Eureka!, The National Children’s Museum in Halifax, is holding a right royal week of magical fairy tales from Saturday 2^nd – Sunday 10^th June, to coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Drawing on a mix of fairytale traditions and stories, the children will discover a range of  fairytale characters. There will be a Masquerade Ball, where Cinderella and Prince Charming will gather museum visitors together to teach them some regal dance moves; budding knights can enter Charming’s Courtyard Challenge; and two very ugly sisters will be roaming the museum in search of dates for the Ball.

In the museum craft spaces, children can get taste for royal life by making crowns, masks for the Ball, and taking part in other crafty fun. There will be chances to learn about famous Kings and Queens, and to enjoy special story times with Cinderella.

Join the unfolding story at the Fairytale Kingdom of Eureka! All events and activities free with standard admission. For visitor information call 01422 330069, visit www.eureka.org.uk

House extension in West Yorkshire by Wildblood Macdonald

At a time when homeowners are tending to improve instead of move, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has teamed up with Shelter, the leading homeless and housing charity, to help tackle the homelessness crises across the UK.

The scheme, Architect in the House, gives homeowners an hour’s free consultation with a local RIBA chartered architect in exchange for a suggested donation of £40 to Shelter.

Wildblood Macdonald and Doma Architects in Wetherby are just two of the firms covering the North Leeds area. If you’re planning to improve rather than move, sign up for a consultation at www.architectinthehouse.org.uk and see the difference an architect can make to your vision, whilst helping the homeless at the same time.

Interior sketch by Doma Architects

Architect and TV presenter George Clarke is calling on Yorkshire homeowners to release their property’s potential by getting some expert advice from an architect through Architect in the House, run by the housing charity Shelter and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

The popular UK-wide scheme provides the public with hour-long consultations with RIBA Chartered architects who donate their time for free, in exchange for a £40 suggested donation to Shelter. Homeowners throughout the Yorkshire can register until 11 July at www.architectintheouse.org.uk and will be matched by RIBA Yorkshire with a local architect.

The scheme is a fantastic opportunity for homeowners to discuss their ideas with an architect while raising money for Shelter’s work with homeless.

“The current state of the housing market means that more and more first-time buyers are investing in properties that need renovation”, said George, who is also an ambassador for Shelter. “At the same time, those already on the property ladder are looking at ways to improve their home by adding extra bedrooms or creating more space.

“Whatever the project, architects can help to unlock your property’s potential by offering invaluable advice on everything from structural design to fixtures and fittings. Architect in the House is a great way to make the most of their expert advice whilst raising money for Shelter.”

Now in its 16^th year, Architect in the House has raised over £1.5 million for Shelter, including over £110,000 last year alone. Participants will be matched with RIBA Chartered architects from May and consultations can take place any time up to the end of November.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: “The money raised through this scheme enables Shelter to reach over a million people each year with housing advice and support, and to campaign for a future where no child’s life is blighted by bad housing.”

Leeds University Union (LUU) was recently awarded ‘Gold’ in the National Union of Students (NUS) Green Impact Awards, for their efforts to reduce their environmental impact.

The awards recognise the environmental work of students’ unions around the country and this year a record 105 unions entered the competition. Part of the NUS Green Impact initiative, the awards provides environmental accreditation for students’ unions that can showcase great environmental practice.

LUU, a charity representing the 32,000 students at the University of Leeds achieved the award through:

• Holding a Christmas Shutdown campaign, resulting in their carbon emissions being reduced by 20 tonnes in December 2011
• Developing and implementing an Environmental Management System
• Introducing a new Environment Policy
• Creating an online ‘Green Guide’
• Reducing their energy consumption for three consecutive years
• Working with Leeds City Council to increase recycling options
• Introducing a printer cartridge recycling scheme

“I am so pleased to see LUU recognised in this way”, said Ben Fisher, Community Officer at LUU. “This award is testament to our hard work and commitment over the past year to reducing our environmental impact. As an organisation LUU is going from strength to strength and leading the way in Leeds’ third sector. The acclaimed work that we do in the community, alongside this Green Impact recognition, demonstrates that.”

During the audit, LUU scored an average of 220 more points than the average large union.

For information on LUU’s Green Guide, visit www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk/greenguide

For details of LUU’s community work, visit www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk/community

Charlotte Stern (Sue Ryder), Chris Hill (Festival Committee), Jonathan Morgan (Morgans), Sarah-Jane Meyers (Sue Ryder), Dave Johnson & Ranny Barn (Festival Committee) and Carole Shaw (Candlelighters)

The Headingley Beer Festival (not to be confused with Headingley Ale Festival!) will take place from 25^th – 27^th May at the New Headingley Club.

The Festival will feature over 40 beers and ciders from local breweries. There will be music from the likes of ALASKA, Feral Sun, The Reeds, When I Get My Plane, The Chasing Dark, The Seagulls, Ego Killer and Plastic Rabbits. Plus there will be food and family entertainment.

“This is the first year that we have run the festival and we have had such a positive response”, said organiser Dave Johnson. “All profits from the festival will be divided between the Club and two local charities – Wheatfields Hospice and Candlelighters.”

New Headingley Club is at 56 St Michael’s Road, Headingley, LS6 3BG. Tickets are available from Morgans, Crossley Newsagents, Oxfam and www.headingleybeerfestival.co.uk

Volunteers are needed to help serve the beer and food, or just help generally, on all three days. If you can spare a couple of hours please contact Chris Hill on 07968 968 862 or chrishill.leeds@btinternet.com

Wednesday 23 May

Millennium Room, Carriageworks Theatre

6:45pm (for 7pm start) to 8:30pm

£5 waged/£3 unwaged

Leeds Salon welcomes back Ray Tallis to discuss his latest book Aping Mankind: Neuromania, Darwinitis and the Misrepresentation of Humanity

In Aping Mankind, Raymond Tallis exposes the exaggerated claims made for the ability of neuroscience and evolutionary theory to explain human consciousness, behaviour, culture and society.

While readily acknowledging the progress neuroscience has made in helping us understand how the brain works, Tallis directs his guns at neuroscience’s dark companion – Neuromania, as he describes it – the belief that brain activity is not merely a necessary but a sufficient condition for human consciousness and that consequently our everyday behaviour can be entirely understood in neural terms.

Raymond Tallis is a philosopher, poet, novelist and cultural critic and was until recently a physician and clinical scientist. He has published fiction, three collections of poetry, and 19 books on the philosophy of mind, philosophical anthropology, literary theory, the nature of art and cultural criticism. In the Economist’s Intelligent Life Magazine (Autumn 2009) he was listed as one of the top living polymaths in the world.

www.leedssalon.org.uk

Party in The Park, the UK’s biggest annual free outdoor pop event, organised by Leeds City Council and Radio Aire, is on Sunday 22^nd July at Temple Newsam.

The ballot system for tickets, introduced last year, will again be in operation, and those wishing to attend will be able to register their interest at www.radioaire.com/partyinthepark from 8am on Monday 21^st May. Applicants can apply for a maximum of four tickets per household and the registration period will run for four weeks, closing at 10pm on Sunday 17^th June.

Priority will be given to people living in Leeds where the property is registered to Leeds City Council. Multiple applications from the same address will not be considered. People living outside of Leeds will be able to apply, but due to the expected high demand, it is unlikely they will be successful.

A draw will be carried out and those selected will be notified by email before 10pm Thursday 21^st June. This confirmation will include details of how to collect the tickets in person from  Radio Aire on Burley Road, including the requirement for proof of ID in the form of utility or council tax bill matching the name and address of the successful applicant.

Disability ticket requests will also form part of the draw and additional information will be provided to successful applicants regarding access and parking at the venue.

Details of who will be performing will be announced on Radio Aire and in the Yorkshire Evening Post in the coming weeks.

“I’m so pleased we’re able to confirm the date for this year’s Party in the Park at Temple Newsam”, said Rich Williams from Radio Aire Breakfast. “It’s such an amazing day for Leeds and we’re lining up some unforgettable acts. I’ve already had a sneaky peak at the list and I’m so excited, I’ll have to do my best to keep my mouth shut and not let anything out of the bag! No other city puts on a free party like this!”

Further details of the ticketing system and full instructions of how to register are available at www.radioaire.com/partyinthepark. Further information is available from 0113 395 0891 or events@leeds.gov.uk

We heard the buzz. Something strange was happening on Briggate. The pavement had burst open and a strange boat was being thrust up to the sky in a tree!

So we dashed down and there it was! Stunned, puzzled people were slowly circling thinking “What the heck is this?” It is certainly an arresting scene. On Saturday morning there was bright sunshine in one direction and a threatening black sky in the other, making it look even more dramatic.

This is all part of Leeds Canvas: OverWorlds and UnderWorlds, a celebration of public art in the city centre that runs from 18^th – 20^th May. Designed by visionary artists the Quay Brothers, this temporary installation, which measures 14 metres across and is four metres tall, represents a boat lodged in a tree and is an unexpected reminder of how close the city is to the water. The unexplained shipwreck is the first sign that something is about to erupt in the middle of the city over next weekend.

The installation arrives six days in advance of a landmark weekend curated by the Quay Brothers that invites citizens to explore their city with fresh eyes, following a map that will lead them through Briggate, County Arcade and the Dark Arches with surprising results. Built around the theme OverWorlds and UnderWorlds, it involves everything from community performances, light, music, dance, theatre and film…… to a flood! Good thing Yorkshire no longer has ‘drought’ status! It will transform the streets into a living stage-set for three days.

OverWorlds & UnderWorlds is one of twelve ‘Artists Taking the Lead’ commissions established by the UK Arts Councils for the Cultural Olympiad in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The idea is the result of an unprecedented collaboration between eight of the city’s major arts organisations: Northern Ballet, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Opera North, Yorkshire Dance, Phoenix Dance, Leeds Museums & Galleries, Leeds Met Gallery & Studio Theatre and Leeds Art Gallery. As a result, Leeds Canvas has been able to invite high profile artists working nationally and internationally to respond to the rare challenge of creating an original, free artistic event of this scale entirely in public spaces.

A major education programme began in January to enable young people and communities to become part of this ambitious project as performers and participants. Unsuspecting audiences will be drawn into a series of major interventions that radically re-imagine familiar spaces.

www.overworldsandunderworlds.com

www.leedscanvas.com

It’s always a good idea to write down exactly what you want to accomplish and twelve months on, measure how much you have achieved.

In business consultancy speak people define this as ‘having a vision’ and ‘visioning’ – developing a framework of agreed goals, objectives and actions. It is a very positive means of giving constructive direction to a business and then gauging and evaluating the outcomes.

‘Visioning’ isn’t magic. It’s a process that takes that basic question ‘Why’ and applies it to every aspect of the business. The result is a highly personalised business-centric document with clear performance aims and ambitions.

The trouble is many businesses undertake a ‘vision’ only once. The ‘vision’, like that initial business plan, gets relegated to the bottom draw and doesn’t see the light of day again. That’s a pity because having spent the effort and taken time out of the business to create it, surely the ‘vision’ contains your ambition and the routes to achieve it. Of course this ‘vision’ is not written in stone. It evolves and needs to be updated on a frequent basis – hence the requirement to do it annually.

Not just a statement

Because one of the elements of ‘visioning’ is to have a single statement (of about 10 words) which is a summation of what the business wants to accomplish there is an impression that a ‘vision’ is simply that – a rallying declaration.

In reality however a ‘proper’ vision, while containing a statement, also provides clear deeds or action plans that, by application, will help transform the business. These plans address opportunities, define weaknesses and suggest what and how changes will be made and who will do it. It is these plans that make the difference, they are measurable and they form the basis of business direction.

What does a Managing Director do?

It’s a good question. An answer is that they are leaders, good problem solvers and decision makers. They have self confidence and radiate confidence and are often great ‘sales people’. They are never petty; they don’t use fear to manage but are inclusive rather than exclusive. And importantly, they help give the business direction and they develop a culture of ‘fun’.

‘Fun’ is a strange word. In the sober world of business building, a culture of ‘fun’ seems to be a contradiction. Yet, working within a business environment that is ‘fun’ is immensely motivating. Remember while the word ‘fun’ is associated with funny or amusing in this sense it means exciting, enjoyable and lively. Would you say your business is fun to work in or is it boring?

I’d venture to suggest that undertaking a ‘vision’ is a very positive action, not just to support clear, confident direction but, because its preparation should involve key personnel, then their ‘buy-in’, involvement and contributions build a culture of team work and commitment. In turn that builds an atmosphere of fun and enthusiasm.

Put some fun in the business with a ‘vision’. Like to know more? Email me

Eric Greene as Billy Bigelow Photo: Alastair Muir

I am such a sucker for musicals! Admittedly most of these I have seen in film format – Oh, and I’ve seen them all – sometimes several times! But nothing quite compares with a live show.

With Opera North’s Carousel at The Grand Theatre you have all the right ingredients – a great Rodgers and Hammerstein score, a fabulous cast, striking set design. Once again I fell in love with Billy Bigelow – the wonderful Eric Greene. I sincerely wanted to slap Jigger Craigin – the wicked Michael Rouse, even if he was funny – for leading Billy astray.

Eric Greene & Gillene Herbert as Billy & Julie Photo: Alastair Muir

I always wish the heroines were a little feistier, but you couldn’t really fault Gillene Herbert as Julie Jordan who also falls for the gorgeous Billy, Claire Boulter as Carrie Pipperidge with her love, Mr Snow (Joseph Shovelton) and their nine (!) children, and the fabulous Elena Ferrari as Nettie Fowler.

Elena Ferrari as Nettie Fowler with chorus & dancers Photo: Alastair Muir

But then when you have such great material how can you go wrong. Carousel has such  wonderful numbers – Mister Snow, If I Loved You,When the Children are Asleep, My Boy Bill,– every one a gem. June is Bustin’ Out All Over  and A Real Nice Clambake were superb ensemble piece, beautifully choreographed and staged. And, as for You’ll Never Walk Alone – I doubt there was a dry eye in the house.

I also loved the use of video as Billy’s 15 year old daughter sat on the beach and the whole dance sequence depicting her life. I’m actually searching desperately for something to criticise, but can’t find a thing!

The singers, the dancers, the children (all nine!), and the excellent Opera North Orchestra did Rodgers and Hammerstein proud!

And, you’re lucky – Carousel continues at The Grand Theatre until Saturday 19^th May, so you have time to catch it, make sure you do!

Call 0844 848 2700 or visit www.operanorth.co.uk

Dancers Carl Pattrick, Jake Bowerman, Paul Smethurst & Simon Jaymes. Photo: Alastair Muir