The wait is over. Bradford’s year as the UK City of Culture kicks off this Friday with RISE, the incredible outdoor celebration that puts the city’s people and creativity front and centre. Featuring magic, music, and community stories, this two-nighter will set the tone for a year-long programme packed with unmissable moments across Bradford.

David Hockney’s immersive art show Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) has arrived at Aviva Studios in Manchester. Running from December 10, 2024, to January 25, 2025, offering a stunning journey through six decades of Hockney's most iconic and experimental work.

As the world prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on Holocaust Memorial Day in January 2025, Holocaust Centre North unveils a powerful new work of art. Poetry After Auschwitz: Walking in West Cornwall with the Ghost of Great-Aunt Hilde, the debut poetry collection by renowned historian Ben Barkow CBE.

IAP, the leading arts and heritage organisation, commemorates the 21st anniversary of the repeal of Section 28 with PROTEST! – Documenting Dissent, an ambitious LGBTQ+ research project dedicated to preserving the legacy of protest, resilience, and community in the face of discrimination.

Aspiring writers in the North of England have a wealth of opportunities to look forward to this winter as New Writing North unveils its dynamic programme of events, workshops, and career-building initiatives designed to nurture creative talent and inspire new voices.

Factory International has unveiled its latest Community Partnerships, collaborating with three Greater Manchester organizations to deepen community engagement and expand access to arts and culture.

In celebration of their years of dedication to rowing and community, Lakeland Rowing Club awarded honorary life memberships to founders Ian Hill and John Knox, who launched the club in 2007 to share their passion for the sport across Cumbria’s lakes.

Since its 2021 debut, Dirigible Balloon has soared to new heights, sharing children’s poetry from around the world—and its latest anthology, Sky Surfing, promises a fresh journey of poetic discovery.