The last part of Leeds 2023 will be a reflection of a city of dreamers - Kully Thiarai

As the summer turns to autumn it is perhaps no surprise we begin to think about endings as a year moves inevitably to its closing. In Leeds, our Year of Culture too enters its final phase as we launch our Part 3: Dreaming – the last part in our year-long act of storytelling: Awakening, Playing and now Dreaming.
By Kully Thiarai
Published 4th Sep 2023, 06:00 BST

One of the privileges of being responsible for delivering a Year of Culture is the opportunity to create new experiences and creative adventures that help us to think differently, learn something new, kickstart conversations we may not otherwise have and dream of new possibilities.

So, it feels apt to talk about Dreaming; to challenge the things that limit us and to look beyond our immediate horizons and raise our eyes to the stars.

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The power of dreaming is well documented. It’s the land in which the impossible can suddenly become possible and where we can discover whole new worlds full of opportunity. Our own personal wonderland. Perhaps you’ve had that moment when you’ve gone to bed perplexed about something and woken in the morning to find you have absolute clarity or you’ve been your own superhero in a fantastical adventure and now feel invincible. The Dreaming season encourages everyone in our city of dreamers to open their minds and step into different worlds. Inviting all of us to think differently and imagine new ways of living and being together. And there is so much to see and do this season as we invite everyone to let their imaginations fly.

'Making A Stand' is a sculptural 'forest' comprising approximately 127 seven-metre-high timber fins from Douglas Fir Trees opposite Leeds railway station. Pictured is Kully Thiarai is creative director and CEO of Leeds 2023. PIC: James Hardisty'Making A Stand' is a sculptural 'forest' comprising approximately 127 seven-metre-high timber fins from Douglas Fir Trees opposite Leeds railway station. Pictured is Kully Thiarai is creative director and CEO of Leeds 2023. PIC: James Hardisty
'Making A Stand' is a sculptural 'forest' comprising approximately 127 seven-metre-high timber fins from Douglas Fir Trees opposite Leeds railway station. Pictured is Kully Thiarai is creative director and CEO of Leeds 2023. PIC: James Hardisty

How? Explore the world of St Aidan’s RSPB Nature Park as we collaborate with National Youth Theatre in ‘Nest’, a brand-new production with 100 young people, set in the future: a wild, immersive journey exploring our relationship with nature.

Search out the many ‘Hidden Stories’ of the city and dig into the heritage of Leeds with its enormous tapestry of untold tales waiting to be discovered, including of Jewish teens growing up in the 1950s ‘Meet Me at Cantors’ or disabled textile mill workers ‘Any Work That Wanted Doing’. Working with our friends at the city’s many heritage organisations, we're throwing open the doors with over a hundred free events to explore all the exciting experiences the past has to offer to inform our present and future.

Sit amongst ‘Making a Stand’, the temporary sculptural forest currently in City Square co-created by award-winning environmental architects Studio Bark and acclaimed visual artist Michael Pinsky as it changes with the seasons.

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Immerse yourself in international work that is coming into the city from Africa, India, South America and Europe and more, bringing new connections and partnerships through music, performance and augmented reality.

See Light Night reveal the city in new and surprising ways; immerse yourself in Transform 23 as the festival fills the city with bold, innovative international performances; experience Yorkshire’s version of Day of the Dead with ‘All That Lives’; board our mobile observatory ‘Moon Palace’ which opens up the skies for you as we celebrate John Smeaton a world renowned engineer, artist and innovator.

From poetry with the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage and the BBC to storytellers in the classrooms there is a world of culture to be explored and experienced in Leeds 2023’s final season.

Kully Thiarai is creative director and CEO of Leeds 2023.

Related topics:LeedsNational Youth Theatre