Exhibitions
Visit our Exhibitions which showcase the work of leading contemporary visual artists, free of charge and open daily.
ARTIST ROOMS Jenny Holzer
In partnership with Tate & National Galleries of Scotland
15 June - 29 September 2024
Gallery 1 &2, Free Entry
American artist Jenny Holzer uses poetic, personal and political texts as her primary material, challenging us to consider the words and messages that surround us in contemporary society. She invites us to read and interpret for ourselves, so that people might question the ‘usual baloney they are fed’ in daily life.
Tim Fowler: The Ground
18 October 2024 – 26 January 2025
Gallery 1, Free Entry
Tim Fowler, a Leicester-based artist, will show a selection of paintings from his ‘Provenance’ series, depicting migratory plants that have followed a similar journey to Tim’s own DNA –from West Africa, via the Caribbean to the UK.
‘The Ground’, titled after the name that many Bajans give to their gardens, will also feature new work inspired by Tim’s recent trip to Andromeda Botanic Gardens in Barbados.
Gallery Opening Times
Weekdays: 12pm - 5pm
Weekends: 12pm - 4pm
Free for all
Take Part
Family Gallery Workshops
Every Saturday during Exhibitions 1pm – 3pm, Free Come and explore our exhibitions with our friendly Learning Team and use resources in the Salmon Gallery to respond creatively with your family.
Sunday Sessions
Every Sunday, Drop-in Sessions 12pm – 4pm, Free Come and enjoy fun and engaging creative activities in our café, open to everyone and suitable for all ages.
Image: Family Gallery Workshops
Performance
Our performances programme presents a diverse range of music, theatre, spoken word, dance and comedy events.
Weekly
Soundbites Lunchtime Concerts
Every Tuesday 12:15pm – 1:15pm, Free
A free lunchtime concert for all which takes place in our Hall – no booking required. Come alone or with friends, and you’re welcome to bring your lunch.
September
The Sitar Music Society presents Baithak Series 2024: Indian Classical Music
Saturday 14 September 6pm – 8:45pm, £12/£10
Arohan: Shaddarshan presented by Centre for Indian Classical Dance
Friday 20 September 7pm – 8:15pm, Pay What You Can Innovative presentation of Yogic Chakra Philosophy performed in the classical style of Kathak and Bharatnatyam.
WORD! Clothes Swap Story Shop with Cathi Rae
Saturday 21 September 2:30pm – 3:30pm, Pay What You Can
Mouse Teeth & The Robot Needs Home Collective presents RITUAL
Saturday 28 September 1pm – 11pm
An all-day, multi-stage festival of live music and poetry, bringing together performers from Leicester and beyond for a carefully programmed new event.
Image: Black Voices in Concert: Singing in the Black Oral Tradition
October
Black Voices in Concert: Singing in the Black Oral Tradition
Friday 4 October
7pm – 9:30pm, £14/£5
In this special concert, the internationallyacclaimed a cappella collective Black Voices will present a mix of genres and styles woven with stories of life through a journey of love, hope, social justice and truth.
Curious Investigators by One Tenth Human
Sunday 6 October
11am – 12pm & 2pm – 3pm, Pay What You Can
A cracking new interactive engineering adventure for 3–7-year-old scientists and their grown-ups!
FAMEHUNGRY by Louise Orwin
Friday 11 October
7pm – 8pm, Pay What You Can
A helter-skelter nose dive into TikTok, the attention economy, and what it means to be an artist now.
WORD! and Renaissance One present Caribbean Woman: A Tribute Through Poetry, Words and Song
Saturday 12 October
3:30pm – 5pm, £7/£4/£20 for family of four
Leicester Jazz House presents Fergus McCreadie
Thursday 17 October
7:30pm – 9:30pm, £14/£5
Expressions of the Heart: A Journey through Bharata Natyam by Hiten Mistry
Saturday 19 October
7pm – 8:15pm, Pay What You Can
An evening of Bharata Natyam exploring pieces that evoke expressions of love in various shades exploring characters, emotions and the infinite spirit.
Oh So Funny Comedy presents The Extraordinary Time-Travelling Adventures of Baron Munchausen
Wednesday 23 October
1pm – 2pm, Pay What You Can
There will be pirates and princesses, swordfights and spacemen, as top comedians and improvisers tell extravagant stories for families.
SYNERGY R&D Sharing by Mark Smith and Musa Motha
Thursday 24 October
7pm – 8pm, Pay What You Can
BSL Interpretation for the Q&A event
SYNERGY is a cross cultural dance collaboration as five unique characters meet in a moment of space and time, demanding recognition and a future beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. Featuring top choreographer Mark Smith and Musa Motha, known to many from Britain’s Got Talent.
Butterfly Boudoir: Halloween Special
Saturday 26 October
7pm – 9:30pm, £13
Image: SYNERGY R&D Sharing by Mark Smith and Musa Motha
Luna Loves Library Day The Music by Little Seeds Music
Sunday 27 October
11am – 12pm & 2pm – 3pm, Pay What You Can
Join Luna and her Dad for an adventure among the library shelves in this exciting new musical for families.
November
AWOL by Rob Gee
Sunday 3 November
7pm – 8:30pm, £10/£8
Comedy gold as two old men escape from a care home and go to a metal festival.
Santi & Naz by The Thelmas
Thursday 7 November 7pm – 8:10pm, Pay What You Can Relaxed Performance
Best friends Santi and Naz live in pre-partition India. One Sikh, one Muslim, they have little understanding of how religion will divide them. Leading theatre company The Thelmas return to Leicester with their hit play.
Cultivating Mad Cow by Flippin’Mental
Friday 15 November 7pm – 9pm, Pay What You Can
A dramatisation of an experiencing the darkest place any of us could imagine, while bringing to life the mad comedy of it all.
Leicester Jazz House presents Mingus Sings!
Saturday 16 November 7:30pm – 9:30pm, £14/£5
Image: Santi & Naz by The Thelmas
Bright Places by Rae Mainwaring
Friday 22 November
7pm – 8:15pm, Pay What You Can
A three-woman, one-woman show about Multiple Sclerosis, MS for short, not to be confused with M&S or S&M.
Film Night by The Boilerverse
Saturday 23 November 7pm – 10pm, Pay What You Can
Four Leicester bands perform live with a backdrop of luscious visuals especially curated for the evening.
WORD! International Day of Disabled Persons
Thursday 28 November 7pm – 9pm, £7/£4
Shakti Leela presents Mahavidya ‘10 Wisdoms of The Great Mother’
Saturday 30 November 2pm – 3:15pm & 7pm – 8:15pm, Pay What You Can
Sangita Lakhanpal is a British born artist rooted in the spiritual wisdoms of her Indian heritage. Her work pulses with a voice that is urgent, sensuous, and awakened to these times.
December
A Winters Tale by 1623 Theatre
Friday 6 December, 7pm – 9pm
Saturday 7 December, 2:30pm – 4:30pm & 7pm – 9pm
£15/£12/£40 for Family of Four
BSL Interpreted, Captioned & Audio
Description for 7 December 7pm showing only
Buzzing Roots Christmas Residence
Saturday 7 December 11am – 4pm
At the Botanic Garden
Join us for a Christmas Fayre with over 30 indoor stalls to visit, live music, Christmas craft workshops, storytelling, and Santa’s Grotto, along with two exhibitions in the greenhouses.
14/48 presents Theatre Anonymous: A Christmas Carol
Saturday 14 December 7pm – 9pm, Pay What You Can Theatre Anonymous sees a cast of performers rehearse in secret, only discovering each other’s identity live on stage in this family festive classic.
Butterfly Boudoir: Christmas Special
Sunday 15 December 7pm – 9:30pm, £13
WORD!
Thursday 19 December 7pm – 9pm, £7/£4
Pay What You Can
We believe that everyone should be able to access the arts. For this reason some of our shows and events this year will be ‘Pay What You Can’, meaning that you decide how much you can or want to pay.
UK premiere of Tracy Young’s gripping new translation of Shakespeare’s bold and moving play.
This expands access to the arts for those who may not have been able to participate otherwise, or gives others the chance to support those who cannot by paying a bit extra.
Creative Courses
Our Creative Courses offer artistled sessions across a range of disciplines to help you develop your art skills, welcoming all abilities.
Craft & Art Fair
Saturday 2 November 11am – 4pm, Free
A highlight in our calendar, the winter fair showcases 50 of the best artists and craft makers from across our region. Support local creative small businesses and kick start your seasonal shopping.
Weekly
Adventures in Art
Tuesdays & Fridays, September – December 10am – 12pm, £10/£6
Adventures in Art is our fun, informal, weekly art workshop for adults. We have a variety of tutors who offer a new creative discipline every 3-4 weeks.
Drawing and Painting
Hand Lettering and Modern Calligraphy
Saturdays, 7 – 28 September 10:30am – 12:30pm, £75/£55
Learn how to write in the modern calligraphy type and harness your own style, using loads of different mediums and surfaces.
Drawing and Painting in a Botanical Style
Mondays, 9 September – 25 November 10am – 1pm, £195/£145
Over 10 sessions, this course provides an insight into the beautiful process of botanical drawing and painting.
Approaches to Abstraction
Wednesdays, 11 September – 20 November 1:30pm – 4:30pm, £195/£145
Create expressive, sensual abstract pictures in a variety of painting and drawing media, inspired by tutor demonstrations and the work of other artists.
Problem & Criticism
Thursdays, 19 September – 21 November or Thursdays, 26 September – 21 November 10:30am – 12pm, £70/£55
Join with other artists to develop your critical skills and become more confident in your ability to develop your own artistic style.
Thursday Sketchbook Sessions
Thursdays, 26 September – 21 November 2pm – 4:30pm, £130/£95
Learn tips and tricks to fuel your passion for sketching and to help keep a sketchbook as part of your creative life.
Nature Art Journaling
Tuesdays, 1 – 29 October 10am – 12pm, £100/£75
Get journaling and explore a wide range of techniques and mediums with plenty of nature inspiration to get your creative juices flowing.
Captured on Canvas
Thursdays, 3 October – 7 November 1:30pm – 4pm, £120/£90
Learn to paint striking oil portraits inspired by both traditional and contemporary techniques.
Digital Art:
A Beginners
Course for iPad and Procreate in a Gallery Setting
Saturdays, 5 – 19 October 10:30am – 1pm, £60/£45
If you have an iPad and Apple Pencil and are wondering how to start your digital artistic journey then this course is for you.
Introduction to Abstract Painting
Mondays, 7 October – 4 November 10am – 1pm, £100/£75
Unleash your creativity and explore the world of abstract art in a supportive and inspiring environment.
Painting Problems:
Only Black and White
Wednesdays, 9 October – 27 November 10am – 1pm, £160/£120
For experienced painters looking for new challenges by taking the limitation of only working in black and white to move their practice forward.
Life Drawing
Independent Life Drawing
Wednesdays, 4 September – 18 December 6pm – 8pm, £12/£9
We provide the studio, the model and the easel so you can book dates, week by week, when it suits you to practice your life drawing in a supportive environment.
Life Drawing: The Painted Nude
Fridays, 20 September – 29 November 2pm – 4:30pm, £195/£145
Explore a wide range of drawing and painting methods to gain a greater understanding of the use of paint to express the human form.
Weekly
Life Drawing Classes
Fridays, 20 September – 13 December 6pm – 8pm, £20/£15
Weekly pay-as-you-go drawing classes, ideal for those seeking a flexible opportunity to do some life drawing with experienced models and an expert tutor.
Life Drawing for Absolute Beginners
Saturday 28 September 10:30am – 4pm, £80/£60
An intensive workshop designed for total beginners, as you will be shown fool proof, tried and tested methods of rendering a life model.
Portraiture Workshop
Saturday 26 October 10:30am – 4pm, £80/£60
Through a series of drawing exercises, explore a wide variety of methods of seeing and therefore drawing the portrait from a live model.
Life Drawing Masterclass
Saturday 16 November 10:30am – 4pm, £80/£60
Explore a wide range of styles and techniques to draw and paint the human figure.
Image: Independent Life Drawing
Printmaking
Explorations in Lino
Tuesdays, 10 September – 12 November
5pm – 8pm, £195/£145
Learn carving techniques, experiment with mark making and explore a range of exciting processes to create a series of unique prints.
Lino in Black and White
Wednesdays, 11 September – 9 October
6pm – 8:30pm, £100/£75
Explore techniques to create your lino plate and experiment with the printing process, to create a series of unique black and white prints.
Print Journey
Mondays, 30 September – 28 October
2pm – 4pm, £100/£75
Explore a variety of printing techniques, from using simple objects to creating intricate designs and printing effects inspired by nature.
Botanical Drawing to Print
Saturday 5 – Sunday 6 October
10:30am – 4pm, £150/£115
Delve into the world of plants by reproducing their unique patterns, textures and shapes into handmade accordion books.
Exploring Cyanotype in Depth
Saturday 12 October
10:30am – 4:30pm, £75/£55
Explore all of the techniques for using the alternative photographic process of cyanotype to create your own unique ‘blueprints’.
Creative Collagraphs
Wednesdays, 16 October – 13 November
6pm – 8:30pm, £100/£75
Explore the incredible versatility of card, tapes, adhesives and texture in this exciting five week Collagraph printing course.
Sculpture and Pottery
Pottery: Intermediate Hand Building
Tuesdays, 10 September – 19 November 1pm – 4pm, £195/£145
Develop hand-building skills alongside glazing and surface decoration to work towards personal goals and creative clay challenges.
Pottery For All Workshops
Saturday 21 September, Saturday 26 October, Friday 11 October, Saturday 7 December & Monday 9 December 10:30am – 4pm, £80/£60
This is a flexible one-day workshop for those who love pottery and are seeking an informal opportunity to try hand-building for the first time or develop existing skills.
Experiments in Sculpture
Mondays, 30 September – 9 December or Thursdays, 3 October – 12 December 6:30pm – 9pm, £195/£145
Over 10 weeks develop sculptural ideas and experiment with form, initially through drawing and model making, before finalising and finishing a unique piece.
Sculptural Ceramics
Thursdays, 3 October – 12 December 10am – 12:30pm, £195/£145
Work exclusively with clay to create sculptural work, using a variety of sculptural techniques and learning in a very supportive environment.
Textiles and Needle Crafts
Beginners Sewing Day
Saturday 14 September
10:30am – 5pm, £80/£60
Had a sewing machine collecting dust and need a little help to get started? This is the workshop for you!
Improvers Crochet
Wednesdays, 18 September – 9 October 6pm – 8pm, £60/£45
A fun, informal course designed for those with basic crochet skills to build confidence and improve their crochet knowledge.
Modern Punch Needle:
Colouring with Yarn
Saturday 21 September 10:30am – 1:30pm, £30/£25
Create your own wonderfully textured piece of wall art in this beginner’s punch needle workshop.
Image: An Introduction to Patchwork and Quilting
Exploring Texture with Punch Needle
Friday 25 October
10am – 4:30pm, £60/£45
Explore the versatility of the humble punch needle tool to create a piece of 8” wall art full of texture and interest, during this one-day workshop.
An Introduction to Patchwork and Quilting
Wednesdays, 30 October – 27 November 10am – 12:30pm, £100/£75
Try patchwork and quilting for the first time and discover the modern way to make timeless heirlooms.
Introduction to Natural Dying and Sustainable Textile Art
Mondays, 4 November – 2 December 2pm – 4pm, £100/£75
Learn to dye repurposed fabric with plants and kitchen waste and then create a beautiful mini quilt with your dyed fabric.
Marvellous Macrame Makes
Tuesdays, 5 November – 3 December 6pm – 9pm, £25/£20
Learn what you can do with just a few basic knots and some cotton cord. It really is amazing! Book all five sessions or just the ones you fancy.
Metalworking
Wonderful Wire Working
Saturday 5 October
10:30am – 3pm, £60/£45
Think of the wire as a pencil line and then take it for a walk! Using wire, as you would draw a line, is an engaging way of creating a unique artwork.
Beautiful Beaded Jewellery
Friday 18 October
10am – 1pm, £40/£30
Use beads and wire to create unique silver beaded jewellery. This workshop includes guidance on how to use the correct tools to make necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
Small Scale Metalworking: Create a Copper Foldformed Leaf Garland or Decorative Stem
Saturday 19 October
10:30am – 4pm, £80/£60
Foldforming is a fun and addictive metalworking technique, which easily and quickly creates 3 dimensional sculptural forms from sheet metal.
Festive Workshops
Festive Punch Needle Embroidery
Saturday 23 November 10:30am – 1:30pm, £30/£25
Create your own wonderfully textured piece of festive wall art in this festive beginner’s punch needle class.
Christmas Cyanotypes
Saturday 23 November 10:30am – 1:30pm & 2pm – 5pm, £40/£30
Use the photographic process of cyanotype to create some beautiful Christmas decorations for your home.
Felt Wreath Making
Tuesday 3 December 1pm – 3pm, £25/£20
Learn how to create a sustainable wreath using felt knotting techniques and experiment with embellishing and adorning your wreath.
Festive Fused Glass Decorations
Friday 6 December 10am – 1pm & 2pm – 5pm, £40/£30
Make four beautiful festive decorations for yourself or to gift through the amazing craft of glass fusing.
Copper Christmas Decorations
Saturday 7 December 10:30am – 4pm, £80/£60
Design and make your own copper or aluminium Christmas decorations. No experience is required but fun with hammers and tools will definitely be had!
Festive Macrame Gonk
Tuesday 10 December 1pm – 4pm, £25/£20
Enter into the Christmas spirit and create your own festive macrame gonk – every home needs one!
Winter Botanical Plaster Casting Workshop
Friday 13 December 10:30am – 4pm, £80/£60
Use clay moulds and plaster casts to capture the incredibly fragile and delicate details found in nature in this new one-day workshop.
Bargello Embroidered Star Decorations
Saturday 14 December 10:30am – 1:30pm, £25/£20
Learn the retro craft of bargello to create fabulous festive decorations to adorn your home.
Creative Writing
Read/Talk/Write: Diving into Contemporary Poetry for Readers and Writers
Thursdays, 12 September – 14 November
6pm – 8pm, £120/£90
This 10-week course is a fusion of reading, discussion and creative writing - all within a supportive, structured and creative environment.
Apittame Arts: Creative WritingAfrofuturism
Sunday 27 October
2pm – 3:30pm, Pay What You Can
Come on a journey to discover the world of Afrofuturism and the Black presence in art.
Music
Jazz Performance
Mondays, 16 September – 25 November 7:30pm – 9pm, £100/£75
Gain confidence in your ability to improvise and perform in a jazz group and learn tunes from the jazz repertoire.
Art History
Art History: Art in a Cold Climate
Wednesdays, 18 September – 27 November 10:30am – 12pm, £80/£60
Come and discover the art created under northern skies and the interaction of environment and materials and creativity.
National Gallery at 200: National Treasures in Focus
Wednesdays, 18 September – 16 October 1pm – 3pm, £40/£30
To celebrate its bicentenary, the National Gallery has sent ten of its Treasures to selected museums. This course offers an indepth ‘tour’ of these selected works.
Art History: Reuse and RevivalRecycling Styles and Materials
Wednesdays, 6 November – 4 December 1pm – 3pm, £40/£30
From the Classical period onwards the creation of art and architecture and its stylistic development has been marked by creative reuse and stylistic tributes to earlier styles.
You may notice that Attenborough Arts Centre is increasing the price of some of its Creative Courses this season. Our prices have remained at a similar level for the past four years and while we aim to keep them as low as possible, we need to respond to significant rising costs in order to maintain our high quality offer.
Our Advisory Board has reviewed our pricing structure from 1 September 2024 which we believe still represents fantastic value for money. We continue to offer a range of lower cost and free programmes including Adventures In Art (p10) Saturday Family Gallery Workshops, Sunday Sessions and of course our free art exhibitions (p5).
Attenborough Arts Centre Lancaster Road, Leicester, LE1 7HA
www.attenborougharts.com
arts-centre@le.ac.uk 0116 252 2455
Access
Attenborough Arts Centre is fully accessible. We have available:
• Induction loop systems
• Braille and large print gallery guides
• Selected BSL interpreted performances
• Wheelchair accessible toilets
• A spacious adult changing facility with a height-adjustable changing bed, hoist and shower
• Four blue badge car parking spaces with additional bays available outside the George Davies Medical Centre – please contact us to reserve a space
• Free tickets available to personal assistants and essential carers.
