Sir David Attenborough returns to Leicester to officially open new fully-inclusive arts gallery
The naturalist and long-running television personality Sir David Attenborough will be returning to the place of his Leicester childhood to open a new fully-inclusive gallery championed by his brother Lord Attenborough.
He will be visiting the campus on Thursday 28 January to deliver the University’s flagship Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture on Beauty in Nature. The lecture takes place in De Montfort Hall starting at 5pm. Admission is by ticket only and the event is now fully booked.
The following day, Friday 29 January, Sir David will officially open the new £1.5million gallery extension at Attenborough Arts Centre, the University’s inclusive, multi-use arts venue on Lancaster Road.
The new extension comprises of approximately 530 square metres of new accommodation, increasing the size of the existing building by 50%, and providing three new interlinked gallery spaces together with an external sculpture garden.
The new gallery was realised through support from Arts Council England and the Breaking Barriers appeal, a fundraising campaign which raised nearly one million pounds from over one thousand donors. Supporters included University alumni and parents as well as local philanthropists who understood the importance of Lord Attenborough’s vision.
- The opening will coincide with the launch of a new exhibition by internationally acclaimed artists Lucy + Jorge Orta, that explores issues around environmental change and its social implications. The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday 30 January and runs until Sunday 24 April 2016, with a preview on 29 January from 6pm – 9pm.
- More details of the Exhibition here
- More on the Attenborough Arts Centre here
- The Attenboroughs' connection with the University of Leicester
Watch videos of the Attenborough brothers receiving Distinguished Honorary Fellowships from the University here: