FAQ

Our vision is a thriving Leeds where creativity fuels opportunities for everyone. We know that across our city, even pre-Covid 19, there are many people who are locked out of opportunities to get on in life. 
 
Our ambition is to deliver a transformational year of creative experiences connecting and benefiting people across the district and creating a long lasting economic and cultural legacy. 

Everyone in Leeds and the wider district! All of our communities will have the opportunity to contribute and participate. We are particularly focused on engaging people who don’t think culture is for them, including under-represented groups, young people and people from certain parts of the city. 
 

Leeds City Council recognises the difference culture and creativity can make to a city and its citizens and is the principal funder of Leeds 2023. 

We are working with business and other funding partners including Trusts and Foundations to raise additional money. 

Working with local, national and international artists we will co-create an extraordinary programme of creative experiences. We will deliver 12 world-class signature events in the city and wider district throughout the year, opening on 1 Jan 2023.  
 
The programme will showcase creativity across all forms of culture: from dance to design, art to architecture, poetry to pop, sculpture to sport, grassroots community theatre to performances on our world class stages, there will be something for everyone!  
 
We are already supporting a variety of projects in their Research & Development phases, keep an eye on the ‘News’ page [LINK] for a taste of what’s to come. 
 

2020 and a global pandemic has shown us how, more than ever, the power of the arts, culture and creativity to help connect people, and bring joy, solace and entertainment. Culture is a powerful tool to help bridge divides and bring people together; storytelling can help create new narratives that can boost understanding and shift attitudes. 
 
We want to use Leeds 2023 to redress some of the injustices facing people in our communities and boost the visibility, representation and participation of our diverse communities in creative activities. 

We know investment in culture can pay dividends for cities: look at Liverpool – since 2008 it has cemented a global reputation and has used culture as ‘rocket fuel’ for regeneration (copyright Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson).  
 
Leeds 2023 promises to be a transformational year that will not only catapult Leeds as a cultural giant onto the world stage but will also pay economic dividends. According to a study by the University of Hull, Hull’s City of Culture 2017 generated £300m into the local economy. 
 
Leeds is already the fourth fastest growing city in creative industries with an increase of some 5,000 jobs and 500 new businesses in the first half of the decade, according to Arts Council England’s 2020 report from Metro Dynamics.  We want Leeds 2023 to build on this towards a long lasting economic and cultural legacy for the city. 

An Independent Steering Group was originally set up by Leeds City Council to progress the city’s bid for European Capital of Culture 2023 status and the subsequent development of the new Leeds 2023 cultural festival. Following the referendum and cancellation of UK cities’ entry into the competition, the City made a commitment to a six-year cultural investment programme, culminating in a year of culture in 2023. The Leeds 2023 baton was taken up by the Leeds Culture Trust.  
What have we done so far? 
We’ve been meeting and creating alliances with artists, organisations and communities across the city and beyond. to get a closer understanding of what currently exists across the district as well as putting our support behind projects that are already building towards 2023, our news page [LINK] is the page to go to find out more.  
 

We are looking for ideas, opinions, support and participation. If you live and work in Leeds and the wider district this is your Leeds 2023.

We need:
• Major funding to build on the generous £12m already committed by Leeds City Council
• Smaller funding pots that combine to make amazing things happen
• Creative collaborators to work with and learn from
• Thoughts and opinions from all sections of our communities
• Volunteers and mentors to help realise the incredible ambition of Leeds 2023

To pledge your support in any of these areas, email info@Leeds2023.co.uk and we’ll take it from there.

To stay up to date with Leeds 2023 you can sign up to our newsletter on the homepage of our website.

You can also connect with Leeds 2023 on Twitter @Leeds_2023, Instagram @Leeds2023, or search Leeds 2023 on Facebook.

We are looking for ideas, opinions, support and participation. If you live and work here this is your Leeds 2023.

We need:

Major funding to build on the generous £12m already committed by Leeds City Council

Smaller funding pots that combine to make amazing things happen
Creative collaborators to work with and learn from

Thoughts and opinions from all sections of our communities

Volunteers and mentors to help realise the incredible ambition of Leeds 2023

To pledge your support in any of these areas, email info@Leeds2023.co.uk and we’ll take it from there.

There will be opportunities for businesses across the city to partner with us as well as with our cultural venues and artists directly.  
 
If you wish to join our growing list of supporters, email info@leeds2023.co.uk