Propose an exhibition

We aim to target culturally engaged audiences both regionally and nationally through an ambitious and bold programme of changing exhibitions.

We aim to target one or more of the below key groups in all our exhibitions:

Students and staff at the University of Leeds

There are more than 38,000 students at the University of Leeds. Most students are under the age of 21, followed by students aged 21–25 (student data 2024). The student experience is central to the University’s Strategy and Library Vision. In addition, with over 9,000 members of staff at the University of Leeds this is also a key audience for us to target and develop.

Leeds locals

Leeds has a vibrant cultural ecology, including galleries, regional and national museums, a vibrant music scene and a calendar of civic cultural events, in which our galleries aim to play a key role. We are particularly keen to connect with culturally engaged Leeds locals. According to the audience segmentation used by the Audience Agency, which we follow, this would include:

• Experience Seekers: Highly active, younger and social career-minded graduates, they are frequent and eclectic arts engagers.
• Commuterland Culture buffs: Affluent, professional, keen and well-informed people who are regularly and highly engaged, connoisseurs in the artforms they choose.
• Metroculturals: Prosperous, liberal, highly educated urbanites, passionately interested in a very wide cultural spectrum, concentrated in large metropolitan areas.

Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers

The University of Leeds has more than 14,400 international students from 144 nationalities and 42 ethnicities. In addition, there is a strong community of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in Leeds. We aim to target them as a key audience in line with our Welcoming Migrants project, the wider University’s strategy and our University of Sanctuary status, as well as the Leeds City of Sanctuary mission. 

Underrepresented audiences

Across all the target groups, we want to broaden and diversify our audiences in a number of ways, including disabled people, LGBTQIA+ communities and other historically underrepresented groups.