Culture in Leeds is changing rapidly. The Yorkshire city has much to offer with a brand new arena approaching its completion and a shopping centre that will be commissioning new pieces of public art for display, even the cities art gallery is constantly hosting exhibitions and has seen artists such as Damien Hirst’s work in recent years. It is recognisable that Leeds has a thriving art and culture scene. The approaching growth will see way to rapid changes that are worth talking about, so do bloggers in Leeds value these changes?
The Culture Vulture Blog is written by ‘Emma’ who contributes frequently to the website about upcoming events in the bustling city of Leeds. Not only does her blog offer a variety of reliable information on exhibitions and art but Emma provides material on musical, theatrical and marketing events. Her complete unassuming attitude and the fact that she is an ordinary Leeds citizen adds reliability to the blog and gives readers a sense of trustworthiness in what is being written. It is easy to navigate around the site and is easy to get hold of the information you want. The blog includes posts from local artist Louise Atkinson, who offers a well informed and reliable source to the blog and keeps readers up to date on various events around Leeds, from exhibitions in Headingley’s Bowery gallery to productions at the West Yorkshire Playhouse . Louise’s individual blog also demonstrates an insight into galleries and art around Leeds and is useful in finding out what’s going on.
For visitors and those new to the city, there are lots of different activities and things to do. Leeds Art Walk is a blog about different exhibitions, once a month, led by Pavilion and artist Amelia Crouch. Crouch is an artist born and bred in Leeds, a graduate from the University of Leeds and has masters in Fine Art from the University of Manchester. Although the blog does not go into detail about the culture scene and seems to focus mainly on gallery art, it is a good source to tourists who would like to plan their visit.
Beyond Borders, a medieval blog on the history of art will give viewers a rounded background to the art in Leeds despite the information being long-winded and tedious at times.
Even though there are fears that the new Trinity Leeds shopping centre will bring an unoriginal and commercial platform to the city, the shopping centre will attract more tourists and promises to reflect the cities ‘creativity, culture and innovation.’ The shopping centre has the commission to produce new works of public art which will be displayed in the centre. The Trinity Leeds website states that this is to; “include a series of new commissions by one of the UK’s leading public artists, Andy Scott. This is designed to support artists and art organisation working in the region.”
The musical prospects in Leeds have never been better for all types of audiences, whether this means local aspiring artists and bands that create intimate gigs or screaming teenage girls at a worldwide tour of their favourite boy band. Beat2aChord is a brilliant blog which focuses on music from Yorkshire, it has a diverse range of information on different types of niche bands and is easy to navigate around as well as being set out in a unique and down to earth style, the blog oozes originality. TQS Magazine is a blog that showcases a huge variety of information on music, fashion, film and TV. With the new arena recently announcing huge artists set to perform in the coming year, this blog is sure to have it covered with reviews on artists such as Paloma Faith and the Scissor Sisters.
The art and cultural bloggingshpere in Leeds is undeniably alive with a huge range of blogs from many different reliable and educated sources. However, with the upcoming advance in transforming the city into one of the main contending cities in the country, will bloggers in Leeds appreciate the renovation that the city awaits?
The Corn Exchange in Leeds, West Yorkshire is one of Britain’s finest Victorian buildings and a great architectural heritage of the city of Leeds. The Corn Exchange is a Grade I listed building. Photo taken by St Ste on flickr.
Sophie DiMauro 