BBC Radio Leeds

Creative Lives On Air (formerly Up for Arts) began at BBC Radio Leeds in February 2020. BBC Radio Leeds inspires listeners to get involved via Up for Arts Thursday, hosted by Mid Morning presenter Gayle Lofthouse who assembles, with great enthusiasm, all manner of projects in the studio with the help of many a local creative expert, find out more here. BBC Radio Leeds also feature Get Creative sessions on the Sunday Mid Morning show where singers, pianists, writers, actors, animators and artists talk about their craft and encourage listeners to have a go themselves. 

The Getaway Girls podcast

Rima Ahmed chatted with two of the Getaway Girls on air to find out more about how they created their own podcasts. This follows our collaboration with the Getaway Girls to create a series of podcasts to empower girls and women in Leeds and to inspire them to explore their own creativity.

In the first podcast, two members of the Getaway Girls talk about creativity and what they are proud of as women living in Leeds. Sumaiiya interviews poetry writer Lara. Listen to their conversation below. Intro by Kaiha. Take a listen! 

Listen to the podcast episodes via Getaway Girls' website.

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Embroidery with Robyn Nichol

The Richard Stead Breakfast Show featured the story of Robyn Nichol who embroiders images from her northern childhood roots and uses it as a tool to help with mental health. 

Her work is part if a new initiative to celebrate Keighley's shopping heritage, called the K-Town Shopper. It includes an arts trail and 'alternative' department stores. Robyn draws inspiration from different brands, her favourite childhood memories and from pic’n’mix sweets, to mushy peas and Yorkshire puddings. See some of her Robyn's embroidery pieces via Instagram @robynnichol.

Listen to Robyn's conversation with Richard Stead via BBC Sounds (from 1h:36m).

Our favourite quote from a participant featured in the audio piece is: 

I started experimenting with embroidery because for me this process is very beneficial for my mental health.

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Make a Difference: Short Stories

Screenshot from BBC Sounds: BBC Radio Leeds, Make a Difference series

Through the Covid-19 lockdown, Creative Lives Producer Jane Chesworth at BBC Radio Leeds has also set up a short stories project to inspire people to be creative at home during the pandemic. Listeners are invited to submit 750 words of creative writing via email and over 130 stories have featured on air so far.  There's been such a range of stories - funny, emotional, dark, challenging, surreal - from a whole range of people - students, writing club members and those who've just decided to have a go for the first time. The best stories have been collated on the BBC Radio Leeds website

Most recently, The Richard Stead Breakfast Show featured the story of Robyn Nichol who embroiders images from her northern childhood roots and uses it as a tool to help with mental health.

Her work is part if a new initiative to celebrate Keighley's shopping heritage, called the K-Town Shopper. It includes an arts trail and 'alternative' department stores. Robyn draws inspiration from different brands, her favourite childhood memories and from pic’n’mix sweets, to mushy peas and Yorkshire puddings. See some of her Robyn's embroidery pieces via Instagram @robynnichol.

Talking about why she took up embroidery and her creative process, Robyn said:

When I was at Uni, suddenly one of my friends ended his life, so I started experimenting with embroidery because for me this process is very beneficial for my mental health.

I found it really difficult at first, but with time I find it really relaxing. It's quite therapeutic for me.

Listen to Robyn Nichol's full conversation with Richard Stead via BBC Sounds (from 1h:36m). 

Jane has also collaborated with the Getaway Girls to create a series of podcasts to empower girls and women in Leeds and to inspire them to explore their own creativity. In the first podcast, two members of the Getaway Girls talk about creativity and what they are proud of as women living in Leeds. Sumaiiya interviews poetry writer Lara.

Listen to their conversation below. Intro by Kaiha.