Nottingham Creative Community News

Nottingham Castle Reboots Prices, Offering Year-Round Entry With Every Ticket

The relaunch of Nottingham Castle hasn’t been without its hiccups, but Nottingham Castle Trust (the charity who run the site) have...

In Photos: Nottinghamshire Pride 2022

03 August 22

We Sit Down With the Organisers of Nottinghamshire Pride 2022 to Discuss What People Can Expect

22 July 22

Craig Martin, co-chair of Nottinghamshire Pride, chats to us about the exciting plans for this year's celebrations...

Meet the Nottingham Lions, the LGBT+ Football Club Aiming to Make the Sport a Safe Space for All

21 July 22

Founded over sixteen years ago, the Nottingham Lions have been trailblazers in our city’s sporting scene ever since - with the LGBT+ friendly football club bringing together people of all abilities and walks of life to enjoy the beautiful game. We sit down with Robbie Jacques, the club’s Social Media and Commercial Officer, to hear all about their story so far, and explore how the world of football can become a more inclusive, tolerant place…

Everything You Need to Know About Nottinghamshire Pride 2022

18 July 22

Nottinghamshire Pride is back on Saturday 30 July to celebrate the fabulous diversity in our city...

How Nottingham’s Stone Soup Academy Are Using Comedy to Crack Down on Knife Crime

08 July 22

Though it may have fallen out of popular conversation, knife crime is still a major issue in Nottingham, according to Oliver Sillito from the city’s Stone Soup Academy. That’s why the free school is throwing a creative showcase on Tuesday 19 July to open up conversation and challenge standing perceptions about young people and crime…

Our Young Writer Investigates as the First Nottingham Youth Climate Assembly Approaches

15 June 22

Citizens assemblies are a way of addressing thorny issues participatively, through an educational and democratic process that involves affected communities in shaping political responses. Nottingham Climate Assembly was formed to host such initiatives around climate change and environment issues; this July they launch their Lottery Heritage-funded Nottingham Youth Climate Assembly for 15-18 year olds (though young people up to age 25 can help out). Twenty-year-old writer Emily Giddings finds out more about our city’s first ever citizen’s assembly.

We Talk to Entrepreneurs on Overcoming Business Fears at Notts Libraries’ BIPC Mansfield launch

15 June 22

Do you have a burning business idea, but lack the confidence to take the leap? Starting out can seem daunting with so much to consider, but just having a knowledgeable sort who you can bounce off can give you the boost you need. Nottinghamshire Libraries Business & IP Centres (BIPC) are there to help with free support and resources.

A Rich History in Danger: Photographer Nathan Langman Muses on the Iconic Victoria Centre Market.

09 June 22

Contribute to LeftLion!

30 May 22

If you're a writer, illustrator or photographer, come and join us at Antenna on Tuesday 7 June and get involved in Nottingham's culture magazine...

We Chat to 400 Rabbits Manager Julien Latil About the Venue’s History, Kiefer Sutherland, and the Social Media Story That Went Viral

27 May 22

400 Rabbits - the bar where Aztec mythology, tequila and mezcal come together to provide a unique experience for visitors. We chat to general manager Julien Latil to find out more about the history of this iconic venue, the team’s lengthy campaign to offer Kiefer Sutherland a drink, and the social media story that won over people from around the world…

We Chat to David Gill, One of the Last Remaining Blacksmiths in Nottinghamshire

15 May 22

From forging the hammer of Thor, the Norse god of thunder himself, to creating the ploughs that drove the British Agricultural Revolution, blacksmiths have played a crucial role in human history for millenia. Yet now there are only around 600 left in the entirety of the UK. We chat to David Gill, one of the last remaining blacksmiths in Notts, about the importance of the practice, what drew him to his line of work, and why interest in the craft is on the rise…

Remembering Nick Turner, 1949-2022

29 March 22

Sophie Gargett, close friend of the much-loved Nick Turner, remembers the life of one of Nottingham's finest...

We Take a Trip to Cluny Lace, the Last Traditional Lace Maker in the UK

19 March 22

It probably isn’t too much of a stretch to say that lace put Nottingham on the map, the industry reaching its height in the 1890s. But today just one traditional lace manufacturer survives. Utilising the same Leavers machines used in the 1840s, Cluny Lace in Ilkeston has been run by a member of the Mason family for over three centuries. Lizzy O’Riordan visited the factory to talk to Kate Knight and learn more about their history, the intricate process of creating Leavers lace, and how it feels to be the last traditional lace maker in the UK…

How Notts Photographer Lucie Nechanická’s Book I Didn’t Ask For It Is Breaking Stereotypes Around Sexual Harassment

14 March 22

Tired of the victim blaming narrative around sexual harrasment, photography student Lucie Nechanická created I Didn’t Ask For It - the photobook chronicling sexual harrasment in Nottingham. We chat to the budding photographer about breaking stereotypes, better sex education, and her process behind making the book…

Notts Sneaker Heads Discuss the Boom of the Trainer Industry

12 March 22

It’s hard to imagine a time when trainers weren’t everywhere you looked. For most of us, figuring out which sneakers to wear is just as, if not more important than, the rest of our outfit. But from an engineering breakthrough of fusing canvas and vulcanised rubber together in the early twentieth century to a multi-billion-dollar global business, the sneaker industry has taken over the world in a relatively short time. And Nottingham is no exception – walk down any high-street in the city and you’ll see multiple retailers flogging the latest creps, with queues forming outside some of the biggest brands before they open on most days. Footwear fan Isabella Read talks to some of Nottingham’s biggest sneaker heads to find out more about trainer culture in the city…

Squire PAC Announce Their Performing Arts Lineup

23 February 22

Featuring comedian Scott Bennett and poet John Hegley, The Squire Performing Arts Centre boast an impressive lineup...

The University of Nottingham's Professor Martyn Poliakoff Chats Knighthoods, YouTube and Trams

21 February 22

A knighthood, a CBE, a Nyholm Prize for Education - it’s safe to say the University of Nottingham’s Professor Martyn Poliakoff, a global leader in the field of green chemistry, is one of the brightest minds to ever settle in our fair land. We chat to the local legend about his favourite Notts spots, his aversion to science-fiction movies, and his YouTube channel Periodic Videos, which now boasts over 1m subscribers…

How Nottingham Is Helping to Track and Tackle Coronavirus

18 February 22

We take a look at the role Nottingham’s scientists have played, and will continue to play, in tackling COVID-19 - with experts from both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University helping to analyse the virus, trial vaccines and protect the most vulnerable since the start of the pandemic…

Free Skateboarding Lessons This Half Term

14 February 22

In a collaboration with Free Movement Skateboarding and Concrete Jungle Foundation, Skate Nottingham are providing free skateboarding lessons for young people this half term...

National Justice Museum Launches New Podcast Series Open Court

14 February 22

The weekly podcast will dive into the UK's judicial system with first-hand accounts from the people working in it...

What Your Favourite Notts Spot Says About You

09 February 22

Here at LeftLion we don't like to be judgemental. We think of ourselves as open minded, free flowing types. That being said, here's a list of places in our great city, alongside an even longer list of stereotypes...

How the University of Nottingham’s Excel in Science Programme Is Helping to Promote Diversity in the Scientific Field

05 February 22

Can science ever be great without diversity? We catch up with Maria Augusta Arruda and Sara Sleigh from the University of Nottingham to learn more about Excel in Science - the programme pushing for greater diversity within the scientific field…

DJ Training Course for Underrepresented Groups Coming to Nottingham

03 February 22

The eight-week Mix Nights course is aimed at absolute beginners and those looking to build confidence in their music production skills...

Light Night Returns to Nottingham

02 February 22

The popular event is back for the first time since the start of the pandemic...

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