What do we have in Leeds?
Our ambition is to be the best city for children and young people to grow up in, a child friendly city. This is a crucial element of the council’s work to become the best city in the UK by 2030. We believe that an important aspect of this ambition is for all children and young people in the city to have access to a rich and exciting range of arts, music and cultural activities. In Leeds, there is a wealth of resources to achieve this including museums, galleries, libraries, Breeze and ArtForms. In addition, there are music, drama, arts and other cultural activities available from a range of different organisations. This guide provides a sample of the services available across the city, focussing on those provided by the council.
Breeze Leeds helps you to find out what’s going on in Leeds and allows you to browse events based on your location. The
Breeze Pass , which costs £5 per year, gives discounts to venues, events and activities across the city. The
Breeze Culture Network gathers together resources to support working with children and young people in the arts.
Breeze Arts Foundation aims to provide young people with opportunities, skills and confidence to gain employment or go on to further education and offer an introduction to the arts industry.
Leeds Inspired is a ‘What’s On’ events guide that brings together the city’s annual highlights alongside independent events to create an ever-changing cultural calendar.
Museums and galleries
Leeds Museums and Galleries have nine different sites:
Each site offers a menu of experiential, multi-sensory and interactive curriculum-based schools’ workshops, and family activities in the school holidays. They run under-fives sessions, teacher training, community workshops and projects, youth engagement and adult programmes. They also have creative spaces to work in and can support schools in enabling pupils to gain an
Arts Award Discover qualification and certificate.
For more information visit:
www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries.
Libraries
Leeds Libraries are free to join, open all year round and have something for everyone. Children can join the library and get their first library card (Breeze card) as soon as they are born. Leeds Library and Information Service offer a wide range of events and activities for children, young people and families to promote libraries as a safe, fun place to support literacy, learning and leisure. They offer an inclusive service to help children and young people with literacy and numeracy and support children and young people with additional needs. They promote reading for enjoyment and learning through an exciting and varied selection of materials, including digital resources. For more information visit
www.leeds.gov.uk/libraries.
ArtForms
ArtForms is the Music and Arts team for Children’s Services. They offer an extensive range of arts and cultural programmes in and out of school hours including
Music Centres that run on Saturday mornings at venues all over Leeds.
ArtForms Music delivers music teaching in schools and out of school community music at their music centres across the city including
City of Leeds Youth Music Groups. They also lead the
Leeds Music Education Partnership that coordinates the music offer to children in Leeds.
ArtForms Arts Development support schools and other organisations working with children and young people to provide high quality learning opportunities in and through visual art, dance, film, drama and the written and spoken word.
Leeds Young Film
Leeds Young Film Festival (LYFF) is the largest event of its kind in the North. Every Easter LYFF brings the best new and classic films for young people from around the world to some of Leeds most loved venues, including
Hyde Park Picture House and
Leeds Town Hall . The festival features premieres and previews, special guests, activities and events for all the family.
Carriageworks Theatre
Carriageworks Theatre offers exciting opportunities for taking part, giving members of the Leeds community the chance to have a go and get involved in a whole range of creative experiences. The
Carriageworks Young Theatre Makers (CYTM) are a group of young people aged 10 – 18 who meet weekly to develop skills as performers, writers and directors. Members build drama skills and confidence by creating and performing original plays in a high-profile, professional theatre.
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