All eyes are on Leeds as the city unveils a glimpse of what’s in store as final preparations get underway for an unmissable year of cultural events as part of LEEDS 2023.
LEEDS 2023 will feature an epic programme of bold spectacles and hidden stories that will awaken the world to Leeds and its unique creativity. The year-long celebration will kick off with ‘The Awakening’ opening event in January 2023 at Headingley Stadium, home of the Rhinos.
Work from the city’s internationally acclaimed artists and cultural organisations, alongside the diverse creativity brimming in all 33 Leeds wards, will feature in a three-part epic programme designed to ‘let culture loose’ across the whole city.
LEEDS 2023 is ran by the Leeds Culture Trust, an independent charity set up in 2019 by Leeds City Council as part of its Culture Strategy. The ambition by organisers is to deliver a transformational year of creative experiences connecting and benefiting people now and into the future. The planned programme will celebrate and transform the City’s identity locally, nationally and internationally – creating a lasting legacy of economic and social impact.
The city is now on countdown to the pivotal ‘Awakening’ and a flavour of what is to come was recently revealed by broadcaster and Chair of LEEDS 2023, Gabby Logan MBE alongside Creative Director and CEO Kully Thiarai. in the presence of hundreds of people from Leeds’ communities, cultural organisations, artists, business, educational and public sector organisations
The year-long cultural event is a first for Leeds. Punctuated by 12 major signature projects – original works produced by LEEDS 2023 – the programme will include hundreds of events and activities, many of them developed in partnership with local, national and international partners. Collaborations have played an important part in the development of the programme showcasing the rich, cultural life of the city, its people and its global connections.
Gabby Logan said: “LEEDS 2023 promises to be an extraordinary year when we will celebrate the very best of what Leeds has to offer when it comes to culture, art, sport and the brilliant creativity of our communities. 2023 will be the year we Let Culture Loose and show to the world just what an incredible, talented and diverse city we are. As a proud Leeds lass myself I, for one, cannot wait!”
Kully Thiarai added: In challenging times, the story of our creativity in Leeds can provide much needed comfort, joy and inspiration to ourselves and to the nation. Together we will awaken the sleeping giant of our city’s promise and conjure an extraordinary year into being, creating memories that will stand the test of time. It will be a year when we all get to tell our stories, old and new, known and forgotten, in an act of determined collective defiance. And we invite everyone to be a part of it.”
Three seasons will shape the year, with ‘awakening’ influencing Part One (January to April), ‘playing’ the focus of Part Two (May to August), and ‘dreaming’ a forward-looking end to the year (September to December).
Signature projects will include ‘The Awakening’ (7th January 2023) which is set to be a spectacular opening event, co-directed by Kully Thiarai and Alan Lane, celebrating past, present and future in a collision of Leeds’ best and brightest talent including Corinne Bailey-Rae, Simon Armitage and Graft. Tickets will be free in exchange for people creating a piece of art and submitting it to a ticket ballot. The ballot is now open and closes 25th November.
Projects also include Smeaton300: A creative events programme developed by Foxglove and inspired by John Smeaton, the Leeds-born, world-changing Civil Engineer. Smeaton300 will include an awe-inspiring mobile observatory, designed by Heather Peak and Ivan Morison, which will tour the city from June to December 2023.
Other announcements include My Leeds 2023: A major community-led project, taking place in all 33 wards of the city; ‘Hibiscus Rising’, a new sculpture by artist Yinka Shonibare; and All That Lives, from Leeds artist Ellie Harrison in collaboration with Mexican artists Zion Art Studio.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Deputy Leader and executive member for economy, culture and education at Leeds City Council said:
“LEEDS 2023 is a significant milestone and further confirmation of how strongly we place the benefits of culture and creativity in the city.
“Nationally people are going through hard times, with the cost of living crisis hitting more and more people, and celebrations such as LEEDS 2023 give us the chance to come together to celebrate together in creative and imaginative ways.
We are lucky that culture is alive and well right across Leeds, from local groups right through to our larger arts and cultural organisations and sites. LEEDS 2023 will bring together and work to create a year that explores a sense of fun, wonder and that brings to life culture in some way, shape or form to ensure there is something for everyone to enjoy.”
Further details of programme announcements: www.leeds2023.co.uk
