It’s that time of year again when we look forward to welcoming students, old and new, for the beginning of a brand-new academic year. Hello to all of you coming to the University of Leicester this September, we are your Arts & Culture Hub.
Attenborough Arts Centre is a public cultural venue at the University of Leicester. Working with local, national, and international artists we deliver a variety of cultural experiences including visual arts exhibitions, live performances, and research programmes. We believe that art is for everyone and we want to make creativity and culture accessible to all by breaking down barriers to the arts.
As well as working with artists and local communities, we also create work with and for students at the University of Leicester. Whether you’re looking to see art, make art, or just sit down with a coffee and chat with a friend, Attenborough Arts Centre has something for you. Visit our student page to see everything we have on offer by clicking here, and we’ve also put together a useful list below of some of the things you can get up to:
Attenborough Late
Our ever-popular Late returns on Friday 16 October, 6pm–10pm. Expect contemporary art, live performances, creative workshops, DJs, food and plenty of opportunities to get involved. The full programme remains under wraps for now, but that’s part of the fun. For the curious, the creative and anyone looking for a different kind of Friday night. To book your free place, click here to visit our webpage.
Album Listening Club
Take a break from your day and listen to an album from beginning to end, together with others. Each lunchtime session is a chance to slow down, settle in and experience an album as a whole, without interruptions or distractions. You can suggest an album you’d love to hear, or simply book a place and enjoy something chosen by someone else. We’ll supply the music, and there’ll be a mix of seating available, from tables and tiered seating to mats and beanbags. Next club session is on Wednesday 14 October, 1pm – 2pm. Click here to book your free place.
Speed Friending
You’ve heard of speed dating, well get ready for speed friending. An event tailor-made for meeting new people and making new friendships. Find communities you feel connected to and develop relationships that will be part of your university experience – or at least enjoy a good night out in a safe space. Only for University of Leicester students, click here to book your free place.
Student Experience Fund
Have you ever wanted to try a new hobby or craft but your budget doesn’t quite stretch to cover it? The new Student Experience Fund with the University of Leicester can help you give something new a go. We have teamed up with the University to offer a range of artistic experience alongside a range of other offers! To learn more, click here.
Volunteering
Our volunteering opportunities can be a great way to meet new people and make new friends – plus it looks great on your CV. We are currently looking for volunteer Gallery Assistants for an upcoming exhibition in October, just in time for the start of the new term. If you’d be interested in volunteering, or to find out more information on what’s available, please contact Noreen Gallagher our Volunteer Coordinator.
Exhibitions
We curate gallery spaces which host a wide range of artworks from artists all around the world across a wide variety of mediums. All of our exhibitions are free-to-access and we often host special events to go alongside them like exhibition launches or workshops with artists.
This October we will be launching Jemisha Maadhavji’s ‘I Dream From Where You Are’ in gallery 2. Bringing together painting and sculpture, the exhibition explores portraiture and identity, reflecting upon the artist’s concept of luxury as a deep connection to nature. Join us for the launch on Thursday 8 October, 5pm – 7pm.
Performances
See the latest performances from leading artists and companies across the UK including theatre, dance, music and more like our free lunchtime concert series. Coming up this term we’ve got performances like Virgo Multiverse by Taylormade Studios, At What Point by Caitlyn O’Ryan, and WORD! International Day of People with Disabilities Open Mic Takeover
Many of our performances have a ‘pay what you can’ policy meaning that you decide how much you can or want to pay. This expands access to the arts for those who may not have been able to participate otherwise or gives others the chance to support those who cannot by paying a bit extra. When a performance is ‘pay what you can’ we make this clear on the ‘book now’ page of the event.
Creative Courses
As well as seeing art, you can make art too. Our Creative Courses offer the opportunity to get hands-on and learn a new skill with our artist-led sessions that allow you to explore a range of mediums like oil painting, ceramics, crochet, spoken word poetry and more all with student discounts available throughout the programme.
You can find more information about any of the areas listed above on our website under the handily named ‘Student’ tab. Whether you’re looking to relax, study, or get creative, Attenborough Arts Centre is excited to have you on campus this Autumn.