Firstly thank you for taking the time to have a look at this resource. It is not intended to be a complete list but instead intended to illustrate what is on offer to accompany the friendly webinar we made with 100% Digital Leeds and Leeds Libraries team, which is available to view here. We have worked with network members to capture some of the ways people can connect to each other through arts and culture, with a particular emphasis on Leeds. There has been extensive research into the benefits of engaging in arts and culture in daily life and we reflected on the New Economics Foundations 5 Ways to Wellbeing and how (even online) arts and culture activities have the potential to help us:
Connect
Be Active
Be Curious
Keep Learning
Give
Engaging in arts and culture remotely and online is yet to be proven to have the same benefits and we know from people in Leeds that taking the first step in joining a group of people can be very difficult... but the benefits can be huge - from developing a sense of belonging to creating a routine to being able to do things as a group that we cannot do on our own and introducing new experiences and perspectives. From speaking to local organisations we have found that different people have joined in online activities compared to people who attended face-to-face activities so these options may be better for some people and a first step for others.
We invited the Man About Town project (a collaboration between Creative Frame and Cloth Cat) to tell us about the range of creative and covid safe activities they use from music making and appreciation to photography and digital arts, whilst working with men at higher risk of suicide. Whilst they aim to meet up in person they have have been able to do inspiring work with people at home including recording this video with Daz from the group - watch here. We also spoke to Artlink West Yorkshire, who describe delivering their creative activities to people who have the least access to art are going online for the first time. You can read a blog about their work in lockdown here.
We found it difficult to organise this information usefully but have used the broad categories from the World Health Organisation’s 2019 research into health and wellbeing benefits from the arts:
Performing arts (e.g. activities in the genre of music, dance, theatre, singing and film)
Visual arts, design and craft (e.g. crafts, design, painting, photography, sculpture and textiles)
Literature (e.g. writing, reading and attending literary festivals)
Culture (e.g. going to museums, galleries, art exhibitions, concerts, the theatre, community events, cultural festivals and fairs).
Resources to support Session 2: Ways for individuals to connect with others through arts and culture online
Firstly a bit of everything:
(For people with learning disabilities and autistic people) Purple Patch Arts offer fifteen group Zoom sessions a week covering visual art, music, drama, literature, movement as well an a Zoom disco every month. Learn more here.
Swarthmore offers a range of online courses including drawing, painting, drama, creative wellbeing, writing and poetry via Google Classroom for a £12 enrollment fee. Their Summer Term is due to be announced shortly here.
Performing Arts
Music
Opera North 'Couch to Chorus' programme is a four-week course of 1 hour sessions, open to all levels of singers from complete beginners to experienced choir-goers. You’ll be provided with all the resources you need to help you experience what it’s like to sing in an opera chorus – from the comfort of your own home! Over 90% of people who came to the last sessions reported that it had a positive impact on their wellbeing. The current sessions end in March but more blocks are planned through the year. Contact lifelonglearning@operanorth.co.uk to know more.
(Aimed at people living with terminal illnesses or dealing with bereavement) The Swan Song Project gives people the opportunity and support to write and record their own original song. They continue to do this over Zoom - learn more about them here where you can also find over 50 podcasts featuring local musicians.
(Designed very specifically for people living with dementia and their carers from a South Asian Background) Touchstone’s BME Dementia service is restarting the popular Music with Manuka sessions on Mondays at 1pm. Contact ripaljeetk@touchstonesupport.org.uk to join.
Made with Music are running free Early Years Classes for babies and children up to 5 years on their Facebook page every Tuesday at 10.30am. Donations welcome.
(Designed very specifically for people living with long term or persistent pain) Opera North’s “Step Into Singing” programme started in January (7 x fortnightly sessions from January through to April) and there will be further blocks during the year. People can book here.
Leeds Museums and Galleries Virtual Museum Choir for all ages and abilities - next session Tuesday 5th March.
Bringing It All Back Home is a project led by musicians for people who find music can help them feel better. They can help you play, listen, record or talk about music on Wednesdays 12pm til 4pm. Email: bringingitallbackhome@hotmail.com for more information.
(Aimed at people cared for in the own homes, their carers and people living in care homes and hospices) Artists and Residents organise live performances by professional musicians Wednesdays at 2.30 online. Email them to receive all future concert information.
(Aimed at adults in North and East Leeds): Space2’s Space2Sing - Singing together to feel good. Every Thursday 3.30pm to 5pm. To sign up email camillet@space2.org.uk or paulb@space2.org.uk.
The Swan Song Project has a singing group for all abilities every Thursday at 7.30pm til 18th March. Book here.
Dance and Movement
(Aimed at developing Black British dance but open to all) RJC Dance offers sessions for young people from age 4 to 19 and adults through the week. Learn more about their programme here.
(Aimed at children eligible for free school meals) DAZL Leeds have a range of dance activitoes for half term. Learn more about their programme here.
(For adults with Parkinson's) Ascendance dance classes - on Tuesdays and Thursdays on Zoom (Cost £4 per session)
(For adults over 55): Yorkshire Dance’s Dance On Tuesday at 2pm, Wednesday at 2.30pm and Friday at 10.30am. Contact Jess to join a class: jessrooney@yorkshiredance.com. Donations are welcome.
(Aimed at residents of LS8, LS9, LS10, LS11) Your Space Leeds run feel-good online dance sessions called Disco Tuesdays from 6pm to 7pm. Dance to your favourite tracks from 70's to the present day to keep you glowing through the winter! Beginners welcome, contact Kim for a FREE place - 07341547493/kimg@touchstonesupport.org.uk.
(For all women in Leeds) Bramley Mermaid’s synchronised swimming class in now on land/online every fortnight on Tuesdays at 8pm. Learn more here.
(For adults with Parkinsons) Northern Ballet dance classes - on Wednesdays at 2pm (Cost £4 per session)
(Aimed at carers of children aged 1 to 7 years) Make the Paint Dance Friday mornings Music and Movement at 10.30am
(For Adults and Elders) RJC Dance are running online sessions every Friday 12.30 - 1.30, through 26 March 2021. For more information and to book your place, please email stef@rjcdance.org.uk or call 0113 239 2040.
Drama
(Aimed to people aged 14 to 80 in East Leeds) Fall Into Place Theatre’s Generation Squad. Free to attend, every Monday 4 – 5:30pm, just email sarah@fallintoplace.co.uk for the zoom link and password.
(Aimed to young people aged 5 to 18) Brave Words and Fall Into Place Theatre are offering free drama and games focused Zoom Sessions Tuesday and Thursday (4-5pm for 5- 10 years, 5.15 to 6.15 for 11-15 years). Online until after the Easter Break - then (all being well!) their BEESTON, KENTMERE and MEANWOOD Youth Theatres will be in person. Sessions are pay as you feel, just email chris@bravewords.co.uk for more information.
(For all women in Leeds - those with experience of migration welcomed) Mawfa Theatre Online drama/arts sessions ongoing every Friday 3-4pm. They can help people to access data to join these sessions and are focusing on the theme of 'comfort'. This link can be shared with anyone who wishes to sign up: https://www.mafwatheatre.co.uk/sign-up
2. Drawing, creativity and craft
Leeds’ Arts and Minds Network is open to anyone interested in arts and creativity for mental health and wellbeing and offers regular free Connect and Create and Culture Club sessions and other opportunities such as taking part in art exhibitions. Learn more and join free here.
(Aimed at people who live in social housing in Lincoln Green and Burmantofts) The Highrise Project is running free arts and photography workshops to create a community project and learn new skills from 30th March 2021. No experience needed. Email thehighriseprojectleeds@gmail.com to learn more.
(For Care Leavers) Pyramid of Arts and Health For All are running Reflex for Arts creative sessions. If you are interested in joining email info@pyramid.org.uk.
(Aimed at people aged 16+ living in South and East Leeds) Your Space Leeds is running “Everyone can be Creative” sessions, including free creativity packs, on Mondays at 7pm running to 26th April. Great for anyone looking to boost their creativity or who want to be creative but don’t know where to start. Email annem@touchstonesupport.org.uk to learn more.
Leeds Libraries are offering “Simple Stitches For Spring” on Tuesday 20th April and Thursday 13th May at 1pm. You will get an insight into The Leeds Tapestry, discover books from the Art Library collection and enjoy a relaxing introduction to hand stitching techniques to create a bloom tree. All abilities welcome. Cost per session is £5 and you will need to have the materials needed. Book here.
(For people with learning disabilities) Pyramid of Arts Online classes - Arts Sharing Circle on Mondays at 11am. Learn more here.
You can join Leeds Libraries on the first Tuesday of the month 5-7pm for their popular Virtual Craft Meet Up on Leeds Libraries Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. They will be using the @RBdigitalUK app to challenge you with cute crafts from @MollieMakes. Everyone is invited to create their own crafts using material from round the house and garden in response to the article posted and to share their work on social media. Use hashtag #LLCraftClub to find them and see previous posts.
Make the Paint Dance’s Midweek Mindfulness on Instagram live on Wednesdays at 12noon or recorded on their instagram page
Stitch Up Leeds - Craft and wellbeing group on Wednesdays 6.30-7.30pm. All the details are here.
Inkwell Arts - Arts and Crafts sessions every Thursday at 10am - learn more here.
The Tetley “Drink and Draw” monthly drawing session are now online on Thursday 25th March at 6pm. The next session focuses on Collage Drawing. Tickets are free but donations welcome. Read more here.
Join Leeds Libraries for their Virtual Drop in and Draw every Thursday 12 noon-2:00pm with a different theme and image from their collections on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. You are invited to create your own drawing in response to the image we post and to share their work on social media. Use hashtag #LeedsDropInAndDraw to find them and see previous posts.
Keep Real are running monthly collage workshops on Fridays - £4.50 per session.
(Aimed at children aged 1 to 11) In March The Tetley is working with local artist Helen Gibson, AKA The Perky Painter, to offer a series of Family Mascot making activities on Sundays. Tickets are free but donations are welcome.
3. Literature
New Writing North are offering a Spring Season of talks and workshops from £5 plus booking fee. These sessions involve practical advice for a range of writers from poets to screen writers and people interested in different fiction genres.
Leeds Book Clubs offers monthly and quarterly meetups on Zoom on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
(For people with learning disabilities) Pyramid of Arts Online classes - Reading and Film Circle on Tuesdays at 11am. Learn more here.
Leeds Libraries have a monthly Book Club on Thursdays which you can join on Facebook here. All the books they discuss are available as ebooks and e audio books on their Borrow Box app. Find them on social media using hashtag #LeedsReadsBookClub.
(Aimed at residents of North and East Leeds): Space2’s People Poetry. Every third Friday of the month 1 to 2.30pm. To sign up email natalied@space2.org.uk.
Keep Real UK are offering monthly free flow writing workshops on Fridays - £4.50 per session.
(Aimed at mums who write) Mumwrite is offering “Spark” sessions via Zoom - short inspiration sessions with a supportive group of peers. Taking place on Fridays - suggested contribution £5 per session but some free spots available. Email: mumwrite@gmail.com to join
4. Culture
Leeds Libraries have arranged Leeds Tapestry Showcase - an exploration of the Leeds Tapestry, an iconic needlework display that celebrates our city’s history and culture. Learn about the beautiful, intricate needlework images and discover the fascinating stories behind their creation on Tuesdays at 1pm on 30th March and 11th May. Book here
Inkwell Arts’ Secret Cinema Club happens every Friday at 8pm - learn more here.