Photo courtesy of Eurocities By Lisa Turney, Principal Officer Culture Programmes The Eurocities Gothenburg Culture Forum 2026 focused on the theme of "Freedom of expression in a new era: How cities can strengthen democratic resilience as agents for art and culture". Bringing together cities from across Europe, the conference explored challenges facing many countries today, including censorship, disinformation and polarisation. A key message throughout the discussions was the

From Dortmund to Cluj to Leeds, young people are asking big questions The Lord Mayor and his guests at the Council Chamber How can young people help create more inclusive, resilient and sustainable communities? How can we ensure that their views are heard and reflected in the decisions that shape local priorities, policies and services? What matters most to children and young people in Leeds, and how does the city support their involvement in civic life? These were some of th

Reception in Platz von Leeds (Leeds Square) As part of celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the Leeds City Royal Charter, two cyclists from the engineering consultancy Arup set themselves a challenge with a difference: to ride from Leeds to its twin city of Dortmund. Niall Bourke and Richard Bickers took on the journey to raise money for four Leeds-based charities: Leeds Community Foundation, Leeds Rhinos Foundation, St Gemma’s Hospice and Leeds Chaplaincy. Their ef