The University of Leicester's arts centre - open to all

Disability symbols - Disabled access and hearing loops

 

Visual art exhibitions

Our galleries are housed at Embrace Arts; a purpose built building to display exhibitions and collections, as part of the University of Leicester. We are open 10am - 6pm Monday to Friday. FREE entry. We are also open some weekends but please call us on 0116 252 2455 weekdays to check beforehand.

Exhibitions take place in our corridor gallery on the ground floor and first floor. We are currently fundraising for a new gallery extension where we can extend the range of our exhibitions to include access to the universities own collections. Make a donation.

 

Speaking Out art exhibition

13 January – Friday 28 March, 10am - 6pm

Celebration evening: Friday 31 January, 5pm - 7.30pm, FREE
Performance by SSoCiaL at 6pm

What can art teach us about the effects of violence against women and girls?
This exhibition explores how survivors can overcome their traumatic experiences and promote a positive view of women’s forms of resistance and empowerment through art.

For more information please visit the Speaking Out website

 

Visual associate Artists

Over the past year we have been working with a selection of regional visual artists to support and promote their professional practice. Including mentoring sessions, exhibition opportunities, sale opprtunities via our craft shop and providing space for rehearsals and residencies.

Tony Fisher

“Creating the images in this exhibition has been a therapeutic process and has helped me gain new perspective on my mental health problems. It’s been my opportunity to explore this beautiful world again and have hope for the future. I hope other people who experience similar enduing mental distress, look for support and explore creative activities to help them on the road to recovery, as recovery really is possible.”

See Tony's work here

Contact Tony on Linkedin

Wolf

I am a visual artist and writer (Villayat 'SnowMoon Wolf' Sunkmanitu) working in the mediums of photography and poetry, and I am based in Nottingham. The aim of my Not For Profit company is to raise awareness of PTSD, educate on Intellectual Property issues and promote creative arts as a coping mechanism for disability. The project is independently financed through the sale of my prints and books.

See Wolf's work on his Website

Like' Wolf's Facebook page

Follow Wolf on Twitter

Graham Ensor

Much of my work over the years draws on ideas associated with evolution, which influence subject matter and execution, many works deliberately having several “lives” as they are reworked and transformed several times for exhibitions. The interaction and associations between creative thinking and subject matter in Art and Science have always fascinated me.

See Graham's work on the g8artists website

Gwen Brinton

Gwen Brinton is a 28yr old mix media artist although she prefers the term Image-maker.

Brinton subverts the ready-made image, transforming it into another. Effectively giving the old image a new lease of life. Her wok encompasses video, image and text. The avante garde situationist’s Guy Debord and his ideas of de’tourment have a heavy influence on Brinton. She finds Gustav Metzers’ auto destructive art fascinating and also has a passion for the work of Arnulf Rainier.

See Qwen's work in Peep Magazine

See Qwen's work on Culturgen

 

Red Owl Picasso plate

Our galleries are open 10am - 6pm Monday to Friday. FREE entry. We are also open some weekends but please call us on 0116 252 2455 weekdays to check beforehand.

Picasso plate on show
We now have a ceramic by the celebrated artist Pablo Picasso on permanent display, thanks to the generosity of Lord and Lady Attenborough.
Lord Attenborough was active in raising the funds to set up Embrace Arts, formerly known as the Richard Attenborough centre, and his continuing support as our patron has allowed us to develop and widen our performance and creative learning programmes for the general public, while maintaining a focus on disability and inclusion.
The Attenboroughs donated ‘Red Owl’ to Embrace Arts because its colour and contrast give most access to our partially-sighted visitors. They have given 140 Picasso ceramics to the city of Leicester to be displayed at the New Walk Museum & Art Gallery.

Crafts on sale at Embrace Arts

Featuring jewellery, textiles and ceramics to suit all budgets from less than £10 to £100.

Perfect for that special gift � or why not treat yourself?
Your chance to buy beautiful and unique works by some of the region’s finest makers in our newly-extended shop in the foyer.
Original prints and cards now available, plus jewellery, ceramics, silk scarves, textiles and cushions. To suit all budgets from less than �10 to �100.

Own Art
The Arts Council England interest-free loan scheme, the easy and affordable way to buy and collect contemporary art and craft on sale in exhibitions at Embrace Arts. Typical 0% APR Subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Embrace Arts is a licensed broker of Own Art loans. Registered address: Embrace Arts, University of Leicester, Richard Attenborough centre, PO Box 138, Lancaster Road, Leicester LE1 7HA.

Arts Council England logo