Arts and culture news

A black background with bold, colourful text reading ' Degree Show'.

Discover student talent at the annual Design and Creative Arts Degree Show

Students from the School of Design and Creative Arts will showcase their final projects in a physical exhibition on campus from 14-16 June.
Illustration of a pile of books with 'LU Literary Festival' written on their spines, two people leaning against the books reading and text underneath reading '30 May-2 June 2024'. The Loughborough University logo is in the top left corner and the LU Arts logo is in the top right corner alongside more illustrations of books linked up by a curly lines.

Loughborough Literary Festival returns

From 30 May-2 June, Loughborough University master’s students are running a literary festival open to the Loughborough community, taking place on campus.
Loughborough College of Art building on Frederick Street, Loughborough taken in 2022.

New exhibition on campus: The Art Schools of the Midlands

Martin Hall Gallery presents ‘The Art Schools of the Midlands’, the latest iteration of John Beck and Matthew Cornford’s ambitious Art School Project exploring the history and legacies of the nation’s art schools.
A row of white structures lined up in two rows with a path through the middle of them.

Visiting artists to engage with research across both campuses as part of Radar

Ahead of a new programme theme in autumn 2024, Radar has invited a series of visiting artists to engage with research across Loughborough University’s two campuses.
Image of stormy sea

Reflect and Rejoice: The University Choir’s annual spring concert

The University Choir will be joined by LSU Classical, performing their annual spring concert hosted by LU Arts.
The 2023/24 arts scholars together in front of an orange background.

Enjoy a special performance at this year’s Arts Scholars' Showcase

Come along for performances from our 2023/24 arts scholars featuring a variety of live music, dance, art and readings.
magazines ripped up

New exhibition: Tearing up Vogue and Mining the Detritus

An exhibition of practice-based doctoral research by Ehryn Torrell will be on display 2-10 May in the Martin Hall Exhibition Space.
An outdoor sculpture on a grassy mound surrounded by buildings. The sculpture is made of burnt timber posts in different heights positioned in a wave formation with cut out areas.

Sculpture Week 2024

LU Arts is running a series of events to celebrate and raise awareness of our campus sculpture collection.

A man with a serious look on his face, wearing a striped shirt in front of a blue fabric background.

Watch Nye at the next National Theatre Live screening on campus

Tim Price's new play ‘Nye’ will be showing at Cope Auditorium on Tuesday 23 April, 7pm.
The Vice-Chancellor Nick Jennings, Jasia Pang and other senior members of staff standing beside Jasia's mural on the side of the Schofield building.

Sustainability mural designed by Loughborough student installed on campus

LU Arts are pleased to announce the installation of a new sustainability mural on the side of the Schofield Building.
White blossom growing on a fruit tree.

Fruit Routes Spring Events

This March, Fruit Routes are running two exciting events: a Spring Walk and Barefoot Holi.
Flux in situ at Claudia Parsons Hall, Loughborough University.

Flux: A new sculpture for Claudia Parsons

LU Arts is delighted to announce Flux, the newest addition to Loughborough University’s campus sculpture collection.
Andrew Scott looking up alongside the text 'Andrew Scott, Vanya', After Anton Chekhov' and the National Theatre Live logo in the top left corner.

Watch this radical new version of ‘Uncle Vanya’ at Cope Auditorium’s next NT Live screening

‘Vanya’ will be showing at Cope Auditorium on 22 February, 7pm.

Masters of the Air: Apple’s Air Force drama is imperfect, but powerful

Apple TV’s new Second World War series, Masters of the Air, tells the story of the 100th Bomb Group of the US 8th Air Force, which operated B-17 “Flying Fortress” bombers from an airfield at Thorpe Abbotts in Norfolk. The series is based on Donald L. Miller’s history book of the same name and is produced by Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks.

Masters of the Air: ten other films and TV shows about the ‘friendly invasion’ of the American Eighth Air Force

New Apple TV series Masters of the Air tells the story of the famed 100th Bomb Group. The “Bloody 100th” (as they became known), were a part of the United States Eighth Air Force, a huge organisation which operated out of around 70 airfields in eastern England from 1942 to 1945.
A person wearing a shirt and tie is standing with their arms folded between four football players wearing red England football shirts and celebrating.

Don’t miss National Theatre Live: Dear England at Cope Auditorium

The spectacular new play ‘Dear England’ is showing at Cope Auditorium on 25 January, 7pm.
Three abstract artworks by the Charnwood Forest Geopark Visiting Artists

Charnwood Forest Geopark Visiting Artists Day

Come along on 20 January for a day of workshops, interventions, presentations and films that respond to the environment of Charnwood Forest Geopark.
Two ballerinas dancing with sensors on their limbs and heads

Ballerinas are stepping into sensor suits so one Christmas you may be able to understand the nuanced messages of The Nutcracker

Throughout the festive season, countless individuals delight in the enchantment of ballet spectacles such as ‘The Nutcracker’.

The Shepherd Disney movie

The Shepherd: Disney’s ghostly new Christmas tale evokes the eerie qualities of Britain’s abandoned Second World War airfields

From Charles Dickens to M.R. James, Christmas has a long association with ghost stories. In The Shepherd – part of Disney+’s festive fare for this year – we have an evocative addition to the genre.
Laura Harrington's salmon artwork

Book launch on campus: Laura Harrington’s ‘You Cannot Step in the Same River Twice’

Artist and researcher Laura Harrington will be at International House, 3pm-5pm on Thursday 14 December to launch her book, which is the culmination of her Visiting Artist with Radar at the University.
Group of students standing with Professor Nick Jennings in front of Hazlerigg Building.

Celebrating our student winners of the 2023/24 Music and Arts Scholarships

Eight students have been awarded Arts scholarships by the Vice-Chancellor in recognition of their remarkable talents and dedication to their chosen art forms, which include creative writing, ceramics, dance and music.
A gold star featuring the name of actor Cary Grant

Archie: Cary Grant drama doesn’t shy away from the actor’s dark side

Towards the end of Archie, a new four-part ITV drama about the life of Cary Grant, the actor (played at this stage by Jason Isaacs) muses: “Leave the past in the past where it belongs. If you’re not careful, it becomes a trap.” Yet the series suggests that, even at the height of his Hollywood fame, Grant could never truly forget his deprived origins in Bristol as a boy called Archibald Leach.
The Loughborough Choir singing at the Christmas concert.

Join the festivities with Loughborough University Choir: A Crafted Christmas Concert

Come along for a festive evening of music from the University Choir plus musicians from LSU Classical.

The Great Escaper: Michael Caine’s final film is Britain’s answer to Saving Private Ryan

The Great Escaper is an engaging exploration of love, loss, memory and trauma. It’s also the final film for its star, Michael Caine, as he has recently announced his retirement. The film tells the real story of Royal Navy veteran, Bernard Jordan, who “escaped” from his care home in June 2014 to attend the 70th anniversary of D-Day commemorations in Normandy.
Man sat on the floor hiding his face in a book as a shadow-like ghost creeps across the wall behind him.

The book that haunts me – seven experts on the scariest thing they’ve ever read

A truly scary story never really leaves you. It lurks in long evening shadows, calls out through mysterious bumps in the night and blows down your neck whenever you feel a sudden shiver.