‘Moving, unique and transformative’
– Attendee
Feasting, walking, bookbinding – the first two weeks of Compass Festival 2024 have been action-packed and buzzy; meditative and reflective.
Director Peter Reed introduces the festival at our launch party. Photo: Lizzie Coombes
We started at Fearns, celebrating the beginning of Leeds Sauce Week with its 15 collaborators from Leeds’ indie food scene and kicking off the festival with delicious food and drink.
Artist Kate Daley at her work station in Leeds Central Library as part of Building of Spines. Photo: Jules Lister
Quarantine artist Kate Daley took up residence 2–9 November at Leeds Central Library with poet Cherie Battiste for the opening week of the festival, handmaking a book from scratch, with a text shaped by conversations with people in the library.
Bookbinding materials are shown in ‘The anatomy of bookbinding’, a display that forms part of Building of Spines. Photo: Jules Lister
The book is being processed, entering the library’s collection for you to read.
A view from above of our communal feast in Kirkgate Market. Photo: Jules Lister
Preceded by a two-week installation in Kirkgate Market, Ling Tan’s Supper Club: Low Carbon Chinatown popped up after hours on Friday 15 November, welcoming 60 people to a communal feast to reflect on making low-carbon interventions in our cooking practices.
Guests were served four dishes, each with a low carbon intervention. Photo: Lizzie Coombes
We ate together, sharing food and conversation, and hearing from inspiring local people taking climate action.
Artist Alisa Oleva leads walkers out of Leeds city centre. Photo: Lizzie Coombes
Artist Alisa Oleva led four collective listening walks over the weekend. Together, we tuned into the soundscapes of the city, as we travelled between locations chosen by people who moved (or had to move) to Leeds from other countries.
We shared livestreams from Santiago, Chile and Kamianske, Ukraine, mingling these broadcasts with the sounds of Leeds. You can read more here about the connections our collaborators had to these places.
Together we tuned into our surroundings. Photo: Lizzie Coombes
The walks brought moments of quiet and with the sounds of sirens heard through the Kamianske live stream, an important opportunity to reflect on what’s happening elsewhere in the world.
Thanks to everyone who’s joined us so far! Visit our Compass Festival 2024 page to discover what we’ve got lined up for the rest of the month.
We’re celebrating queer joy, relaxing at a digital wellness spa and creating chosen family trees. See you there!
Tell us what you think
Joined us at Compass Festival 2024?
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The survey takes about 5 minutes to complete.
Plus, survey respondents can enter our prize draw for a chance to win one of three vouchers worth £50. Choose whether your voucher is for Tesco supermarket or local restaurant Bundobust.
