An outstanding exhibition of work by an artist whose paintings are regarded as some of the most perfect achievements in British art is on display at Harewood House until October 30, curated by professor of fine arts David Hill. Sense & Sensibility - Cotman watercolours of Durham and Yorkshire contains 81 works by John Sell Cotman (1782-1842), many of which are seen together for the first time. Cotman’s refined style, at odds with that of contemporaries including Turner, was met with incomprehension during his lifetime. “Cotman painted the text of the world and not its headlines,” Professor Hill said at the opening of the exhibition, which was also attended by David Hockney. For more information see the Harewood House website.

Singing for our lunch
The Opera North Chorus is on the road, and will be performing in the Clothworker's Centenary Concert Hall on Friday October 14 at 1.10pm. The programme includes Britten - Choral Dances from Gloriana, Tippett - Negro Spirituals from A Child of our Time and Brahms - Liebeslieder. For more information contact concerts@leeds.ac.uk or see the Opera North website at www.operanorth.co.uk/aboutus/Chorus.aspx

Outside broadcast
The 2005 Bodington lecturer is Greg Dyke, former director-general of the BBC. Tickets for the lecture on October 13 – The Inside Story - are free, but are expected to go quickly - contact Sue Testo on 0113 216 3189, s.l.testo@leeds.ac.uk. For information will be posted on Campusweb shortly.

Photography & celebrity
Celebrities, saints and sinners will be discussed in a guest lecture by Dr Richard Howells of communication studies as part of the BBC and National Portrait Gallery The world's most photographed exhibition and TV series.

Dr Howell’s lecture draws together his interests in popular and visual culture and will argue that the celebrity photograph has become the modern equivalent of the Greek kouros, the Byzantine icon and the medieval relic.

The photograph as a holy relic is at 7pm on October 6 in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

The exhibition website is at: www.npg.org.uk/live/wowmp.asp

The BBC press release is at:
www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/03_march/11/photographed.shtml

Exhibition looms
Intricately woven silk fabrics dating from the mid-nineteenth to the late twentieth century form the latest exhibition at the University’s international textile archive (ULITA).

Patterns of culture - decorative weaving techniques includes ikat, Banaras sari and stole fabrics from India and silk brocades from China. The exhibition is open Monday to Friday from September 28 to December 16. For more information see www.leeds.ac.uk/ulita or call 0113 343 3919.

Valuable lessons
Booking has now opened for the third learning and teaching conference on January 6, 2006. Full details of the conference, including abstracts for the parallel sessions and an application form can be found on the conference website at www.ldu.leeds.ac.uk/news/events/conference.htm

Dragon economy
Anyone with an interest in doing business in/with China is invited to a conference held jointly by the Leeds University business school and ConnectChina next month. “Making China’s success your success”, chaired by professor of international business Peter Buckley, will inform, update and challenge perceptions of what makes an effective China strategy. The one-day conference will be held at Weetwood Hall on October 6. Tickets are £170 + VAT. See www.connectchina.co.uk/chinaconference.htm or call Julia on 0113 3431162 for more information.

Go for promotion...
Applications are invited for promotion to senior lecturer from August 1, 2006. Details of the application procedure and the timetable will be available at www.leeds.ac.uk/hr/policy/promotions.htm from October 3. The closing date for applications is November 10, 2005.

...browse the Bistro...
Pick up a bargain at the first Bistro books and records sale on Friday September 30. Bistro books and records is open from 12-2pm every Friday during term in level nine of the former SCR building.

...bid for buildings...
Minor works bids – for schemes up to £50,000 - should be submitted now for consideration on December 2. There will be two more allocations during the 2005-06 session - deadlines are January 20 and April 7. Estates will fund up to 50 per cent of the cost.
For more information contact Michele Troughton on 35937 or m.m.troughton@ leeds.ac.uk

...and make new friends
The friends of University art and music (FUAM) are looking for new members. FUAM, a registered charity, supports the University’s art gallery and school of music through a series of social fundraising events. For more information contact Pat Brooke on 34161.