The Thackray Museum of Medicinehas received a special award at the European Museum of the Year following an outstanding year of exhibitions.
The Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds has been given a special commendation at European Museum of the Year by the European Forum.
The museum, located in Harehills, was commended for it's remarkable exhibition over the past year and its impressive community engagement.
The prestigious awards ceremony took place in Barcelona on Saturday 6 May 2023, with Thackray Museum of Medicine joining museums from across Europe to claim the prize.
The award praised the museum for being a 'transformative force for bringing together people of diverse backgrounds' as well as for creating 'meaningful connections and promoting social inclusion'.
Image: Supplied
2023 has been a transformative year for The Thackray Museum of Medicine, with a series of successful exhibitions and events drawing a record numbers of visitors.
The launch of the Private Parts exhibition in January, followed by the Behind the Microscope exhibition in February half-term and an incredible Easter holiday welcoming over 4,000 people, has helped the museum exceed its pre-Covid visitor numbers for the first time.
In addition to this, the museum's community space, The Core, has re-opened following a long-term residency with NHS partners, and the museum's partnership project with Leeds 2023 and Sable Radio, Culture Club, has been working with young people to explore the museum's collection.
Image: Thackray Museum of Medicine
Edward Appleyard, Chief Executive of Thackray Museum of Medicine said: "This is a tremendous honour and recognition of the hard work and dedication of our staff and volunteers, as well as the support of our local community.
"Our mission is to engage and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds with the fascinating history of medicine and healthcare," Edward continued.
"We believe that our success in achieving this mission has been reflected in the record numbers of visitors we have welcomed this year and the positive feedback we have received from the local community. This award is a testament to the power of museums to educate, entertain, inspire and connect people from all walks of life."
To find out more about the museum and to plan your visit, take a look at their website.
"After years of late nights, strong cocktails, and incredible stories; The Maven will close its doors"
It's a sad day for the Leeds night life scene, as a beloved speakeasy bar has today announced that it will be closing its doors for good.
The Maven has been a firm favourite for many years with those looking to enjoy some experimental and expertly made cocktails.
Hidden behind an unassuming door at the top of Call Lane, it was a great spot to visit if you were looking for something that little bit special.
Announcing the news to their social media, The Maven said: "From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for being our guests over the years and promise that until then, we'll do our best to give you the best nights out on Call Lane."
Conan Gray AND Jacob Alon join Lewis Capaldi’s Roundhay Festival line-up
Thomas Melia
US pop star Conan Gray and BRIT award winner Jacob Alon join the line-up for Lewis Capaldi's headline date at Roundhay Festival.
Leeds' Roundhay Park is welcoming back live music to its grounds this summer for two outdoor gigs headlined by Lewis Capaldi and Pitbull titled Roundhay Festival, with special guests slowly being announced.
Gray is recognised for standout tracks like 'Heather' and 'Maniac' while Alon has built a cult following of fans around their indie tunes like 'Fairy in a Bottle' as well as 'Liquid Gold 25'.
Jacob Alon has been showing off their artistry within the indie music scene thanks to their 2025 LP In Limerence catching the attention of many in the process.
This album has gone onto attract widespread love from music listeners and even industry professionals bagging themselves their first-ever BRIT award nomination and win - The Critics' Choice award.
Conan Gray AND Jacob Alon join Lewis Capaldi's Roundhay Festival line-up / Credit: Supplied via Press Shots
Conan Gray started out covering other artists hits before creating some of his own and releasing debut studio album Kid Krow back in 2020.
The project has production credits shared between Gray and Dan Nigro, Grammy-winning producer who has worked with Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, Lorde and more.
It's always exciting hearing updates like these, but this one is even more impressive as it's not just one stellar act joining the Roundhay Festival line-up but two, with further acts to be announced.
The almost 70,000 crowd who are heading down to Roundhay Festival when Lewis Capaldi makes his way to Leeds next summer are going to be blessed with some phenomenal live music.
This year marks American Express Presents Roundhay Festival first year with two star-studded dates fronted by powerhouse performers with the second show fronted by Pitbull and special guest Kesha.
These events have been organised with Leeds City Council and are expected to bring benefits to the local area by employing local suppliers, staff and boost spending on accommodation, food and entertainment.
Conan Gray and Jacob Alon will play alongside Lewis Capaldi at Roundhay Festival in Leeds on Saturday 4 July 2026 with tickets available HERE.
Clementine Hall -
9th May 2023 
