What’s on in West Yorkshire
We’re making a new home for the British Library in the heart of Leeds. An open, welcoming hub where people and ideas flow freely. A place for progress and creativity where anyone can connect with their heritage, with culture and with each other.
Ahead of opening this new site – just down the road from our archive in Boston Spa – we’re deepening our roots in Yorkshire by co-curating events, exhibitions and family activities with people and organisations throughout the region for everyone to enjoy.
Events and exhibitions
Furnace Fruit by Karanjit Panesar
4 October 2024 – 13 April 2025
Leeds Art Gallery
FREE
A multi-layered art installation with moving image by Karanjit Panesar, recipient of the 2024 Collections in Dialogue, a British Library and Leeds Art Gallery co-commission inspired by the collections of both organisations.
Light Night Leeds: The Bookbinder by Illuminos
Thursday 24 and Friday 25 October 2024
Queens Hotel Leeds
FREE
Video projection artists Illuminos have been commissioned to create a new artwork using images from our digitised collections. The Bookbinder will transform the façade of Queens Hotel during Light Night Leeds, the UK’s largest annual light festival.
Libraries in Leeds Festival
4 – 9 November 2024
Across Leeds
A celebration of learning, creativity, and community, the festival presents a range of inspiring talks and thought-provoking discussions, including our AI in Libraries: Beyond the Hype event.
Fighting to be Heard
17 January – 27 April 2025
Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Bradford
FREE
Boxing and calligraphy connect in a free exhibition featuring rare items from the Arabic and Urdu collections of the British Library. Part of Bradford 2025.
Journeys
Libraries in Leeds: online exhibition
FREE
Discover 18 exhibits selected from the magnificent collections held in libraries and archives across Leeds and objects from our collections. Ranging from the obvious to the abstract, this online exhibition considers the motives behind journeys and the art that journeys have inspired.
Schools workshops in Leeds
Discover our growing programme of workshops, activities and events for primary and secondary school groups.