Culture
Positive stories, useful developments and people making a difference in Culture.
Middlesbrough community choir opens its autumn season to new singers
MTH Community Choir returns to Middlesbrough Town Hall from 7 September, offering weekly sessions led by opera singers Emily Smith and Dave Pisaro.
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Kimberley football club marks 100 years with upgraded community ground
Kimberley Miners Welfare FC has celebrated its centenary after a year of improvements to the Stag Ground, including upgraded floodlights, drainage, pitch barriers and a new pavilion.
£2.65m Heritage Fund award moves Colchester’s oldest building towards a new community future
Holy Trinity Church has secured £2.65m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, unlocking the next phase of a £3.4m project to restore Colchester’s oldest standing building and bring it back into everyday community and cultural use.
Warrington opens its doors for ten days of free heritage discovery
Heritage Open Days returns to Warrington from 11 to 20 September, with historic venues, guided walks, policing history, bell ringing, rugby heritage and rare behind-the-scenes access to Parr Hall.
Eight volunteering festivals will help East Hampshire residents find ways to get involved
Community events across East Hampshire are bringing volunteering opportunities into towns and villages so residents can meet organisations face to face.
Strabane moves ahead with bid to become the UK's first Town of Culture
Work is progressing on Strabane's shortlisted bid for the new UK Town of Culture 2028 title, putting local creativity and community identity on a national stage.
Northolt artists make community art-trail debut with sales supporting church restoration
Two local artists will exhibit at St Richard's Church Chapel as part of Ealing's 10th anniversary art trail, with proceeds from one artist's work supporting St Mary's refurbishment appeal.
Nine Torbay heritage projects receive grants to bring local history to life
Grassroots projects across Torbay are receiving heritage funding designed to strengthen local pride and people's connection with the places around them.
£500,000 grant will help Durham researchers protect fragile heritage without damaging it
New specialist imaging equipment will let researchers investigate archaeological objects less invasively and study heritage threatened by climate change.
Notting Hill Carnival marks 60 years of Caribbean culture and community
London's landmark Carnival is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee with a year-long programme and a weekend expected to draw around two million people.
Festival celebrates diversity of African culture
The festival is intended to provide opportunities 'for people from different backgrounds to connect' A fledgling arts festival will showcase "a different dimension of African excellence" across a week ...
Sheffield Theatres unveils full programme for new festival Open Works
A new annual festival celebrating creative talent in British theatre is heading to Sheffield. Spanning city centre venues the Playhouse, the Montgomery Theatre and the Montgomery Studio, Open Works ...
A look inside city museum ahead of its reopening
Hull Maritime Museum will reopen to the public this Saturday after being closed for six years Hull Maritime Museum is getting ready for its big reopening this Saturday after six years of being closed ...
Signing the times: Deaf artists centre stage at Edinburgh festivals
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Hull Maritime Museum: Reopening 'worth the wait' as council leader hails 'world class visitor experience'
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Billingham International Folklore Festival clinches £30,000 grant to stage new theatre project
One of the North-East’s most celebrated festivals has received a £30,000 grant to create and deliver a brand-new theatrical experience for audiences on Teesside. The Billingham International Folklore ...
Worcestershire Creative Arts Festival seeks 2027 sponsors
Worcestershire Creative Arts Festival is seeking sponsors and business partners to support its 2027 event and help nurture local talent.
Edinburgh Festival
Get the latest news from the Edinburgh Fringe and Edinburgh International Festival. Videos, pictures, videos and ...
Art centre launches in Durham, UK with light-themed works by Tracey Emin, Dan Flavin
The Light in Durham—formerly the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Art Gallery—has reopened following £17m redevelopment ...
Lyric Theatre to mark 75th anniversary with Brian Friel classic
Belfast’s Lyric Theatre will stage Faith Healer as part of its milestone anniversary celebrations during the International Arts Festival.
Durham military museum reopens as major arts venue
Following a £20 million transformation, a former military museum has reopened its doors to the public as a dedicated space for arts and culture.
Families flock to popular Teesside summer festival
Thousands of visitors gathered at Kirkleatham Museum for the award-winning Between the Tides festival this weekend.
B-Side Arts Festival brings independent cinema to Portland
A selection of documentaries and short films will be showcased in Dorset as part of the upcoming B-Side Arts Festival.
Wrexham vies for UK City of Culture 2029 title
Wrexham joins eight other hopefuls on the longlist for the prestigious cultural award.
Edinburgh TV Festival move sparks industry conversation
The annual festival is heading to Manchester after 50 years, though discussions continue about preserving its unique fringe connection.
Programme unveiled for 2026 UNTHINKABLE festival in Hull
Hull’s upcoming arts and film festival has revealed its full programme, highlighting the city’s growing creative ambition.
Bristol festival will put bees, pollination science and live hives centre stage
The University of Bristol Botanic Garden's Bee and Pollination Festival returns on 5 and 6 September with talks, honey tastings, live-hive demonstrations and children's activities.
Belfast Culture Night returns with more than 200 free events across the city
Culture Night Belfast returns on 18 September with more than 200 free, family-friendly events, quiet spaces and activities across venues from City Hall to the Oh Yeah Centre.
Cardiff's summer of live music builds on a visitor economy worth £1.86bn
Cardiff welcomed 18.69 million visitors in 2025 as its visitor economy grew to £1.86bn, with another major summer of concerts strengthening the city's cultural pull in 2026.
Hertford’s free castle music festival puts family-support charity centre stage
Rock at the Castle returned with three stages, an inclusive SEND area and fundraising for Home-Start Hertfordshire, which supports families with young children.
Edinburgh’s King’s Theatre reopens after four-year restoration with accessibility at its centre
The 120-year-old King’s Theatre has reopened after a major restoration, with improved access, modern stage systems and a community programme shaped while the building was closed.
Durham’s old DLI Museum reopens as The Light after £17m cultural transformation
The Light has opened in Durham with three galleries, a permanent Durham Light Infantry display and an inaugural exhibition featuring major contemporary artists.
Bolsover Castle project puts pioneering scientist Margaret Cavendish back into the story
A University of York and English Heritage project is working with local schools, artists and communities to give Margaret Cavendish a lasting place in the interpretation of Bolsover Castle.
Sheffield’s Off the Shelf festival returns for its 35th year with more than 50 events
The University of Sheffield’s Festival of Words runs from 28 September to 25 October with more than 50 live and online events.
Belfast’s first Fleadh week draws 1.65 million city-centre visits
Belfast recorded 1,653,999 city-centre visits during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, almost double the same week in 2025.
New cultural passport will give young people free creative experiences across York and North Yorkshire
A Cultural Passport programme will fund free arts, culture and heritage experiences for young people aged 11 to 18 from target communities.
Sheffield submits City of Culture bid shaped by ideas from more than 1,400 people
Sheffield has formally submitted its UK City of Culture 2029 bid after an engagement process involving more than 1,400 residents and organisations.
Manchester Literature Festival returns with 17 days of books, poetry and big conversations
Manchester Literature Festival runs from 9 to 25 October with authors, poets, podcasts and events across venues including Central Library and Manchester Museum.
Wales asks the public to help shape a new ten-year plan for culture, creativity and sport
A public call for evidence is helping shape a new ten-year Welsh culture and sport strategy that will include sport and the creative industries together for the first time.
Coventry author launches three books and gives 100% of her royalties to local charities
Itoro Abigeal Oyewobi has launched three books spanning childhood to working life, with all of her author royalties pledged to charities in Coventry and Warwickshire.
BBC Introducing LIVE will bring free music-industry events to ten UK cities this November
Emerging musicians and creators will get access to live performances, workshops, panels and networking through BBC Introducing LIVE events around the UK.
£5.28m will modernise 31 museums, libraries and archives across Wales
Thirty-one cultural projects across Wales are sharing £5.28m to improve access, protect collections and modernise museums, libraries and archives.
Reading residents are painting a mural that will generate its own solar power
Residents are helping create an interactive mural at New Directions College using painted solar panels, lights, sound and motion sensors.
Culture Night Belfast will fill the city with more than 200 free events in one evening
Culture Night Belfast returns on 18 September with more than 200 free, family-friendly events across the city.
Belfast’s free Autumn Fair returns with flowers, food, music and a 40th birthday for bonsai
Belfast’s free Autumn Fair returns to Botanic Gardens on 12 and 13 September with family entertainment, heritage tours, workshops and floral displays.
Belfast International Arts Festival unveils more than 200 events across 30 venues
The 64th Belfast International Arts Festival will run from 14 October to 8 November, bringing artists from 19 countries to more than 30 venues across the city.
Derby fans are crowdfunding £30,000 to bring a nine-foot Lara Croft statue home
A grassroots campaign wants to move an original nine-foot Lara Croft statue from storage in London to Derby Market Hall, celebrating the city where Tomb Raider was created.
Bradford festival brings six days of African music, dance, fashion, food and storytelling to the city
The Bradford African Festival of Arts returned for six days of music, dance, theatre, fashion, food and storytelling celebrating African culture and creativity.
Dance Base gets £57,556 to keep Edinburgh studios comfortable as the climate changes
Scotland’s national centre for dance will use a £57,556 grant for draught proofing, insulation and heating improvements at its Edinburgh studios.
Derby Theatre gets green light for major expansion with new studio and community spaces
Planning permission has been granted for Derby Theatre’s redevelopment, including a new purpose-built studio theatre and expanded learning, participation and community spaces.
Redcar’s free Between the Tides festival fills Kirkleatham with circus, dance and family creativity
The award-winning Between the Tides festival returned to Redcar with a free weekend of outdoor theatre, circus, puppetry, dance, storytelling and live music for families.
Durham’s former military museum reopens as The Light after a decade behind closed doors
The Light has opened in Durham after a £17m redevelopment, combining contemporary art, local military history, community space and family activities in one new cultural venue.
Belfast’s Lyric brings Brian Friel’s Faith Healer home for its 75th year
The Lyric Theatre is staging a major new production of Brian Friel’s Faith Healer from 10 October, starring Conleth Hill as part of the theatre’s 75th anniversary programme.
Armagh record-breaker turns a lifetime of unusual challenges into a charity children’s book
Willie Nugent’s new book looks back on decades of improbable record attempts, with proceeds supporting Little Heroes at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
Sheffield launches two-week festival giving new theatre ideas room to grow
Sheffield Theatres’ first Open Works festival will bring performances, readings, scratch nights, workshops and artist development to the city this autumn.
Hundreds of historic places across Wales will open for free this September
Cadw's Open Doors festival is returning with free access, guided tours and behind-the-scenes visits at historic sites, community buildings, archives and cultural attractions across Wales.
Hull Maritime Museum welcomes thousands back after £20.4m transformation
Hull Maritime Museum has reopened after a six-year redevelopment, with expanded galleries, improved accessibility and around 1,300 objects on display.
Billingham festival wins £30,000 to create new North East dance-theatre production
Billingham International Folklore Festival has secured £30,000 from Arts Council England for a new production mixing dance, music, storytelling and North East history.
Young people help transform Newbury Racecourse Station with community mural
Young people from Berkshire Youth helped shape a new mural at Newbury Racecourse Station, created through a partnership with local arts and rail organisations.
Bristol teaching team recognised in national higher education awards
The University of Bristol has received two national teaching honours, recognising both an individual educator and a team working to improve research-rich teaching and the student experience.
Up to £14m support could help reopen Glasgow’s People’s Palace
The Scottish Government has announced conditional support of up to £14 million towards refurbishing and reopening the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens.
Children’s book brings Indigenous knowledge into climate education
A University of Leeds project has produced one of the first children’s books published in the endangered Jahai language while bringing Indigenous knowledge into climate education.