Recital to mark reopening of the Clothworkers' Hall
Research fellow Judith Tucker’s paintings are on show at Gallery Oldham until July 31. As inspiration for the works in the exhibition, ‘Resort’, Dr Tucker went to the Baltic resorts which were the scene of pre-war seaside holidays for her mother and grandmother, who escaped from Germany in 1939. The paintings, such as Strandkorb (pictured), explore landscape and the memory of traumatic events across generations. Dr Tucker of creative and performing arts went to the area to visit places which appear in pre-war family photographs as part of an Arts and Humanities Research Board-funded project. For further details call Gallery Oldham 0161 911 4653 or http://www.galleryoldham.org.uk/exhibitions/resort2.htm

Chaplaincy goes back to church
The chaplaincy will be open for business at the new Emmanuel Centre on Wednesday July 7. The centre is housed in the Emmanuel church, part of which has been converted into a two-storey home for worship, community and teaching activities. In place of the traditional open church interior, a first floor has been inserted for offices and seminar rooms. The centre will formally open on October 21.
* Chaplaincy coordinator and marathon runner Rev Dr Simon Robinson is to take up the newly-established chair of applied and professional ethics at Leeds Metropolitan University from November 1. Simon leaves the University after 14 years but will retain links with the teaching of ethics at Leeds.

A rare peek inside
The Old Medical School, a Grade 2* listed building, will be included in the Civic Trust heritage open day on Saturday 11 September from 10am-4.30pm. The entrance hall, former library, anatomy lecture theatre and board-room will be open to visitors. Local organiser Bill Mathie secretary to the school of medicine, welcomes any former or current students and staff who would like to volunteer as guides and room attendants. Contact him on 0113 343 4363 or email w.k.mathie@leeds.ac.uk The University is a corporate member of the Leeds Civic Trust. For further information visit www.heritageopendays.org

Debating paradise
A three-day international conference – Visualising paradise: the Mediterranean – is being hosted by the Centre for Mediterranean Studies from September 13-15. The conference will explore the influences that have created idealised notions of the Mediterranean region and some of the realities that underly them. The event is suitable for anyone with teaching, research or general interests in the region and includes a reception, keynote speakers and a screening of archival footage. For further details call ext 33569 or email cmdtr@leeds.ac.uk For further details, including a full programme and registration form, please visit: http://www.cmdtr.leeds.ac.uk/pages/news/conferences/paradise.htm

Stars gather for conference
‘Active galaxies, black holes, gamma ray bursts, supernovae; the story of the universe and its most violent phenomena,’ will be the subject of a lecture by Professor Malcolm Longair of the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, on July 21 at 6pm in LT 21, Roger Stevens Building. From 22-23 July the 3rd International Workshop on Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays, will see the world elite in the field gather to debate results and theories of experiments including the Pierre Auger laboratory (Reporter 496). For further details see http://129.11.68.16/~workshop/

Resolving conflict with theatre
Playwright Jimmy McGovern will be a keynote speaker at a conference on the use of theatre as a tool for social and political conflict resolution from 15-18 July. The conference – Interventionist theatre: Empowerment and conflict resolution – will discuss the use of theatre to address issues in communities, prisons and schools. It will take place at the performance centre, Bretton Hall campus. For further details see http://interventionist.webhop.info