Though we may all be confined to our living rooms, culture is not cancelled! Here at Leeds University Library Galleries, we have pulled together our top 8 picks of how you can get your cultural fix with just a few clicks.

Virtual Sketch Club

The Leeds University Library Galleries may be closed, but we’re certainly not going to deny you a weekly Sketch Club fix! Join us each week on Twitter and Instagram as we post a different “Friday Focus” at 12:30 every Friday. Pull up your chair and enjoy looking at artworks you may never have noticed before.

Use your time to hone your sketching skills, chat with fellow art appreciators online or simply indulge your creativity. Don’t forget to share your creations on social media by tagging @LULGalleries and #LULGalleries — we love seeing your work!

If you need some top tips and warm-up exercises to get you started on your weekly sketch download our free resource sheet.

Virtual Pen to Paper

Let’s get literal, literally. Join us to give creative writing a go on Twitter and Instagram. Each week we post a different “Wednesday Focus” at 12:30 every Wednesday. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced writer, Pen to Paper is for everyone to flex those creative muscles. For those of you feeling brave, share your musings by tagging @LULGalleries and #LULGalleries.

If you don’t know where to start with your creative writing you can download free tips and exercises from our website.

Research Spotlights

Scratch that research itch with our Research Spotlights! Explore topics ranging from Simon Armitage’s poetry, medieval illuminated manuscripts, material from the Brontë family and even historical Christmas recipes! Alongside high-resolution images read in-depth information from guest authors and discover fascinating items from Special Collections.

Google Arts and Culture

Back in 2018, to coincide with the centenary of the Armistice for the First World War, we partnered with Google Arts and Culture to bring our exhibition ‘Goodbye to all that? Legacies of the First World War’ online. The exhibition tells the stories of people of Yorkshire, and beyond, getting used to life after the “War to End All Wars”. With themes of grief, memory, disability, women’s rights and politics, these stories still resonate today.

If art is more your thing get an exclusive look at the last exhibition from The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery via Google Arts and Culture, or download the exhibition guide on our website. ‘Lessons in the Studio: Studio in the Seminar’ is an anniversary exhibition marking 70 years of The School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies at the University of Leeds. It brings together the art and the ideas of many artists, thinkers and students who have shaped and expanded the School over seven decades.

Collection Highlights

Let’s get to know each other better. We have pulled together some of our collection highlights in one handy place. Just scroll down to the Highlights section on our Explore page to see some of our favourite paintings, works on paper, and wonderful Public Art. It’s like speed dating but better!

Explore the Catalogue

If you’re in the mood for something specific you can explore the Special Collections and Art Collection catalogue online. Search for specific artists or authors, by subject or keywords*. Give it a try, you never know what you’ll find!

*And if you are like us those keywords include ‘cats’ and ‘dogs’.

Instagram

Join us on Instagram as we challenge you to a photo off! With a changing monthly theme, we show you the best from our collections, and invite you to show us yours. We give a weekly prompt within the monthly theme, and we love to see your interpretations. Themes have included everything from cute collections to new discoveries. Tag us @LULGalleries or use #LULGalleries to be featured on our page.

Two Minute Treasure

Need a burst of inspiration? Watch our Two Minute Treasure videos each week, as a different member of the team brings you a short, fun and informative response to an item in our collections. Coming up we have everything from the original celebrity chef to gorgeous Japanese print.

Follow @LULGalleries on Facebook and Twitter for each week’s instalment, or catch up with all of the past videos on YouTube.