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A week ago we welcomed delegates from all over the country to join us in celebrating the grand opening of the Bragg Building! This brand new building is a part of our Chemistry and Engineering departments and owes its name to Sir William Henry Bragg, a Nobel Prize winning researcher who taught at the University of Leeds.
On Tuesday 7th June, the Sir William Henry Bragg Building received the grand opening such a prestigious building deserves. Delegates were treated to a day of wonderful experiences across campus to celebrate the life of Sir William Henry Bragg as well as the importance of the building named after him. The Bragg Building aims to bring together scientists and engineers to discover, create, and design new materials. With state-of-the-art laboratories and teaching spaces, it will enable cutting edge research and strengthen collaboration between the University of Leeds and industries across the world.
Delegates were first welcomed to the iconic Parkinson Building for a welcome reception. Delegates were served a buffet lunch alongside drinks, all served by our experienced catering teams. While as the Parkinson Building, delegates were treated to a classical musical performance from some students at the University.
A variety of esteemed guests came and gave speeches at the School of Music, including Sir Adrian Smith, Prof Nora De Leuuw, and the Vice-Chancellor. The all gave credit to the amazing inspiration Sir William Bragg offered students and the incredible work that could take place in the building. Members of the Bragg family also joined us to celebrate the opening of the building, giving a fascinating speech into the life and times of the man the building owes its name to. Delegates were then given tours of the building accompanied by PhD students and researchers
Finally delegates were again given the chance to network and talk about the day celebrating the building. A series of performances from the Black Dyke Band helped to set the scene for the afternoon celebration at the Parkinson Building and Clothworkers Concert Hall. Dame Julia Higgins then gave a speech and the University’s galleries and libraries were opened for guests to explore.
The Sir William Bragg Building promises to be a cornerstone of the University of Leeds in years to come as it inspires students and offers a base for meaningful and impactful research across the country.
Over the past 2 months we have been shining a spotlight on some of our hotel partners around Leeds that we work closely with, whether it be for accommodation or to host dinners alongside our conference activity. We have a really great relationship with our hotel partners and if we are unable to host you, we will always direct you to one of our partners. It is so important to us to create the best possible experience for our delegates here in Leeds and we are so lucky to have the partnerships we do across the City.
The Queens Hotel Leeds
First, we began with the Queens Hotel Leeds which has recently undergone a large scale refurbishment from top to bottom and we thought it looked amazing. Located overlooking City Square, it is right by the train station and the Victoria Shopping Quarter making it a great location in the city centre. It hosts a variety of meeting rooms from smaller boardrooms to large Gala dinners, they have a space to cater for all needs.
IBIS Styles Leeds
Next we travelled over to the IBIS Styles Hotel which offers a great location nearby the First Direct Arena and city centre. The IBIS Styles always looks bright and lively and are incredibly accommodating of our large conference bookings during term time when we don’t have capacity at Storm Jameson Court. The hotel also has themes of Yorkshire throughout offering a nod to the industrial past of the City of Leeds.
Hilton Double Tree
The Hilton Double Tree was next under the spotlight of Hotel Hour and we love its location, situated right on Granary Wharf it overlooks the River Aire running through the heart of Leeds. It also plays host to the amazing rooftop bar, Sky Lounge, which provides you with great drinks and wonderful views of the city. The Double Tree has a variety of amenities as well as dynamic meeting space to help accommodate for a variety of event sizes.
Radisson Blu Leeds
We then jumped over to The Light shopping centre, home of the Radisson Blu Leeds. It is situated a few minutes from the University campus and also a short walk to the city centre. It is a great hotel for those conferencing with us and very accommodating to large group bookings during term time. It gives you a short walk to the University and the city centre, giving you the full experience of conferencing here with us!
Leeds Marriott Hotel
The Leeds Marriott Hotel was the next of our partners to feature on #HotelHour and the Leeds Marriott Hotel has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment, making it one of the most exciting places to stay in the city. Marriott Leeds has impressed guests with a complete transformation of its bedrooms and Meetings and Events space, and a brand-new Executive Lounge. In the heart of the city, nestled on a quiet courtyard, the four-star hotel offers contemporary comfort in bright, stylish surroundings
Crowne Plaza Leeds
The next hotel we visited was the Crowne Plaza Leeds. The Crowne Plaza has fantastic service and a variety of dynamic meeting space to cater for anything from small meetings and large gala dinners. It is also located in the city centre offering great access to the train station and shopping centres alike. Visiting the Crowne Plaza is always great and we think it’s a wonderful location for those conferencing with us at the University of Leeds!
Hilton Leeds City
The Hilton Leeds City was the final hotel we visited and with a dynamic array of meeting space and bedroom options it is a great partner of ours! With 14 meeting rooms able to host 350 delegates alongside 208 bedrooms it is a dynamic and versatile partner of ours! They also offer the fantastic Livingwell Health Club to all guests which has a Spa, pool, and more!
At MEETinLEEDS, we absolutely love working with our partners across the city to ensure we deliver the best experience possible. We would like to thank those across our partners who helped this campaign and we are looking forward to working with them in the future.
With #Leeds2023 a year away we have been reflecting on a few cultural events that we have hosted at the University of Leeds over the years. The opportunity to celebrate these fantastic events has really built up the excitement for #Leeds2023 and the year of culture! Click on the subheading to be taken to the article and read our full story about the event. The team behind #Leeds2023 had this to say about the event with a year to go:
“2023 is going to be a year that changes our extraordinary city forever and for the better. We’re embarking on a year-long celebration of culture, happening all over the city and everybody can be a part of it.”
Opera North Orchestra Academy and Orchestra Camp
First we revisited the exciting work of the Opera North Orchestra Academy and Orchestra Camp hosted in the University’s School of Music. The Opera North Orchestra Academy is aimed at 14-19 year olds and offers a fantastic experience for aspiring young musicians to receive world-class orchestral training. Last taking place in 2019, the camp offered an inspirational and supportive environment for everyone to learn and grow in confidence. Alongside practicing and rehearsing with professional musicians, the young delegates were able to benefit from a side-by-side rehearsal with a full orchestra and professional conductor. The eager young musicians were able to develop their technical and creative ability in an action-packed programme full of fun and high-quality teaching. Working with Opera North is such a fantastic opportunity to promote culture in younger people and we always love seeing them return to campus. Emma Barnett, Youth Orchestral Manager from Opera North says:
“Being able to host the students nearby to the Howard Opera Centre, in a safe and supportive environment at the University of Leeds, enables us to reach and support the development of young musicians across the North of England and beyond”
Leeds International Piano Competition
We then celebrated the Leeds International Piano Competition, a key cultural event that the University has hosted since 1961. The competition is open to pianists under 30 from around the world and has always had a very close relationship with the University of Leeds. ‘The Leeds’, as it is affectionately known, took place from 8th-18th September 2019 and as is tradition held its semi-finals in the Great Hall. 22 Pianists from 19 countries went on to perform in the grand finals at Leeds City Hall. The Leeds International Piano Competition is a long standing partner and is a much celebrated cultural event celebrated across the city, we always look forward to working with them! Adam Gatehouse, Artistic Director for Leeds International Piano Competition, says
“We are thrilled to be able to hold the main part of the Competition in the University’s iconic Great Hall and enjoy access to the top-quality pianos of the University’s own Steinway School. All our competitors and jury members enjoy wonderful hospitality – the University staff are part of our family, and provide incredible support and enthusiasm for our young competitors.”
Mslexia
The final stop on our cultural journey was to reflect on Mslexicon 2019, an event run by Mslexia – A magazine for women who write covering the business and psychology of writing. Mslexicon was aimed at female creative writers, covering those interested in novels, short fiction, memoirs and many more types of non-fiction writing. The event allowed writers to nurture their craft and progress their career with help from leading agents, authors, tutors, and mentors. The group workshops and talks covered topics such as voice, character development, plot, as well as advice on publishing trends, creativity, and how to cope with the submissions process. Supporting events like Mslexicon is such an important part of supporting the city of Leeds to ensure everybody gets the chance to experience and share their cultural knowledge with those around them!
Looking Ahead
#Leeds2023 is just one year away and we have loved reflecting on our past events in order to build the excitement for what should be a fantastic year for the city of Leeds in 2023. At the University of Leeds we pride ourselves on being able to support the city by hosting great events such as those above. #Leeds2023 promises to deliver a cultural event the type of which the city has never experienced before and at the University of Leeds are excited to support a fantastic year of events.
“For one whole year (all 365 days, 12 months, and 500,000 minutes of it), this city is letting culture loose. We’re gonna create, make, perform, run, bake, eat, share, sing, speak, play and more besides. Because culture is everywhere in this city.”
As we celebrate culture in anticipation of #Leeds2023, we are finishing up our reflective journey by putting the spotlight on literature. In Summer 2019, at the historic Devonshire Hall, we hosted Mslexia, a magazine for women who write which covers both the business and psychology of writing.
Mslexia hosted their first ever weekend writing retreat with us, called Mslexicon 2019. Mslexicon was a retreat aimed at female writers of creative prose including novels, short fiction, memoirs and all types of narrative non-fiction. The retreat was designed to foster creativity and provide attendees with the skills and confidence to achieve their writing goals.
The event allowed writers from across the UK to nurture their craft and progress their career with the help of leading agents, authors, tutors and mentors, who were all hand-picked for their commitment and knowledge in supporting women who write.
Their group workshops, talks and panel discussions covered key issues such as character development, voice and plot, as well as career advice on publishing trends, performance skills, prioritising your creativity, and how to cope with the submissions rollercoaster. One of the most popular events at Mslexicon 2019 was ‘Find Your Tribe’, where attendees identified the genre they wrote in, and mingled in groups.
The historic courtyards of Devonshire Hall were a beautiful backdrop for the outdoor dinners and drinks receptions which saw attendees come together to discuss the exciting talks they had attended.
Harriet Boatwright, Sales and Marketing Manager for MEETinLEEDS, says:
With its unique character and period architecture, we knew that Devonshire Hall was the perfect venue for delegates to network and explore their creativity. Environment, and sense of place and belonging is an important factor in the creative process and can lead to very powerful storytelling. We are privileged to be a part of the continuing journey for #Leeds2023 and we know the crucial part events will play in bringing the power of culture (in Leeds) to the world.
Literature is a key element of culture being celebrated by #Leeds2023, alongside music, dance, art, sports and theatre. We can’t wait to be part of the exciting events of #Leeds2023 in a year’s time!
In celebration of the #OneYearToGo campaign for Leeds 2023, we’re once again looking back at the cultural conferences and events we have hosted on campus.
Leeds 2023 is a yearlong celebration of culture across our city. Dance, art, sports, poetry and theatre will all take centre stage for the whole year.
The team behind it say:
“We think culture is everywhere in this city and this is our time to shout about it. We’re working with local, national and international artists and communities to create a celebration that’s for Leeds, with Leeds and inspired by Leeds.”
One of our key cultural events is the Leeds International Piano Competition, which we have been proud to be involved with for many years.
The competition, open to pianists under 30 from around the world, has had a close relationship with the University of Leeds since its earliest days in 1961. Let’s take a look back to the 2021 event.
Despite having to hold preliminary rounds online, ‘The Leeds’ (as it is affectionately known) took place from 8th-18th September in person. We were so pleased to host the second round and the semi-finals in the Great Hall on campus as is tradition. 22 pianists from 19 countries performed across 3 days leading to the spectacular finals in Leeds Town Hall.
Alim Beisembayev, 23 year old pianist from Kazakhstan, took first prize after his performance alongside the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Winning the competition is widely regarded as one of the most coveted prizes in the musical world.
The event was a glittering finale to the triennial piano competition which – with the University as its principal partner – has seen every aspect of the instrument celebrated by a global audience.
Adam Gatehouse, Artistic Director for Leeds International Piano Competition, says
“Our relationship with the University of Leeds began in 1963 and is completely unique in the world of competitions as a partnership between one of the world’s leading music competitions and one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
We are thrilled to be able to hold the main part of the Competition in the University’s iconic Great Hall and enjoy access to the top-quality pianos of the University’s own Steinway School. All our competitors and jury members enjoy wonderful hospitality – the University staff are part of our family, and provide incredible support and enthusiasm for our young competitors.
A hugely rewarding aspect of our partnership is our internships and volunteering programme. This offers University of Leeds students the chance to gain valuable experience in a variety of roles which bring the competition to the world, whether it is as production assistants, supporting fundraising, driving cultural engagement on our community Leeds Piano Trail, or providing a warm welcome to audiences at events.
Our global reach, particularly through our online streaming with Medici.tv, enables us to reach out to alumni and networks worldwide, and we are able to develop new thinking together in areas where we have mutual interests, such as digital transformation and community engagement.
We are truly fortunate to have such a forward-looking and vibrant organisation as our Principal Partner.”
Alongside the main competition there was a varied range of concerts and events designed to showcase the talents of all involved. This included the Leeds Piano Trail – 11 beautifully decorated pianos and 10 sculptures spaced across the city which provided an opportunity for anyone to safely play and enjoy the piano for free. Community groups and professional artists transformed the instruments into works of art, including one located in campus inside LUU. The trail encouraged people in Leeds to explore the city and to come together once again.
Harriet Boatwright, Sales and Marketing Manager at MeetinLeeds, says
“We are so very proud of the partnership we have with Leeds International Piano Competition and love how global the event continues to be. As we look to welcome the City of Culture to Leeds in 2023, as a conference team we are driven to ensure that cultural activities remains a crucial part of our event delivery throughout the year and more importantly beyond. We welcome and look forward to the opportunity to work with the University of Leeds core partners, among the many; Northern Ballet, Opera North and Leeds Museums and Galleries.”
In January we welcomed the Bragg Exchange 2022 to campus for our first conference of the New Year! We were so pleased to host the Bragg Centre team and delegates in the Great Hall and in the brand new Sir William Bragg Building.
The event saw 5 key speakers from across the UK deliver talks and share knowledge on their latest works in Materials Research. There were also lightning presentations and posters given by external speakers and Bragg Centre members.
The Bragg Centre specialises in the discovery, creation and design of new materials, bringing together scientists and engineers to work on 6 fundamental research teams. They are a founding partner of the Henry Royce Institute, the UK’s centre for advanced material research and innovation.
Andrew Lee, Bragg Centre Manager and Engagement Excellence Fellow, commented this about the event:
“It was incredibly important to the Bragg Centre to get our community together in person after such a tumultuous time. The Events team worked hard to pave the way for this, being agile and flexible despite the difficult circumstances to help us to deliver an enriching experience for our internal community, whilst also broadcasting an external livestream to the world. The event was a great success and sets the precedent for future of the annual Bragg Exchange conference.”
We look forward to supporting the Bragg Centre across the rest of 2022 and with future Bragg Exchange conferences!
This time next year will see the start of Leeds 2023 – a yearlong celebration of culture across our city. There will be heaps of community events planned from dance, art and sport to poetry and theatre – we just can’t wait to get involved!
The team behind it say:
“LEEDS 2023 will be an explosion of colour, noise and brilliance that will show the world in our city and our city to the world.”
We want to take this opportunity to look back on some of the cultural conferences and events that we have hosted on campus. This week we’re looking back at the Opera North Orchestra Academy and Orchestra Camp which took place in Summer 2019 in the University’s School of Music.
The Opera North Orchestra Academy, aimed at 14-19 year olds, is a summer residential course that provides a world-class orchestral training experience with the Orchestra of Opera North in an inspirational and supportive environment.
As well as rehearsing and performing existing orchestral repertoire, the young delegates also benefited from a side-by-side rehearsal with the full orchestra and sectional coaching with the professional musicians. They were also able to gain an in-depth insight into working with a professional orchestra and conductor, as well as receiving additional opportunities to play and rehearse chamber music throughout the week.
With an action-packed programme full of fun, high quality musical experience and a chance to play alongside professionals, the budding musicians were able to develop their technical and musical ability in a creative and supportive environment.
We’re looking forward to welcoming the Opera North Orchestra Academy back this year!
Emma Barnett, Youth Orchestral Manager from Opera North Education says:
Opera North Education is pleased to return to University of Leeds Accommodation to host the residential component of our annual Summer Orchestra Academy. Each summer, young musicians come from all over the UK to spend a week working side by side with Orchestra of Opera North, a professional opera conductor and soloists from Opera North’s mainstage performances.
The Summer Orchestra Academy forms part of Opera North’s Youth Orchestral programme, which aims to and offer young musicians insight to working with a professional orchestra and conductor, and the ability to develop excellence in ensemble skills and orchestral performance.
Being able to host the students nearby to the Howard Opera Centre, in a safe and supportive environment at the University of Leeds, enables us to reach and support the development of young musicians across the North of England and beyond.
We’d love to host some more cultural events in 2023 and beyond – get in touch with the team via our Contact Page if you have any ideas!