Introducing Leeds Creative Labs

In this session, you’ll learn about the programme, how to make a strong application, and hear from previous participants about their experiences. The session is open to both academics and artists, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions.

What is Leeds Creative Labs?

Since its launch in 2012, Leeds Creative Labs has paired more than 150 artists and academics, introducing new interdisciplinary connections that encourage experimentation and ways of thinking. Previous pairings have included astrophysicists with theatre makers, mechanical engineers with choreographers, and costume designers with environmental engineers.

On this programme, pairs are not expected to produce work during the residency period. Instead, they are offered time and space to explore ideas freely, question assumptions, and forge new ground. As a result, participants have gone on to develop lasting collaborations, securing further funding and creating projects that continue to evolve.

For this iteration, the Cultural Institute at the University of Leeds and Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) have partnered for the latest edition of Leeds Creative Labs, a creative research residency that brings together six artists and six academics to explore ideas through collaboration and conversation.