WORLD-CLASS ARTS & CULTURE Leicester is bursting with talent and inventiveness. We perform, paint, print, and create. We take the world of imagination into every neighbourhood and community – and we export our life-affirming creativity to distant corners of the globe. This collection is a snapshot. It features 19 of our best-known and most successful cultural organisations – the tip of a world- class artistic and cultural offer that is at last being taken seriously at a national level. Two things stand out: the glorious diversity of our creative output and the ambition of those who want to release even more of the FOREWORD talent that lies within us. From my first days as City Mayor I have shared that ambition. 2 I’ve supported local art and culture because 3 it strengthens our identity and generates such strong economic benefits. If you’re unfamiliar with Leicester, this booklet is for you. It tells anyone who’s thinking of living, working, or investing in Leicester that the city is alive with excitement and creative opportunity. It’s not the whole story, of course. There’s much more going on, and so much more potential yet to be realised. In so many countless ways Leicester will move, challenge, and exhilarate you. Peter Soulsby City Mayor No city can have a renaissance if it Unconventional and unquenchable hasn’t enjoyed a golden past. The roots Now we’re on the rise, and the stardust of Leicester’s explosion of creativity is once again touching thousands of lives. reach far beyond the discovery of a Arts Council England’s recognition of king in a car park and the unexpected 16 National Portfolio Organisations in landing of a Premier League trophy. Leicester, including six recent additions, The city that hosts six active theatres reflects our city-wide renaissance in arts and concert halls used to have many, and culture. These and the other class- many more. The Palace Theatre of leading cultural organisations gathered Varieties (opened 1901) could seat in this booklet are the uppermost tier in 3,500, welcomed Charlie Chaplin a creative ecosystem driven by our wild and Marie Lloyd, and was the country’s and unquenchable multiculturalism, by largest theatre outside London. Leicester our underplayed heritage, and by minds Society of Artists has been promoting art unshackled by convention. since 1882, and Leicester Drama Society If you like the 19 organisations collected 4 has been active since 1922. here, you’ll love everything else that 5 True, there were dull years. When the Leicester has to offer. playwright Joe Orton swapped Leicester’s dreary post-war gloom for London, he was escaping a glitch in our cultural history. But even so, both he and his near-contemporary, the Oscar-winning film-maker Lord Richard Attenborough, RENAISSANCE CITY still managed to absorb some of the Leicester stardust during their teenage, career-nurturing performances at The Little Theatre. Leicester is now … “ the top destination for producing musicals outside London. ” Cameron Mackintosh Leicester is stirring the national As a result, Arts Council funding now consciousness. When Arts Council reaches a much wider range of age groups, England announced its current round communities, and interests across the city. of funding in 2017, it chose Leicester’s One Leicester-based partnership between Curve for the launch event. In creative De Montfort University and Arts Council terms, no other city is growing so England even takes the nursery concept fast. Six of the Arts Council’s 42 new literally. Talent25 is a ground-breaking National Portfolio Organisations research project to learn about the benefits (NPOs) are in Leicester, which raises to babies and young children of regular the city’s NPO tally to 16. involvement in arts and creative activities. At that launch event, Darren Henley In Leicester it doesn’t matter who you are: OBE, the Arts Council’s Chief Executive, if you want to express yourself through described our “extraordinary, ever- dance, theatre, art, or music – or see what 6 FUNDING A A FUNDING evolving, multi-ethnic local culture” as happens when people like you let their 7 “a nursery for national talent”. Cities like own talents loose – you can do it here. Leicester, he said, “are a testament to how Arts Council support is reaching the a bold vision and sustained investment communities that count. can kick-start local economies and inspire NURSERY FOR FOR NURSERY pride in the places we live.” NATIONAL TALENT NATIONAL Leicester has been through a cultural renaissance “ in the past 15 years. It’s a great example of cultural regeneration. The city has all the ingredients: a young and diverse population plus a local authority and a Mayor who believes in culture and its ability to drive a successful city. In Leicester, the strength of the local partnerships is crucial, together with council support and strong business models. Where we see these great ideas and genuine partnerships, our funding makes a difference. ” Peter Knott Midlands Area Director, Arts Council England COMPANY 8 On stage, Aakash Odedra is From its studios in Belgrave, mesmerising: beautiful, poetic, fluid Aakash Odedra Company works to 9 as mercury, undulating like a flock eliminate the barriers and inequalities AAKASH ODEDRA of starlings at sunset. Trained since that stop people accessing dance and childhood in traditional Kathak culture. It makes dance available to dance, Aakash fuses classical and everyone from age two upwards. contemporary styles to create his For Aakash Odedra Company, own unique language of movement. dance is a fundamental right. It uses His style has global appeal, but the medium’s transformational power Belgrave Road is its natural home. to build communities and help people Rooted in Leicester, Aakash Odedra lead happier and healthier lives. The Company blends the ancient and company partners with Shiamak, “ An exceptionally modern to tell stories through dance the global leader in Bollywood and agile dancer that are relevant to today’s audiences. Indo-contemporary dance, to offer who, it appears, The company creates original dance classes throughout the UK. has no trouble productions that tour internationally, From summer schools, Arts Award aakashodedra.com slipping between while at home its team of education activities, and over-65s classes in styles, effortlessly producers, Moving Together, provides Leicester to rapturous overseas multilingual. ” a wide programme of projects, classes, audiences, Aakash Odedra Company New York Times and activities for the local community. never fails to bring people to their feet. ArtReach turns your world ArtReach understands that arts upside-down. When its festivals centres and illuminated stiltwalkers come to town, the streets sparkle stay on their feet far longer when with light and colour, the beats supported by fundraising, experience, are loud and compulsive, strangers and clear-sighted professionalism. dance, laughter etches your facial Across the country, cultural and lines into carefree permanence. community projects have flourished ArtReach is the driving force behind with ArtReach’s help and advice. dozens of European street festivals that They include the New Art Exchange bring communities together – and get in Nottingham, Norden Farm Centre 10 them thinking. There’s an edge to an for the Arts in Maidenhead, the Curzon 11 ArtReach festival – freedom, democracy, Community Cinema in Clevedon, cultural mixing – timely reminders Cornerstone Didcot, and Leicester’s that public art and performance very own Curve and Peepul Centre. ARTREACH can be meaningful and fun. For the rest of us, ArtReach is just the The annual Journeys Festival International wildest street party we’re likely to see all year. (Leicester, Manchester, Portsmouth) brings together refugee artists and the asylum- artreach.biz seeking community into an artistic event celebrating their lives and creative talents. As creative consultants, ArtReach has touched millions more lives through the commissioning of public art, evaluation, strategic planning, and organisational and capital-project development. “ It’s beautiful and brings everyone together. ” Audience member Night of Festivals Every city should have an From poetry to performance art, from Attenborough Arts Centre. This life classes to live music, from mixed is the gallery, venue, workshop, media to mixed messages, the AAC and performance space that wears is as free-thinking, approachable, and its culture as lightly as the silk down-to-earth as its inspirational parachutes and floor cushions in first patron, Lord Attenborough. its experiential sessions. Stepping As a champion of risk, diversity, and inside feels like coming home emerging talent, the AAC follows in – and everyone’s welcome. his footsteps. The AAC eliminates barriers to Leicester loves its AAC. When the contemporary art. It’s the great leveller venue needed funds for an extension, that lifts everyone it touches; it delights in a thousand people put their hands in “ I wanted to thank you all for taking you out of your comfort zone but their pockets. Others enjoy its relaxed making our residents feel so holds your hand every step of the way. generosity as they settle into a free late- welcome, they truly had a That’s its ethos. As one of just five venues night performance in the coffee shop. fantastic time! … The residents in the UK that are purpose-built for both said they were treated like ARTS CENTRE 12 disabled artists and audiences, the AAC is attenborougharts.com VIPs, and they loved the fact they art and culture for all, no questions asked. were treated like individuals … 13 You all made it a truly special day. The range and output are phenomenal: ” well over 200 shows and events a year, and Emma ATTENBOROUGH ATTENBOROUGH nearly a thousand creative learning sessions. after a visit from her Leicester care home As dusk falls, Leicester’s cultural scene City of festivals Children and young people Art and creativity for all comes to life.