Explore fine and decorative arts resources or create your own masterpieces in the Drawing Room studio.
About the Art Library
The Art Library collects, organises and makes accessible material relating to the visual arts, architecture, and design. Established in 1956 at Leeds Central Library, it is the largest and most comprehensive, specialist public Art Library in the North of England.
You can borrow or use over 26,000 specialist items covering all aspects of art and design, including:
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material about local artists
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19th to early 20th century Art History and Theory material (from the original Art Library and Print Room and City Reference collections). These cover the development of the artist as illustrator, work of engravers, printers, book illustration and the book as art, with notable 19th and 20th century illustrated books.
We are in the same building as the Art Gallery and Henry Moore Gallery, and we work in partnership with art libraries across the country via ARLIS.
Collections
Special Collections include some of the last remaining copies of the Leeds Pottery Drawing and Pattern Books.
The unique Sanderson Fashion Collection dates back as far as 1770; a resource for teaching, learning and research for anyone with an interest in art.
Learn more:
The Leeds Zine Library
The Zine Library is open for browsing within the main Art Library. It is a well-established space for open access to access to zines that reflect the huge diversity of Leeds and cover varied topics and perspectives. We accept donations to the Zine Library in line with our stock management policy and we are specifically interested in zines produced by LGBTQ+, global majority people and local artists / zine makers and zines that explore:
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mental health and wellbeing
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literature
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gender and sexuality
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Leeds as a city
Resources
The Art Library collection includes books, journals, exhibition catalogues, pamphlets, zines, prints, ephemera and online subscriptions on all aspects of art and covering a wide range of artists.
Resources include:
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over 26,000 items to borrow or use in the library
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a large collection of reference books
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special collections and rare art items
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exhibition catalogues and pamphlets
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magazines and journals dating back to the 18th century
Online resources
Art Full Text - Index and full text articles on art and related topics, including Art Index Retrospective.
Oxford Art Online - Art Reference Library from Oxford University Press.
Drawing Room
The Drawing Room is a collaborative city centre studio space for artists, tutors and groups, based in the Art Library at Leeds Central Library.
There is a monthly programme of workshops, activities and special events which change regularly. These include drawing, painting, printing, sewing, textiles, art talks and more. We invite proposals from artists who would like to develop their ideas, collaborate and contribute to our programme.
The space is also available for art and creative practice outside of the workshops (times and availability vary daily). You can buy quality art materials in the Art Library shop or bring your own.
For more information about our monthly programme and workshops, to register a proposal or hire the space, contact us with your details.
Contact us:
T: 0113 37 87017