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Exhibition Review: Rosemary Wels, A Retrospective at the Nottingham Society of Artists
Fri 02 Oct 2026Rosemary Wels’ final exhibition at the Nottingham Society of Artists is as educational as it is impressive as you walk through the story of her career from school sketches to Nottingham rainy-night landscapes.
Common Ground: Alan Lodge's upcoming exhibition documents protests, parties and festivals over the last fifty years
Mon 21 Sept 2026Opening this month at Bonington Gallery is Common Grounds: Counterculture & Confrontation since 1976, a retrospective of the work of Alan ‘Tash’ Lodge. One of the UK’s most prolific photographers of alternative lifestyles, Alan’s work gives a vivid first person insight into the new age traveller movement and the 90s free-party scene, raising questions about the right to gather, policing, surveillance and community.
Exhibition review: 86:26 LGBTQ+ Film, Heritage and Archive this week at Backlit
Wed 26 Aug 2026A collaboration between BACKLIT Gallery and the British Film Institute, 86:26 explores queer history and heritage in Nottingham. Under the direction of CJ De Barra from the Notts Queer History Archive, the exhibition is taking place in the BACKLIT main gallery from 24 August until 30 August.
Exhibition review: Pieces of Me at the National Justice Museum
Tue 18 Aug 2026Made by artist Elahè Raofi and built by the stories of members of Refugee Roots, a free exhibition at the National Justice Museum creates a space that says, ‘all are welcome’, while tackling themes of work, identity and belonging.
Tom A. Smith talks energy, dedication, and why he just keeps coming back to a certain local festival
Sun 16 Aug 2026Next week, Tom A. Smith will be returning - again - to the magical, intimate setting of 110 Above Festival, just a few miles from Nottingham. We caught up with the Sunderland artist for a quickfire interview...
Art works: White Falcon I by Marcus Rowlands
Wed 12 Aug 2026For this month’s Art Works we heard from Marcus Rowlands, whose intricate wooden mandalas are on display at the New Art Exchange’s Open exhibition throughout this month.
Putting down roots: the story of the Windrush Generation and St Ann's Allotments explored in a new book
Mon 10 Aug 2026Colin Haynes’ book, Caribbean Pioneer Gardeners, tells the story of men whose love for gardening gave them much more than callaloo and oxheart tomatoes. It shares the true story of a group of Windrush residents who turned the neglected, overgrown Hungerhill Gardens, or St Ann's Allotments, as they would become known, into a Caribbean-inspired culinary and horticultural haven.
LeftLion's Latest Listens #49: Notts music we're currently spinning
Fri 31 Jul 2026In this 49th edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Richard Snow, Emily Ashberry, Pillow Fort and CATHEDRA...
Exhibition review: Physical Culture and And The Soul is for the Birds at Nottingham Contemporary
Thu 23 Jul 2026Two very different exhibitions are currently displayed at the Nottingham Contemporary. In one, classical sculptures intersect with modern fitness culture. In the other, a Brazilian artist creates an imagined folklore…
Artists, Lovers, Outsiders: the new exhibition at Nottingham Castle
Tue 21 Jul 2026The latest exhibition over at Nottingham Castle tells the story of Robert MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun, two Scottish artists, lovers, and outsiders, whose mark on mid-century Modernist art has largely been overlooked. Sophie Gargett caught up with curator and award-winning writer Damian Barr, whose fictional biographical novel The Two Roberts sheds light on a love story that was hidden for decades.
Art works: Emily Grey of art collective Moonbuns talks about creative connections and nourishing the soul
Thu 16 Jul 2026For this month’s Art Works we spoke to Emily Grey, member of art collective Moonbuns, who talks about creative connections and nourishing the soul.
Splendour Festival's last hurrah, musicals, ballet and immersive art experiences: here's what's on in Notts this week: events 13 July - 19 July
Sun 12 Jul 2026This week is one for the books, including Splendour Festival celebrating their final weekend, Beyond Monet & Beyond Van Gogh, a convention for hit sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf, and events for theatre, music and ballet fans alike.
Exhibition review: Drawn Through Time at Lakeside Arts
Sat 11 Jul 2026Nottingham's cultural landscape has quietly become one of the most exciting in the Midlands, with Lakeside Arts consistently bringing ambitious exhibitions to the city that challenge how audiences engage with contemporary art. Its latest exhibition, Drawn Through Time, is no exception. Housed within the Djanogly Gallery at the University of Nottingham, the exhibition takes what many might consider the simplest of artistic practices – drawing – and transforms it into something far richer: a way of navigating history, memory and imagination.
Splendour Festival preview: In Conversation with Editors
Mon 29 Jun 2026They are arguably one of the most underrated bands in Britain. For over two decades, Birmingham alt-rock outfit Editors have barely put a foot wrong - from forging a consistently exciting and eclectic discography, to always delivering with their euphoric and pulsating live shows. With their eighth studio album, Surface, Echo & Sound, due for release in October and the band set to join Snow Patrol to close out the final ever Splendour Festival in style, we caught up with Editors’ bassist and founding member Russ Leetch, to discuss their storied career, their forthcoming new album and performing in Nottingham through the years…
Actor Chelsea Da Silva talks about Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile at Nottingham Puppet Festival
Mon 29 Jun 2026Later this week, as part of Nottingham Puppet Festival, an adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile comes to Theatre Royal. Lead actor Chelsea Da Silva tells us more...
Gig review: India Arkin, Dring and Emily Ashberry at The Grove
Sat 20 Jun 2026On the same evening that England were triumphant in their opening World Cup game against Croatia, tucked away in The Grove a magical evening of live music was taking place. Headlined by immensely talented, Bristol-based singer-songwriter India Arkin, with support from local artists Dring and Emily Ashberry, it marked the first Nottingham gig from promoter Music Observer, also known as LeftLion’s own Music Co-Editor, Phil Taylor. Here’s what went down…
What to expect from the Nottingham Puppet Festival 2026
Thu 11 Jun 2026This summer will mark the fourth year of Nottingham Puppet Festival, and if you're yet to experience it, then you’re guaranteed a very memorable time.
Selina Mosinski AKA Charity Shop Sue talks Edinburgh Fringe and her new character Randy Cain
Wed 10 Jun 2026Most people will know Selina Mosinski as Sue Tuke AKA the indomitable Charity Shop Sue. This summer she’s bringing a new character to Edinburgh Fringe – and Notts – in her one-woman show Puss In Boots: A Working Class Fairy Tale, directed by Notts own Matt Chesney of Dead Sweet TV. Ahead of the show, we spoke to Selina about writing for the stage, 90s culture and how the Notts accent is reaching audiences…
Sam Heaton talks turning Notts County's The Nest into a versatile live events venue
Mon 08 Jun 2026In 2024 Notts County FC turned an old metal fabricators warehouse next to their stadium into a state-of-the-art live events venue. Thus The Nest was born and has since led a double life as a football fanzone and as a major player in Nottingham’s live music and events scene. We spoke to their events manager Sam Heaton about those last two years and their big plans for the future…
What to expect from Nottingham Restaurant Week 2026
Wed 03 Jun 2026Nottingham Restaurant Week is back this month; for not one but two weeks (running Mon 1 - Sat 14 June). It’s a celebration of local food outlets with plenty of excellent deals, ranging from £10-£30, at restaurants across the city centre to entice you to try somewhere new. This year over 65 different venues are involved ranging from independent gems to big-name favourites. Here’s everything you need to know…
Director Alison Rashley talks us through Television Workshop's best known actors
Tue 02 Jun 2026Workshop Director Alison Rashley talks through some of the Television Workshop’s best known actors and gives the lowdown on what they were like to teach…
Bittersweet streets: a look at artist Julian Pinnick's new exhibition at Broadway Gallery
Sat 30 May 2026Anyone who has lived in Nottingham for years will have snapshots in their mind of characters, shops and moments lost to time, but one local artist has gone a step further, memorialising fleeting scenes of Nottingham’s past in paint. Ahead of an upcoming exhibition at Broadway Gallery, Liz Johnson talks to Julian Pinnick about his creative journey and why slow art can capture a changing urban landscape