ARTS DIARY
Gallery’s birthday: The Sculpture Gallery in Leeds Corn Exchange celebrates its first anniversary this month. Set up last April, the gallery is owned and run by a cooperative of five sculptors who showcase their own work alongside work by emerging guest artists on a monthly rotation. The group has built a reputation for displaying an eclectic blend of traditional and contemporary work, attracting art lovers and collectors alike. Founder David Iredale was inspired to create the gallery, having organised the Sculpture Show North exhibition at the Corn Exchange in 2021. The other members of the co-operative – Johnny Sunter, Steve Williams, Mandy Long and Pete Donnelly – soon followed. With around 15,000 people coming through the doors over the past year, the artists are looking forward to a successful future.
Focus on high streets: The Impressions Gallery in Bradford is inviting people to submit photographs of high streets across the district as part of Historic England’s and Photoworks’ Picturing High Streets project. Those who submit images will have a chance of being part of an outdoor exhibition throughout Bradford city centre in July as part of BD:Festival. The gallery is looking for images of “meeting points of commerce, conversation and community” from the bustling markets of Bradford to the Victorian grandeur of Keighley’s Arcade and the boutique-lined Grove in Ilkley. The photographs will be judged by social documentary photographer Ian Beesley, Impressions Gallery director Anne McNeill and Tamsin Silvey of Historic England. The deadline is May 20. Details at impressions-gallery.com/ event/picturing-bradford/
Search for classical singers:
The Northern Aldborough Festival has begun a nationwide hunt for the best UK classical vocal talent with its New Voices Singing Competition, offering £7,000 cash prizes and performing opportunities for the winners. Robert Ogden (pictured) is the festival artistic director and the competition boasts a distinguished judging panel, featuring one of Britain’s best-loved sopranos, Dame Felicity Lott. Vocalists aged 21-32 are welcome to