Arts and culture news

New video highlights the spying career of 17th century novelist Aphra Behn – England’s first professional woman writer

In 1666, Aphra Behn sat in her Antwerp apartment writing what would be another unanswered letter to her English spymasters.
photo of a path and trees on campus with written info about LU Arts' new campus poetry walk

LU Arts launch campus audio walk featuring collection of student poetry for Mental Health Awareness Week

LU Arts have launched an audio poetry walk to inspire the Loughborough community to connect with the outdoors and our beautiful campus, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week (10-16 May).

Student at poetry night

Don't miss LU Arts' spoken word and poetry night

Speech Bubble returns on 22 March, with online performances from two professional poets, as well as opportunities for staff and students to get involved.
A photo of Lead Editor Hannah looking inside WAVE Press magazine, stood by the Hazlerigg-Rutland fountain

LU Arts unveil WAVE Press publication led by students to mark International Women’s Day 2021

A trio of students behind an exclusive publication called WAVE Press are delighted to announce copies of their risograph printed magazine are now available to view.

Fred Dalmasso in the play Derrida (HowtheLightGetsIn Festival, Hay-on-Wye, May 2016) collect-ifs

Academic publishes first-ever stage play on Jacques Derrida

A Loughborough academic has published a stage play on Jacques Derrida, which was inspired by a visit Derrida made to Loughborough almost twenty years ago.
Dancers

Radar explores movement with meaning in online discussion event

Through discussion and film, the Movement with Meaning: Dance, Identity, Knowledge online event on 24 February, 7pm-9pm will explore how dance produces meaning for audiences and dancers.

Researchers explore ways to maximise arts and culture online

Coronavirus has forced the arts online with video streaming now one of the most popular and effective tools for allowing people access to culture.
Aardman animated characters

Loughborough academics join forces with Aardman to tackle mental health crisis

Young people struggling with mental health issues arising from challenges such as loneliness, perfectionism and competitiveness, will be supported by a series of new animated films and companion website.
Image of the proposed sculpture for the Eccleston exterior wall, designed by Ian Tricker

Alumnus commissioned by LU Arts to produce sculptural work on campus inspired by engineering forms and processes

In October, LU Arts launched an exciting competition for current students and graduates to submit their proposals for a new sculpture on the Loughborough University campus.
pink and red banner with the words 'Poster Project, campaign for a better world' and the LU Arts logo

Winners of LU Arts’ Poster Project announced for their striking and topical designs

Last term LU Arts launched their poster project, Campaign for a better world, calling for students and staff to submit their own political posters about the causes they were passionate about.

photo of notebook with handwriting in

Creative writing classes to take place online for the spring semester

LU Arts’ popular creative writing classes for staff, students and the general public will be returning for the spring semester in an online format via Zoom.
photo of spoken word artist performing to a crowd in Cognitos at LSU

Professional and amateur spoken word artists take to the virtual stage for LU Arts’ upcoming Speech Bubble event

On Monday 7 December, LU Arts will be hosting their popular performance poetry showcase online for the very first time and it is hoped this will open the event up to new audiences.
Will Shannon's public workbench

New art installation unveiled in Loughborough’s student village

Each year LU Arts invites a different artist to spend a year developing a new work for the University’s art collection, which takes inspiration from the University’s Handicrafts history.

International House

IAS to launch Annual ‘Time Theme’ with virtual workshop and performance

The Institute of Advanced Studies will be launching its annual Theme, Time, on Friday 27 November with a pair of exciting events: a virtual workshop bringing three IAS Visiting Fellows together in a ‘trialogue’, and a participatory performance work commissioned by Radar to mark the launch of Time.
Live streaming a theatre show

Electrophone: the Victorian-era gadget that was a precursor to live-streaming

As the battle against COVID-19 continues to rage, the plight of Britain’s theatres, which have suffered catastrophic financial strain thanks to lockdown, continues to rumble through the arts world.

Photography of children

Loughborough academic’s work displayed in the Virtual Museum of Human Ecology

Work produced by Loughborough University academic, Dr Inês Varela-Silva, has been displayed in Spain’s Virtual Museum of Human Ecology.

An image of the Banfield computer game

Loughborough University London academics play their part in landmark video game

Researchers from Loughborough University London’s Institute for Sport Business are behind the development of a new video game for leading Argentinian football side Club Atlético Banfield.

New game aims to protect the cultural heritage of marginalised communities against disasters

A game has been developed to help people understand how cultural and natural heritage can be used for disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.
photo of a church and trees in the snow

University lecturers host event to celebrate forgotten Loughborough figures

English lecturers Dr Sara Read, Dr Catie Gill and Dr Lise Jaillant are hosting an event for the Being Human festival, a national event that celebrates the humanities.

logo for the SDCA PGT Digital Showcase

Postgraduate Degree Show celebrates talent from the School of Design and Creative Arts

Following the success from its undergraduate show earlier in the summer, the School of Design and Creative Arts is delighted to announce that their Postgraduate Taught Digital Showcase is now live.

Collect fresh fruit harvested from campus as part of Fruit Routes initiative

The University’s Sustainability team is pleased to announce staff, students and the local community are welcome to collect harvested fruit from the Loughborough campus.
Authentic logo.

‘Are you for real?’: New webinar series to examine the significance of authenticity in the contemporary world

Authenticity has become a buzzword for our times. The travel industry is full of companies providing ‘authentic’ experiences, global brands fight to be seen as ‘authentic’ and social media platforms are awash with arguments about the authenticity of posts and even influencers.

Richard Deacon print.

Exhibition presents rare opportunity to see drawings by some of the most important and innovative artists working today

An unmissable exhibition that is said to be “akin to having a tiny Tate show in the East Midlands” is to open at Loughborough University next week.

photo of notebook with handwriting in

Creative writing evening class returns to Loughborough campus

LU Arts’ popular creative writing evening classes for staff, students and the general public are returning to the Loughborough campus this term.
An old illustration of a woman writing.

Why it’s not empowering to abandon the male pseudonyms used by female writers

In a letter to James AH Murray in 1879, the writer ME Lewes wrote “I wish always to be quoted as George Eliot”. She perhaps would not have been pleased by a new campaign from The Women’s Prize for Fiction and its sponsor, Baileys called Reclaim Her Name campaign.