Celebrating 10 years of the Priestley Centre

We are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures at the Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall, School of Music, University of Leeds on 30 June 2026, 15:00 - 18:00.

This milestone marks a decade of collaboration, innovation and impact across the climate research community, while looking ahead to the action needed over the next 10 years and beyond.

The event will open with a keynote address from the Priestley Centre’s Director, Professor Piers Forster CBE, reflecting on the Centre’s achievements over the past decade and setting the scene for the celebration. This will be followed by a panel discussion, exploring how climate change solutions emerge across different sectors, highlighting practical pathways towards meaningful and positive action in the years ahead.

Guests will then have time to network and explore a curated programme of creative works related to climate, environment and place.

A sound installation, compiled by Dr Scott McLaughlin, will unfold across the concert hall and foyer spaces, featuring field recordings from Gair Wood, Dunwich by Professor Martin Iddon, and new compositions by University of Leeds students, created in collaboration with colleagues from the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability.

The celebration will also feature additional exhibitors, including James McKay’s Dreams of a Low Carbon Future, a visionary illustration project imagining Leeds as a positive, zero-carbon city of the future, and  climate poetry curated by Matt Howard, developed through a collaboration between University of Leeds poets and Priestley Centre climate researchers.

Find out more about the exhibitors here

Please contact [email protected] if you would like to find out more about the event and how to register to attend.