Imagine Leeds, the city centre climate action hub and base for Climate Action Leeds, is hosting the city’s first Arts and Climate Week from 27 October to 3 November 2023.

 Throughout the week there are free events for all the family to learn about the climate emergency and action needed through creative workshops and the Deep Water immersive exhibition which considers the effect of single use plastics and climate change on the world’s oceans.

On Tuesday 31 October, Climate Action Leeds and partners are running a packed day of fun and informative workshops where people of all ages can become sustainable fashionistas and craftivists or learn about how we can make our city zero carbon, nature friendly and socially just.

The Deep Water exhibition is curated by Leeds based arts organisation Yorkshire Life Aquatic and contains thought-provoking artworks, sound and visual installations, and interactive activities developed by local and emerging Leeds artists and climate activists.

The Deep Water exhibition is open from the 27 October to the 3 November (closed on Sunday) at Imagine Leeds in City Exchange on Albion Street from 11am to 5pm. The Climate Action Leeds day of workshops on the 31 October runs from 12-4pm.

 The events on 31 October include an eco glitter stencils workshop, an opportunity to explore a vision for transport in Leeds through poetry, sessions on community composting, terrarium making and Christmas craftivism, plus more family-friendly activities.

Find out more and sign-up to the Climate Action Leeds workshops

 The Deep Water exhibition includes a range of free workshops and events including ‘Meet the Mermaid’, creating a sculpture from single use plastics with the help of local art collective Immortal Bloom, and the Deep Water experience.

 Lucy Meredith from The Human Aquarium commented: “Deep Water reflects on the important role of the world’s oceans in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the ever-increasing extremes in weather with pollution and climate change affecting people, animals and plant life across the world.

“The exhibition explores how we can begin to make meaningful change and many of the exhibits are made from found and recycled materials, such as plastic bottles and other discarded items. Lighting, film and soundscapes are also used to create a deep water environment to take visitors on an underwater themed journey.”

Find out more and sign-up to The Human Aquarium activities and Deep Water exhibition

Imagine Leeds, the climate action hub, has been open since February 2023 and has hosted events and meetings for more than 80 organisations. Approximately 1,800 visitors have been through the doors to discuss and make progress on climate, nature and social justice.

Andy Goldring, City Hub Lead for Climate Action Leeds, said: “We’ve had an enormously successful first seven months of running Imagine Leeds and we are delighted to be hosting Arts and Climate week this autumn with some exciting new activities for even more people to take part in.

“Our tenancy in our current premises is ending soon and we desperately need help to find a city centre location to move to in early 2024 so that we can keep doing this vital work, inspiring people across Leeds to make the city more sustainable.”

More information about Climate Action Leeds and Imagine Leeds

 Arts and Climate Week has been produced by The Human Aquarium in partnership with Climate Action Leeds and Immortal Bloom, with partner support from Sustainable Arts in Leeds, Leeds Arts University, Salford University & Media City and Leeds Creative Timebank, with thanks to generous funding from Arts Council England through National Lottery Project Grants.

More information about The Human Aquarium

Notes:

• Yorkshire Life Aquatic is a Leeds-based Community Interest Company, who work in and around water, focusing on promoting health and wellbeing, positive body image and highlighting environmental and animal welfare issues through arts projects. This is their second exhibition in the Human Aquarium series and is a continuation from our 2019 Leeds city centre exhibition, ‘Beyond the Glass’
• Climate Action Leeds is funded by The National Lottery and is led by six main partners who all work together on the delivery of the programme – Voluntary Action Leeds, Our Future Leeds, Together for Peace, Leeds TIDAL, CAG Consultants and Leeds Community Foundation.
• There are also key organisations, called transition partners, who are working with Climate Action Leeds to help people and organisations across Leeds understand how key sectors – including energy, food, nature, youth and education, work and economy, housing, and climate justice – can create a more sustainable Leeds. The transition partners are Racial Justice Network, People Powered Homes, Hyde Park Source, Foodwise Leeds, Platform, Leeds Development Education Sector and Angel House, as well as city professionals working in car-free design and community wealth building.

Imagine Leeds is open to any organisation working on climate, nature, and social justice, with an event capacity of up to 100 people and a dedicated co-working space for 25 people.