Exhibitions &
Events
Leeds Arts Union aims to give all students the opportunity to showcase and celebrate their creative practice through our programme of exhibitions and events. These opportunities pop up throughout the year, exploring a variety of themes and disciplines and affording students studying different courses, the opportunity to collaborate and learn from each other. Submitting artwork as part of our exhibition programme also gives students the experience and understanding of what it's like getting artwork displayed for public view and the processes around this.
Each exhibition is hosted either in the University building or at an accessible, independent venue in the city and will usually be opened with a launch party, giving students of LAU and often the general public the opportunity to view the artwork, talk to attendees about exhibited pieces and have a drink with friends to celebrate the exhibition!
Take a look at some of the exhibitions and events we've hosted below:
Wealth
In collaboration with the Widening Participation Team our Student President and LAU Community “My/Your /Our Space” put together the Wealth exhibition. It was inspired by Tara J. Yosso’s model of community cultural wealth, which stems from the question - whose culture has capital?
Bloom
For this exhibition in 2025, Leeds Arts Union asked students to explore the theme of ‘Bloom’ and what it means to them.
Students were encouraged to use the theme to showcase any of their current, previous or new work.
Roots
For this exhibition in 2024, Leeds Arts Union asked students to explore the theme of ‘Roots’ and what it means to them. Students were encouraged to use the theme to showcase any of their current, previous or new work.
Salam
Put together by your Student President 2024 the ‘Salam’ exhibition showcased and celebrated the work of Muslim students onsite in the University café.
Representation
Put together by the your 2024 Creative Opportunities Officer, ‘Representation’ showcased work from the LGBTQIA+ community and was displayed onsite in the University Cafe.
Lavender
The Creative Queers Society celebrated LGBTQIA+ History Month once again with amazing artwork, live performances and charity postcards on sale with all profits going to Yorkshire MESMAC.
Queer Identity
The Creative Queers Society at Leeds Arts Union celebrated LGBTQIA+ History Month and the community within the University in the ‘Queer Identity’ exhibition at the Corn Exchange.
2020
Hosted at the Corn Exchange in Leeds City Centre over 5 days, ‘2020’ showcased the work of 34 BAME students and alumni.
Grow Wild
As part of the Union’s first Sustainability Week, our Conscious Creatives society hosted an exhibition celebrating wild flowers, fungi and sustainable practices in collaboration with Kew Gardens & Grow Wild UK.
Woman
To celebrate International Women's Day, the Union hosted the exhibition titled 'Woman’, with live music and pieces from a variety of courses from Textiles and Photography to Fine Art and Illustration.