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Phoebe Boswell's Here is Finally Opening at the New Art Exchange After a Year's Delay

Phoebe Boswell's exhibition Here sat half-put together at New Art Exchange from April 2020, unable to open for just over a year while we on the outside battled with lockdown and months of separation. But in early May, the award-winning artist was back in Nottingham putting the finishing touches together, to finally prepare to open her show.

Here is a beautiful accumulation of the nuances and complexities of communities, voices, hearts, and histories which, like her own, are often systematically marginalised, simplified, pacified, homogenised, or side-lined as 'other'. These different perspectives collide and become monumental together. Combining draftswomanship and digital technology, layering drawing, animation, sound, video, and interactivity, the exhibition brings together new and existing artworks, some of which have not been seen in the UK before. Rachel Willcocks caught up with Phoebe to find out about her work, and how she’s found the past year...

8 Art Exhibitons to Check Out in Nottingham in 2021

Our Art team runs through the most exciting, innovative and immersive exhibitions and collections which will be taking over our city’s venues over the next five months...

No Jobs in the Arts Launch 'In Conversation' Series

The audio interview series includes interviews with six people of colour, exploring their experiences of inclusivity, accessibility, and self-empowerment in the arts...

Under Cover Artist: Emily Thursfield

After four glorious years at LeftLion, Emily Thursfield is calling it a day and chucking us a beautiful cover on her way out the door. She tells us a bit about the process behind her artwork, and what she’s going to miss most about LL HQ...

Notts Creatives: The Art Collective Made Up of Former Young Creative Award Winners on Their Social Action Project

Art writer Kelly Palfrey catches up with Notts Creatives, the art collective made up of former finalists of the Young Creative Awards, to find out more about their Social Action Project, which aims to keep the city’s young people engaged in the arts...

Review: Here, the Gold Ones Meet at Bonington Gallery

The re-opening of Bonington Gallery on Monday 17 May saw the launch of Here, the Gold Ones Meet, the result of Nottingham-based collective Reactor’s six-year-long The Gold Ones project...

Nottingham Contemporary's Loudspeaker: An Artist-Led Creative Project Encouraging Women to Express Themselves

Art Co-Editor Laura-Jade Vaughan explores the impact of Loudspeaker, Nottingham Contemporary’s artist-led creative project for women looking to explore contemporary art, express themselves and develop their self-confidence in a safe and fun environment...

Beeston Set To Welcome New State-of-the-Art Multiplex Cinema

Notts film fans will get the chance to check out a brand new eight-screen cinema at the end of next month...

Under Cover Artist: Phil Moss

This month’s cover artist, Phil Moss, gives us the lowdown on his process...

5 Nottingham Trent University Alumni Who Made It Big in the Art World

Turning what you love to do and what you're passionate about into something that pays the bills ain't an easy job. Being creative and finding your place within the industry can be a challenge at the best of times, but one route many artists take to further develop their practice is to study at university. Our Art Editors run down some of the biggest names to have honed their skills at Nottingham Trent University... 

Inspiring the Next Generation: Shekayla Maragh on Running Workshops to Help Musicians Create Lasting Jobs in the Industry

Tenacious, driven, yet always humble, Shekayla Maragh is a cultural producer making moves for musicians in the Midlands. Supporting minority musical talent on a regional level, encouraging people to have ownership, equality and build careers with integrity and longevity is important to Shekayla. She turned down a traditional industry A&R role in London to carve out her own organic career path; staying curious and being empowered by her work is also key. Led by her passion, she launched musical development agency, CUBE, in 2019...

Young People's Art Collectives in Nottingham

Young people are our future, and we need to invest in them to ensure they can thrive and reach their full potential – for everyone’s benefit. In a time when youth services are being cut, access to spaces that allow young people a chance to develop skills, foster a sense of community, and feel valued are of increasing importance. Some of Nottingham’s art galleries and organisations are investing in the city’s young people through their art collectives...

The Derbs: Television Workshop Launch Their First Online Play

The Derbs is a new online play from The Television Workshop, the acting school that launched the careers of Vicky McClure, Jack O-Connell, Bella Ramsay and many more. This month they showcase their first online play The Derbs. We put some questions to cast member Charlie Mackenzie-Barrow about it...

Under Cover Artist: Jay Wilkinson

Artist Jay Wilkinson talks us through his second LeftLion cover, a collaboration with Rupert Rennie...

Review: Patricia Francis’ The Art of Oppression at New Art Exchange

Alex Stubbs checked out Patricia Francis’ The Art of Oppression as it premiered at New Art Exchange

Sugar Stealers are Hosting a Month of Free Online Women’s Creative and Wellbeing Workshops

The collective – made up DJ Tricia Gardiner, Nottinghamshire actor Esther Coles and film producer Anna Griffin – are offering workshops to aid the wellbeing of women everywhere after a particularly difficult month… 

International Women's Day 2021: Women Who #ChooseToChallenge

In celebration of International Women's Day 2021, we've complied a list of articles showcasing times in which Nottingham Women have actively chosen to challenge the norm...

Nottingham-Born Actor Tom Blyth on His Journey from the TV Workshop to HBO’s The Gilded Age

We talk to Nottingham-born, New York-based actor Tom Blyth about his journey from the TV Workshop to The Juilliard School, working with Terence Davies on Benediction, and his upcoming HBO series The Gilded Age...

The No Jobs In The Arts Fringe Festival

The free digital festival takes place on February 26/27 and is aimed at creatives in the visual arts working across the East Midlands...

CATALYST is City Arts’ New Programme That Exhibits and Supports Black Artists and Artists of Colour

In response to their Black Lives Matter commitments, City Arts present CATALYST – a programme exhibiting and supporting black artists and artists of colour, designed by curator in residence, Saziso Phiri.

Under Cover Artist: Kev Grey

You might recognise his style if you’ve picked up a can from Notts brewery Black Iris, and now Kev Grey has turned his talented hands to create our cover art...

How the New Art Exchange Became a Leading International Arts Space

Skinder Hundal has been Director at New Art Exchange (NAE) since 2008, from the moment their iconic black box building in Hyson Green first opened its doors. Now, as he takes up a new position as Director of Arts, British Council, Skinder reflects on NAE’s journey from a small community-led organisation to a leading international arts space, and the important role it has played in championing art from diverse culture.

Looking Ahead: 2021 Nottingham Art Exhibitions At a Glance

2020 may have been a bit of a letdown, but once restrictions allow it, we can’t wait to visit a range of art exhibitions. Here are a few new shows you can look forward to. All dates are subject to change, so be sure to check before visiting...

Games Workshop Sees Record Profits During Covid-19

Nottingham-based Games Workshop has posted record profits and sales for the second year running and is now valued at at around £3.8 billion. The company has told investors that fans of its table-top games spent more on its products as they remained stuck at home for large parts of the period.

Under Cover Artist: Rob White

Multidisciplinary artist Rob White takes us inside his sixth LeftLion cover, an ode to putting 2020 behind us for good...