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Two children looking at objects at Leeds Industrial Museum

Our work

As one of the largest local authority museum services in the UK, we aspire to lead by example for our city, our people and our sector.

Our strategy Deepening Connections, Widening Impact sets out our framework, where we will continue to create unforgettable experiences, while improving quality and diversifying our audiences.

Leeds Museums and Galleries reports

Here you’ll find more information about the work we do both past and present.

Take a look at our work throughout 2024-26, in the form of combined quarterly reports.

Leeds Museums and Galleries Annual Report 24/25

Leeds Museums and Galleries Annual Report 25/26

Our Strategy
Find out how we’re proactively contributing to the cultural agenda.
Colonial Histories
Read about the work we are doing to address anti-racism and colonial legacies.
Environmental Sustainability
Read about our commitment to becoming more environmentally friendly.
Projects
Take a look at our latest projects.
Our Policies
Read our policies across our venues, collections and practices.

Discover our work through our collections

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Archaeology and Numismatics Collection

The Leeds archaeological collections are diverse, covering many thousands of years of history and prehistory, and representing a wide range of ancient cultures from around the world.

Fine Art Collection

The Leeds fine art collections are Designated as being of national and international significance. The collection has particular strengths in the areas of 18th and early 19th century English watercolours, 20th century British Art and a modern sculpture collection.

Dress and Textile Collection

The Leeds dress and textiles collection details the history of what people have worn in the past, and the textiles they have used for their clothing, furnishing and decorating their homes.

Decorative Arts Collection

The Leeds Decorative Arts collections are Designated as being of national and international importance. They are linked to local crafts people past and present, and feature major collections of furniture, ceramics, wallpapers, modern crafts, metalwork, textiles and costume.

World Cultures Collection

World Cultures is a significant collection area for Leeds, with over 12,000 items demonstrating the city’s historic links to the wider world, and the multicultural vibe of contemporary arts and culture.

Online Collections

A selection of objects from our collections made available online with Google Arts and Culture and Art UK.

Social History Collection

The Leeds social history collections started with an emphasis on ‘bygones’ and folk life in the 1920s. Reconstructed street displays at Abbey House were then added in the 1950s, recreating life in Victorian Leeds.

Natural Science Collection

The Leeds natural science collection comprises around 800,000 specimens, and is hugely diverse in terms of subject area, specimen type, and taxonomic range. It is designated as being of national and international significance.

Industrial History Collection

The Leeds industrial collections are largely based at Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills, and have been designated as of national and international significance.

Our Collections

Explore Leeds Museums and Galleries large collection of Art, Archaeology, Decorative Arts, Natural Science, Dress and Textiles, Industrial, World Cultures and Social History.
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