2121: Founders of the Future
Culture
The University of Leicester’s heritage contains a wealth of rich and vibrant attributes – both in physical form and in cultural values – providing strong connective tissue from its past, through to present day and beyond.
We have had a significant impact on society in so many tangible ways, and have provided a platform on which to preserve, nurture and develop the cultural assets that make our University so unique. From our founding story and its subsequent chapters, through to our diverse community and celebrated centres of excellence in the humanities, preserving and developing our cultural heritage is paramount to the University’s future strategy.
Give now to Culture at Leicester
If you would like to discuss how you can contribute to People at Leicester, please contact our Philanthropy Team by emailing philanthropy@leicester.ac.uk.
Ways you can support Culture at Leicester
Attenborough Arts
Based at the University of Leicester, Attenborough Arts Centre runs a range of arts and culture initiatives for our students and delivers the institution’s public programmes together with a range of partners, collectively engaging over 250,000 people annually.
Donor-funded initiatives include the award-winning SENsory Atelier programme, which has developed an innovative model for SEND education by putting arts, creativity and culture at its heart.
Botanic Garden
Founded in 1921, our Botanic Garden has been engaged in scientific research and education for over 100 years. It contains 16 acres of lovingly cultivated gardens around the four Edwardian Houses on the site . The grounds and greenhouses display a wide variety of features and environments, and the plant collections and landscape features make this garden one of the most diverse in the region.
The collections of plants are all intended to underpin scientific research and teaching at the University. Focusing on the importance of global biodiversity, visitors can see and learn about a wide range of plants that grow in our extensive collections from around the world.
Institute for Digital Culture
The Institute’s research sees ‘digital’ within the culture sector as:
- something used (digital as a technology, a tool)
- something managed (digital as a process, a policy)
- something created (digital as a piece of content, a collection)
- something understood (digital as a context, a culture)
Working across the sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, the Institute’s work wilfully mixes the experimental with the creative, the empirical with the conceptual. At the heart of the campus, and of the Institute, is the Digital Culture Studio – prominent, active and useful. A curated place to showcase and share, articulate and advocate, demonstrate and design together. An accessible place to show everyone how research works.
Heritage Hub
The University of Leicester’s Heritage Hub facilitates collaborations that combine cutting-edge university research, sector and lived experience. It supports people and organisations to explore, investigate and celebrate their heritage, undertaking innovative data gathering and research to inform strategy and maximise social and economic impact. Committed to researching and removing barriers to participation, the hub works collectively and equitably through heritage to address inequalities – for example, in education and health. It facilitates sector and public access to University of Leicester expertise, collections and research and connect our students and staff with the rich heritage of our city and region.
Campus development
The University of Leicester is the custodian of a large, and impactful estate that has shaped our academic mission over the last hundred years. We have an obligation to our colleagues and students, now and in the future, to ensure that we maintain and improve our estate for the next century and beyond.