The city's museums have secured a huge funding boost to help safeguard their future.
In news that will put a smile on your face, Leeds Museums and Galleries have today been awarded a total of £952,000 following a successful bid for a share of the Museum Renewal Fund distributed by Arts Council England.
The fund is aimed at providing urgent support to museums and galleries that are owned and maintained by local authority funding.
It helps to deliver projects to safeguard vital community engagement and ensure continued public access.
Image: Leeds City Council
The crucial funding will support a total of ten inspiring projects being planned by Leeds Museums and Galleries, which is one of the country’s largest local authority run museums and galleries services.
One of the main focuses will be on Abbey House Museum, aiming to produce a long-term development plan that will work towards safeguarding the museum’s future.
Also benefiting from the funding award will be Leeds Art Gallery, aiming to redevelop the gallery and create a larger world-renowned site.
David Hopes, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ head of service, said: “We are so grateful to Arts Council England for their continued support and these essential funds to help stabilise our future.
Image: Leeds City Council
“These development projects will see us make long term plans with the people of Leeds for the sustainability of their museum service, as well as providing fantastic visitor experiences and meaningful engagement for the people of the city and beyond.”
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “This funding award is fantastic news for our museums and galleries and a massive endorsement of the superb work they are doing to showcase history, heritage and culture to hundreds of thousands of people every year.
“Securing this hugely important funding will support our dedicated and passionate teams on site to form exciting plans for the future, creating a series of new, and engaging experiences for our visitors and showcasing Leeds as a top cultural destination.”
Yard Act are back as they announce first round of UK headline dates since 2024.
We are so, so back.
It's been a few years, but Yard Act have just announced a small selection of UK gigs for later in the year including a homecoming gig at the O2 Academy on Friday 6 November.
The dates follow the band’s first show of the year at the 6Music Festival this Friday across The Pennines in Manchester.
After Leeds, the lads will be performing shows at the O2 Victoria Warehouse on Friday 13 November before making their way down south to the O2 Academy in Brixton on Thursday 26 November.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Yard Act completed the touring for their critically acclaimed second album Where’s My Utopia? with a victory lap back home at the 5000 capacity Millennium Square in Leeds in August 2024.
It was a record that brought a stark change of pace to the acerbic, post-punk of their debut, embracing something altogether more playful and bringing a different energy. It shifted the dynamic on stage too, with the addition of dancing backing singers and additional musicians and openly challenged listeners to reconsider who they thought Yard Act were.
Since then, the band have remained active, whether writing Where’s My Utopia’s follow-up on scratching the itch to get back on stage, heading out across the UK and Europe with The Hives, which was preceded by an intimate one-off show at Blackpool Tower last May.
Following a lengthy stint in the studio, the band now look to the Autumn for three big UK dates and we cannot wait.
Tickets go on artist presale from 10am on Wednesday 25 March before hitting general sale at 10am on Friday 27 March. Sign up here.
Viral brunch cafe Acai and the Tribe is coming to Leeds city centre this spring
Clementine Hall
Leeds health nuts assemble, because acai bowls and superfood smoothies are coming to a city near you.
Incase you've been living under a rock for the past year or so, you may not be clued up on the whole acai bowl trend that has been sweeping up the nation.
Acai is a super berry grown and harvested in the Amazon rainforest, and not only is it absolutely delicious but it has a myriad of health benefits.
Acai and the Tribe first opened four years ago in Manchester, and ever since then it's only gone from strength to strength opening up three other locations across the country.
Images: The Manc Group
Next stop? Leeds. And we couldn't be happier about it.
So, what can we expect from this aesthetically-pleasing and ultra trendy female-owned business? Well, loaded acai bowls that look almost too good to eat, superfood smoothies, coffees, matcha and savoury options like avocado toast.
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, Acai and the Tribe said: "You asked, we listened. LEEDS… your new lifestyle arrives soon."
They will be opening on 88 Vicar Lane as part of the Vicar Lane regeneration scheme, which has already scene some great new restaurants being announced such as Sticks'n'Sushi and Dishoom.
It seems like this part of town is suddenly going to be the place to be, and we're very happy to see it.
We'll keep you updated with opening dates as and when we know more but for now, you can find out more about Acai and the Tribe here.
Clementine Hall -
8th October 2025 
