Harehills ❤️ Love

Today, I wanted to shine a light on the Thackray Medical Museum. Okay, so it’s technically next to St James’s Hospital, but it’s so close to Harehills, and they do so much good stuff in the area, I’m counting it!

The Thackray Museum is more than just a place to learn about the history of medicine. They’re really active in our community, and this year they’ve been involved in some fantastic projects.  

Earlier this year they had an exhibition called “Fragile Microbiomes” by the artist Anna Dumitriu . It looked fascinating, exploring the world of microbes through sculptures and installations. They even used bacteria and DNA in the artwork!  

They also had a really interesting project called “Living Bodies Objects” , where artists and researchers explored medical history and digital technology. They even used sounds from Harehills Road and St James’s Hospital in their work, which is a cool way to connect the museum to the local area.  

And just this month, they opened a new exhibition called “The Night Before NHS Christmas” . It’s a festive celebration of the amazing NHS staff who work over Christmas, with paper sculptures by local artist Andy Singleton. I’ve heard it’s a really heartwarming and inspiring exhibition.  

But it’s not just about exhibitions. The Thackray Museum also supports projects like “Projecting Grief” , which helps people cope with loss through creative activities.  

One of the best things about the Thackray Museum is how affordable it is for local people. They have a brilliant offer where, once you buy a ticket, you can go back for free for a whole year! Under 5’s have free entry, that includes the under-5s play area too. As local resident Katie told me, “We are so lucky to have it in Harehills. We go every week as once you buy a ticket you can then go back to the museum for free, for a whole year, whenever you want. That includes the under 5 play area. There’s a café there and they do lots of events.”

And if that wasn’t enough, they also run “Harehills Mondays” where if you live or work in Harehills, you can visit for free every Monday – just bring a bill or something with your proof of address. Even better, Harehills Mondays is still running this coming Monday (23rd December), which is fantastic news for anyone looking for a fun and educational activity during the school holidays!  

It’s brilliant to have such a fantastic museum right on our doorstep, and it’s even better that they’re so committed to our community. So next time you’re looking for something to do, why not pop down to the Thackray Museum and see what they’re up to? You might be surprised at what you discover!