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Everything to know about Sidedoor Social: where Notts creatives showcase their work

Ever wondered what to do with those almost-finished creative projects, or have you just been seeking opportunities to share personal passions? Sidedoor Social, a new Nottingham social enterprise, is probably what you’re looking for. Their founder Si Beales and creative director Bo Brindle tell us all about it...

Why Secure Mail is Becoming Essential for Creatives

If you make your living from a laptop in Nottingham, whether you're an illustrator, photographer, music producer, writer or something entirely different, your inbox has probably become the front door to your business. Enquiries land there, contracts get signed there, and invoices go back and forth without much thought. The trouble is that most of us never stop to ask how private that front door actually is, or who else might be able to peek through it.

Preview: Inside Papillons' Radical Approach to Openness at Lakeside Arts

Papillons, 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'...

Free minds: the Notts open mic celebrating poetry's power

In the current climate of economic instability and political discourse, creative communities face bigger threats to remain connected. Poppy Thomason caught up with Caetano Capurro and Jasmine McCallion, the co-hosts of Free Minds – a free poetry open mic night at The King Billy pub – to ask them about the power of expression within accessible creative spaces. 

Nottingham Climate Assembly Opens Applications for Paid Participants

Six years in the making, Nottingham’s first citywide Citizens’ Assembly is almost here - you could be one of the people paid to take part and shape the city’s environmental future.

Hidden Threats: Why Creatives Should Scan for Rootkits on Their Devices

Today's creative workers spend practically all of their time working in digital environments. Designers, editors of videos, photographers, musicians, and artists keep everything on their devices. We are talking about portfolios and client data, sensitive projects and even personal thoughts. That is why their laptops became an attractive target for cybercriminals.

Primary talks about their new open exhibition and visual arts in the Lenton and Radford community

Primary  has a lot going on. After years of renting, the multi-purpose arts organization bought their own building in 2020 (no mean feat in a sector that’s often chronically underfunded), and have since enjoyed an incredible period of growth, with investment from Arts Council England kicking off an upgrade project for their pretty beautiful Grade II listed former school building. This month Primary will host an exciting new open exhibition, so we decided to find out more about the building and its connection with the local community.

Night Creatures Podcast #1: Felix Coulton (aka OK Flex) on founding Swing Dash Radio and opening Movers in Hockley

Night Creatures is a new 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 over twenty years of experience of putting on great parties in the city...

Exhibition review: the New Art Exchange Open Exhibition

How do you capture and represent the vast talent of artists across the UK? How can an organisation elevate this work, highlight key themes, and further its own mission in the process? At its core, the New Art Exchange Open Exhibition provides answers to these questions.

From Masterchef to Market Street: Vanilla Bean bakery and café opens in Bingham

Opened by former MasterChef contestant Amy Vyse, Vanilla Bean is an artisan bakery, café and patisserie in Bingham, which doubles as the new residence for popular Nottingham supper club Incognito Club. Lucy Campion, food co-editor, chatted to Amy about her culinary journey so far and tried a selection of the baked goods on offer.

An open conversation: journalist Gary Younge tells us about a public assembly on issues facing minority communities coming up in Nottingham

Well known for his twenty years at The Guardian and a current position as Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester, journalist, author and broadcaster Gary Younge has led conversations on minority experiences and systematic racism for decades. Those conversations have become all-the-more pertinent since 2020, so Mr Younge is planning new measures to address the issues facing minority communities. 

This will take the form of public assemblies in four cities, one of which will be Nottingham. In January, Mr Younge arrived here to meet the local community who inform the substance of that assembly. Here he presents an open letter, explaining what people can expect from the meeting.

Paddy Sneath of Working Man's Kitchen talks about opening a new pizzeria in Sneinton Market

Home of the viral Pizza Dog, Working Man’s Kitchen built a national reputation from a humble food truck. Now it’s starting a new chapter as an independent pizzeria with an important cause at its heart. Co-food editor Lucy Campion sits down with Paddy Sneath, the working man behind the kitchen, to find out more about his pizzeria and journey from pylon painter to pizza maker. 

Fancy a Tiki one? New bar Tahulah’s Tiki Shack opens in Hockley

Are you pining for summery vibes and warmer climes as we approach the dark depths of the winter solstice, or just want to add a tropical flavour to your Christmas nights out? The ever-creative Fletchergate Industries are already a few steps ahead of you. This Christmas they’ve opened a brand new spot, Tahula's Tiki Shack, located on the former lower floor of Hockley Arts Club, Carlton Street...

Controversial comic woos the Canalhouse crowd

Award-winning joker Alfie Brown is on the comeback tour after a year when he was 'cancelled.' And the route for that comeback winds through Nottingham... 

Alfie Brown talks broken down BMW's and banana bread

Comedian Alfie Brown's journey from Top Shop to top billing has met challenges along the way. Ahead of his forthcoming Open Hearted Human Enquiry tour, Alfie shares his insights into the lessons learned thus far... 

We catch up with landlord Ben Rose as The Angel Microbrewery opens a new upstairs lounge

There are few publicans as busy as Ben Rose. Having owned the beloved Hockley food and music hotspot The Angel Microbrewery since 2016, he’s continuously evolving the historic pub and its adjoining live music venue The Chapel through new events and an exciting seasonal menu. With the opening of a new, multi-purpose space upstairs called The Chesterfield Lounge, we caught up with Ben on his ethos for running a pub, his plans for The Angel, and the small historical discoveries he continues to make there.

Haunting Ballet, sonic soundscapes, chilled open mics and wild bingo parties: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week 15-21 July

This week in Nottingham, enjoy some haunting ballet, wild bingo, have a chilled, creative Sunday at Cherry of Top, or check out new live music from the East Midlands.

We Speak to Laurie Illingworth about Acoustic Rooms Open Mic at Rescue Rooms

Laurie Illingworth, a well-known member of the Nottingham music scene and a musician himself, has been running Acoustic Rooms since he moved to the city in 2018. Having studied music at university, Laurie has channelled his passion into local music and showcasing new and experimental artists. We chat to him about the open mic night’s fifteenth anniversary, the artists who have performed there over the years, and how you can get involved…

Local Cultural Organisations Issue Open Letter Voicing Concern About Nottingham City Council’s Budget Cuts

With the recent announcement of budget cuts to the cultural and social sectors in Nottingham, over 120 individuals representing at least 75 local organisations have signed an open letter voicing concern about Nottingham City Council’s Section 114 process, and the impact it will have on the Nottingham communities.

How Do the Processes of Making Music and Art Differ From One Another? We Find Out From 5 Nottingham Creatives

Louis Cypher asks five different Nottingham creatives how the need to make money affects their art, what the differences are in their creative processes, and whether they prefer one over the other...

Young Creative Award Entries Are Now Open for 2024

The Young Creative Awards, an annual competition for young creatives living, working or studying in and around Nottingham, has returned for its sixteenth year, with entries now open...

Interview: Neil Fulwood

Ian Douglas chats with Neil Fulwood, the poet and performer behind the Open Book nights at the Organ Grinder... 

We Catch Up With Fashion Designer Suzanne Ford About the Opening of Her Beeston Shop, Ford and Guy

Nottingham Castle Set To Re-Open In June?

Nottingham City Council has set out plans which will see Nottingham Castle re-open in June, if given the go-ahead next week.