Independent Leeds-based online magazine The Culture Vulture is marking its fifth birthday this month and launching into a year long series of films to celebrate.
In an email newsletter to subscribers, founder Emma Bearman this week conceded the website hadn’t always been very good at blowing its own trumpet and so took the opportunity to recap on some of its activity.
Emma Bearman
“It’s hard to believe that it’s 5 years since The Culture Vulture first flapped its wings in a bid to connect people across the North with the amazing abundance of glorious creativity that abound.
“We’re close to approaching 3,000 contributions on our website. All edited, curated and nutured by our editorial team. We’re proud of the all people who have spent time crafting their previews, reviews, musings, guides and ramblings.”
Now run by Bearman and Phil Kirby, along with a network of freelance and volunteer contributors, the website has been a focal point to organise many offline events for bloggers and city wide ‘conversations’ tackling debates about all manner of cultural and civic life in Leeds.
And last year saw also them produce two printed publications – Delve and Brew.
So what’s in store for the next five years? Well, a bit of a revamp for a start says Bearman:
“We intend to stick to our guns to play a part in encouraging people to be creative, get involved, have a go, enjoy the great stuff that’s on offer. We’re driven by an enquiring spirit, a desire to generate conversation and bring people together.
“Our site has seen better days and in order to do justice to the fantastic wealth of stuff being created & our fantastic contributors we need to give it spruce up. We’ve got plans to mix stuff up, connect more dots and collaborate across the North with like minded sites and contributors. “
The year long series of films and talks based on Cities starts next Tuesday at the Hyde Park Picture House which is celebrating 100 years this year. Each month in partnership with RIBA and Leeds Society of Architects there will be a curated film screening inspired by the theme of Cities starting with partner David Sim from Jan Gehl Architects (Copenhagen) who will present the film The Human Scale.
