There's more content than you would believe. Hopefully this will make finding it a bit easier...
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.
Undercover Artist: Pink Menace on Pride, collaborative art and grassroots queer groups in Notts…
Sat 18 Jul 2026We spoke to this month’s cover artists Raffa and Benji, a.k.a. Pink Menace about Pride, collaborative art and grassroots queer groups in Notts…
Long live the queens! We chat to the Gladrags drag queens ahead of Nottingham Pride
Fri 17 Jul 2026Here in Notts we’re often blessed with the talents of some top notch drag artists – most perform as part of the well loved Gladrags collective and club night. For Pride 2026, on Sat 25 July, many of the queens we know and love will be seen in action for the grand afterparty at The Palais. In preparation, Bee Green catches up with five performers who are on the lineup…
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.
Forged by Nottingham: how artist Alicja Biała turned community stories into a new Maid Marian statue
Fri 10 Jul 2026Ahead of the unveiling of Maid Marian Way’s new statue, artist Alicja Biała talks to LeftLion about her creative process, community involvement and why representation of women in public spaces matters.
Review: Hot Pot at Lakeside Arts
Sat 27 Jun 2026This new play, by Nottingham's Hongwei Bao, explores East Asian LGBTQ+ narratives as four friends gather round the dinner table for a night of memories and revelations...
Night Creatures Podcast #8: The Soul Buggin' crew on life as promoters, the vibrant Nottingham scene and things that wind 'em up
Mon 15 Jun 2026Night Creatures is a LeftLion podcast, shining a light on the promoters of Nottingham. Your host and interviewer is Beane, co-founder of Nottingham’s beloved Soul Buggin’ night and he brings with him two decades of experience of putting on great parties in the city...
Undercover artist: Emily Giddings celebrates Hockley
Sat 13 Jun 2026This month’s cover artist Emily Giddings spoke to us about artivism, being creative with a chronic health condition, and what inspires her illustrations.
Art works: Notts-based Thai artist Mallika Fraser
Tue 09 Jun 2026For this month’s Art Works we heard from Notts-based Thai artist Mallika Fraser, whose work is currently being shown in the New Art Exchange Open Exhibition.
Tattoo studio Good Mornink talk community, artistry and their upcoming charity flash day
Tue 02 Jun 2026Situated on the top floor of Hopkinson, one of Nottingham's most creative and quirky hangouts, tattoo studio Good Mornink is a welcoming community of international artists. Founder and Co-owner Melisa Büyük talks about turning dreams into the reality of owning a studio, and their upcoming charity flash day to raise money for Stonebridge City Farm...
Art, theatre, and poetry: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 1 - 7 June
Sun 31 May 2026Summer's here, and Nottingham's ready for it. Here are some fantastic events happening this week which we think are worth checking out.
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
Theatre Review: RONiN at Lakeside Arts
Wed 27 May 2026RONiN tells the story of a swordswoman up against overwhelming odds in this innovative and visually striking show...
Undercover artist: Heather Hodkinson champions Green Hustle festival
Mon 25 May 2026Our Green Hustle festival-inspired May cover is the work of artist Heather Hodkinson who, as well as helping to shape the visual identity of Green Hustle, has lent her talents to promote lots of other green initiatives around Notts. She talks to us about her love of collage and why it’s important to get out and about.
Theatre Review: Papillons at Lakeside Arts
Thu 14 May 2026Papillons: A beautiful invitation, fully realised...
Theatre review: Take Flight at Lakeside Arts is an aerial treat for parents and babies
Wed 13 May 2026Following a mother and baby bird through the early stages of parenthood, Take Flight by local theatre company Rebel Sparks came to Lakeside Arts this weekend, uplifting early years theatre to new heights. Izzy and Bobby Bradley went down to check it out...
Art works: PRF by Iulia Matei
Mon 11 May 2026For this month’s artworks, illustrator and regular LeftLion contributor Iulia Matei shares the concept behind her new graphic novel PRF (Punk Rock Fairies) and why we need independent art now more than ever.
Thought-provoking theatre, alternative rock music and local art: Here's what's on this week in Nottingham 11 - 17 May
Sun 10 May 2026This week in Notts! Enjoy original theatre and gritty alternative rock, or head south of river and meet Ladybay's artists in their studios. Here's our top picks...
Take Flight: Ria Ashcroft tells us about her circus theatre show for 0-2 year olds which comes to Lakeside Arts this weekend...
Fri 08 May 2026Blending theatre and aerial silks, Take Flight is a multi-sensory, interactive show from local theatre company Rebel Sparks. Coming to Lakeside Arts this weekend, we sat down for a chat with co-artistic director Ria Ashcroft from Circus Hub to hear more about this unique form of children's entertainment...
Preview: Inside Papillons' Radical Approach to Openness at Lakeside Arts
Mon 04 May 2026Papillons, coming soon to Lakeside Arts, is a collaboration between music makers Manchester Collective and the dance-theatre company Thick & Tight. Leftlion interviews the artists for an insight into what is billed as 'a performance like no other'...
Art works: tarot creator Kerry Ward
Wed 22 Apr 2026For this month’s Art Works, tarot creator Kerry Ward shares her Light in the Dark tarot deck, which was inspired by her family’s mining history.