Arts University’s £22m expansion set to open
A £22m building expansion at Leeds Arts University will officially open in the coming weeks, which includes a new 230-seat performance auditorium and industry standard film and photography studios.
The new site has allowed the university to expand its course provision, creating a more diverse mix of creative courses, including the introduction of BA (Hons) Filmmaking and BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance.
The building will also house the growing portfolio of opportunities for postgraduate study at Leeds Arts University, with a larger specialist arts research and reference library and a new postgraduate study suite.
An exhibition by international artist Yoko Ono, multimedia artist and peace activist, will open the new building on February 8. It will be the first time work by Yoko Ono has been shown at the University since she performed at its Vernon Street building in 1966.
The exhibition will be in Blenheim Walk Gallery – which has an atrium-style entrance and includes Dot the Lions, an independent coffee bar delivered by the team behind Laynes Espresso, which is open to the public.
Professor Simone Wonnacott, Vice-Chancellor, Leeds Arts University said: “It is very rewarding to see our ambitious plans for the future of Leeds Arts University realised in the opening of our new specialist arts building, providing world-class studios and facilities for our students to help them fulfil their ambitions in the creative industries.
“We are delighted to open the doors to our new arts building with an exhibition from such an iconic artist as Yoko Ono, and look forward to welcoming visitors to our new site.”
Sheffield design agency Peter & Paul were commissioned by the University to create two bespoke large-scale art pieces for the building interior.
The first is situated within the entrance of the building, and has been created using quotes from 46 alumni, gathered from their thoughts and memories of their time at Leeds Arts University. Each individual quote has then been turned into a unique poster, with Peter & Paul working with current University students on the designs. Featuring typography, illustration, photography and mixed media, the posters reflect the diversity of creative practice at Leeds Arts University.
The second spans the length of the photography department, stretching across a wall over 30 metres long and two storeys high. More abstract in design, the wall shows intertwined arms engaged in creative activity.
