leonardo's career to demonstrate the extraordinary scope of his interests. The exhibition will include studies for painting, sculpture and architecture; research into anatomy; studies of botany; designs for cannons and mortars; designs for a great canal to bypass the river Arno; a sheet of picture-puzzles; and an apocalyptic image of a deluge. The pictures included demonstrate all the techniques and drawing materials Leonardo often used, including metal point, pen and ink, brush and ink, and red and black chalks.

Through drawing Leonardo attempted to record and understand the world around him and maintained that an image transmitted knowledge more accurately and concisely than any works. Leonardo was Left handed and often wrote his notes in mirror-image from left to right, something that was often claimed was used to keep his researches secret, yet this was probably just an entertaining trick Leonardo learned as a child and never abandoned.

The drawings which will travel to Leeds have been in the Royal Collection since the 17th century and were probably acquired during the reign of Charles II, (1660-1685). Because of their delicate nature the drawings can never be on permanent display but are shown in a series of changing exhibitions at Windsor Castle and through loans to museums and galleries around the world.

Ten Drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci: An Exhibition to Celebrate the 80th Birthday of Her Majesty The Queenwill be on show:

Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery, Exeter 18 March - 3 June 2006

Aberdeen Art Gallery 14 June - 28 August 2006

Leeds City Art Gallery 7 September - 19 November 2006

Cardiff National Museum and Gallery 25 November 2006 - February 2007 tbc.

END.

Denote:

Leeds City Art Gallery houses the best collection of 20th century British Art outside of London, and was designated by the Government as being of national importance in 1997. Alongside the extensive 20th century British painting and sculpture collection, the gallery presents a dynamic temporary exhibition program, as well as continuing to acquire artworks for the permanent collection.

Councillor pledges to fight for art gallery
Range of options under discussion as landmark building is valued

Joanne Ginley
A LEADING opposition councillor last night is vowing to spearhead a campaign to save Leeds City Art Gallery after it emerged the site could be hived off to developers.
It has emerged that a number of options for the future of the gallery, on the Heathrow, in Leeds city centre, are being considered.
Discussions are in their early stages and there are a number options open from improving existing facilities to considering whether the gallery would benefit from being re-located elsewhere.
Yesterday Coun John Procter, Leeds City Council's executive member for leisure, confirmed the council was having the building valued and was in the process of considering its future.
He stressed any decision was a long way off, but said the gallery needed a lot of money spending on it, from repairs to the roof, to the electrics.
"From my own personal view I fully expect the art gallery to remain where it is, but to be much improved," he said.
But Coun Bernard Atha, leisure spokesman for the opposition Labour Group, expressed his concern for the future of one of the city's jewels.
"To sell it off would be an act of vandalism.
"It's in an ideal location and nobody in the city can suggest an alternative location in the city which is as good.
"I would be very happy to lead a campaign to save the art gallery because so many people are attached to it," he said.
Coun Atha, who is also chairman of West Yorkshire Playhouse and plays a leading role in many other arts organisations, said he believed any move to change the location of the gallery was about saving cash.
But Coun Procter said that since he had taken over the role of executive member for leisure 12 months ago, people had questioned why Leeds did not have any new cultural buildings.
He said: "The people of Leeds and the surrounding areas are saying if other cities can have major facilities, why can't we?
"So what are we to do, plod along in the same way?"
Selling the site would prove a controversial decision but Coun Procter said he felt it was worthwhile knowing exactly what the building was worth.
A number of groups and interested parties have already been involved in discussions about the best way forward for the gallery, at a time when galleries are changing, and showing off their treasures in larger spaces.
If any bid for cash were to be made to the National Lottery or any other body for support down the line, officers would need to demonstrate they had investigated all options.
Other cities in the UK have seen new art galleries built, or existing facilities updated. In Manchester, The Lowry showcases works by famed artist LS Lowry.
Other options for the gallery could include expanding the existing site.
Coun Procter estimates that in excess of £1m needs spending on roof improvements alone and around £500,000 on improving the electrics in the building.
"We have to start thinking about how we are going to fund these improvements, rather than leaving the building to rot," Coun Procter added.
joanne.ginley@ypn.co.uk
01 November 2005

The Lowry is a perfect example of a new build cultural centre and one I think Manchester has got it pretty damn right. (note tempestuous Manchester sky)
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2378/img03337zk.jpg
Two theatres / performance spaces, restaurants and bars, temporary galleries, and a permanent showcase to the talents of Salford's own LS Lowry. Had an excellent trip up there two weeks back and if Leeds could develop their own new gallery and concert hall together (think an Atkinson Grimshaw themed room........), I'd be ecstatic.

If developers money could contribute to a council owned site being turned into such a development, then I don't think anyone would complain.

Theres a few riverside sites up towards the western riverside corridor that could be an art complex or some cultural area... Are there any art galleries planned at Clarence Dock, Quarry Hill or any other scheme?

(note tempestuous Manchester sky)

It's not like that *all* the time jimbo. :)

Initially I was shocked at the idea of the Art Gallery sale, but reading between the lines I think that if a new facility was in place prior to any handover of land to any would be developer, then the idea doesn't sound quite so bad. Did the money for Manchesters Lowry gallery come from the national lottery?

PS. I travel to Manchester every other week to meet up with my friends there, and yes the sky really does look that bad all the time. lol

Out and about yesterday, with the camera of course. Here are some 'cultural pictures' I wasn't sure which thread to post these on but, ha ho, this one is as good as any......

oh, and feel free any of you arty people to enlighten us to what they all are?

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/SMARTCITY/rugby_square.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/SMARTCITY/victoria_square.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/SMARTCITY/city_square_art.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/SMARTCITY/river_walkway1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/SMARTCITY/city_square_torch.jpg

Not to forget the chess on Victoria Gardens......
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/SMARTCITY/chess2_victoria.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/SMARTCITY/river_walkway7.jpg

Don't you just love summer!!! :)

Theres a thread about public art in your city on the City Talk subforum. The first one is the sound control tower for Millennium Square, the second is a Henry Moore Sculpture I've forgotten the name of it. I think the swallows or whatever bird they are outside Norwich Union are just a nice piece of art work- don't forget the horse at Lloyds TSB, the sculpture at Brewery Wharf, the Mandela sculpture in Mandela Gardens, the man lifting the barrels in Dortmund Square... quite alot when you think about it!

Forward Russia album is out on Monday, a superb band at the cutting edge and from Leeds, I'm off to see them om the NME New Music Tour on Sunday and if they're as good as when I saw them earlier this year it should be a good old do. Yorkshire music is where it's at, Arctic Monkeys, Cribs, Kaiser Chiefs, Forward Russia, Sunshine Underground, Bromheads Jacket etc etc :)

Hidden chamber reveals its secret
Victorian gem hidden between art gallery and library is opened up again

By Paul Robinson

FOR almost half a century a magnificent Victorian tiled hall has been sealed from human eyes.
In the 1950s Leeds City Council bricked up the archway to the hall which linked the city centre library with the Leeds art gallery.
But work has now begun to tear down the divide and open up a spectacular piece of architecture to the public.
It is part of a near £2m makeover of the buildings announced by council chiefs this week.
The refurbishment of two of the properties is due to get under way in July.
As well as reopening the tiled hall, the project will involve construction of a new exhibition space and the siting of a shop and cafe in the hall.
Leeds City Council's executive member for leisure, Coun John Procter, said he was "hugely excited" by the plans.
He told the YEP: "This project will not only solve a lot of problems identified by the public, but will make the buildings more accessible and attractive to visit.
"It means closing the art gallery for a few months, but we ask that people bear with us as the end result will be well worth it."
Coun Procter said the revamp showed the local authority's commitment to the future of the gallery, which at one stage last year was the subject of speculation that it could be sold off.
The art gallery will close between December early spring.
A decision has yet to be taken on whether the library will need to close.
The overall cost of the council-led scheme is £1.9m, with £1.3m being supplied by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.
Its chief executive, Tom Riordan, said: "We are delighted to be involved in bringing two of Leeds's most beautiful buildings back together."
The chamber was known as the Statue Hall because it housed the gallery's statue collection. Leeds City Art Gallery was designed by George Corson and built between 1878 and 1884 using funds raised by the public. It opened in October 1888.

---

From todays YEP

Looks like a decent common sense project which often get overlooked - I hope quashes any idea of moving from the Art Gallery which I think is in a fantastic accessible location for everyone.

On another point I wonder if they're going to repave the space out front (Prince's Gardens?) which seem a bit tatty - lots of broken slabs and even some missing ones rather conspicuously replaced by tarmac

Millennium Sq looks like a giant rugbyball?

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/SMARTCITY/rugby_square.jpg

Leeds No1 correctly pointed out that this is the sound tower for productions at Millennium Square.

Does anyone know who designed it?