The point is a community art centre run by darts (Doncaster Community arts). It is a public…read morebuilding with a cafe. There is a gallery which has a variety of exhibitions throughout the year. Rooms can be hired out to the public.

From the owner: We are Doncaster’s award-winning participatory arts charity. darts creates art with people in…read moreDoncaster to improve life, learning and health. We make high-quality, inclusive, creative experiences across the borough of Doncaster. Our programmes are open to everyone, particularly those who have the least access to the arts. The Point is our home – it is a purpose-built arts centre in the middle of Doncaster to make and share art. We have a light-filled gallery, creative workshop & studio spaces cafe and gardens. It is a friendly welcoming building where lots of creative activity happens alongside a regular programme of family-friendly, world-class exhibitions, events and activities.

Launched just a few weeks ago as part of the Manchester International Festival, the Biospheric…read moreProject is years in the making, and like nothing you have ever seen before. The Biospheric Project is part urban farm, part research project and part genius. Built (and grown) in a disused mill in a sunny spot on the River Irwell in Salford, the Biospheric Project is a living laboratory investigating new ideas for farming and food production in urban environments. The project has taken over three stories in the disused mill, as well as the roof and surrounding land in a small and radical farming project. Using connected systems like aquaponics, hydroponics and forest farming, the project is combining radical techniques and inventing new technologies to farm food and feed the planet's growing needs. All of the different elements of the 'biosphere' are connected, as they are in nature, and you can see the entire ecosystem from start to finish - from the earthworms creating new soil to the produce being harvested and sold locally in the community. (They even have an indoor/outdoor beehive, and chickens on the roof!) The Project is wonderfully presented, with information boards explaining the different elements and ideas, as well as the researchers themselves who offer exceptional guided tours and explain their projects fluently and passionately. You are watching people's PhD projects unfurl before them, and it is hard not to get excited with them about the fantastic and groundbreaking research they are conducting. The Project is closed to the public for a few weeks whilst the team there take a break after unveiling their work at MIF. But never fear, the Project will be growing and developing over the next ten years, so there will be plenty of opportunities to take a look. Check their website for details of upcoming talks and tours. (There are also lots of activities for schools and groups).

Royal Northern College of Music is a bit of a jewel in Manchester's crown…read more Situated inbetween university buildings on Oxford Road, it's a well respected college where amateur singers, musicians, composers and conductors study to become professionals. What distinguishes it from similar facilities across the country is there's a big research centre within the building where students can learn composition, musicology and practise-as-research. Though one of the courses is keyboard and piano orientated, most of them revolve around classical music, jazz and opera. Handily, RNCM also has a large auditorium which doubles as a music and performing arts venue for students and professionals. There's special seasons devoted to particular composers or styles and one off concerts from visiting orchestras, jazz, soul and world music artists. Occasionally, the RNCM also host excellent spoken word events. I saw Chuck D waxing lyrical here many moons ago and was involved in a reading Armistead Maupin did for The Big Gay Read / Queer Up North. Both were sold out and had the audience on the edge of their seats. Handily, the RNCM also has a cute cafe-bar on the ground floor where you can have coffee, tea and snacks in the day and wine and beer at night.

So, you're a music buff. You want to watch important, intelligent music, or you want to become a…read moreBachelor of Music, a Master of Music, or become an instrumental or performing arts educator. Where else can you come but one of the most prestigious music colleges in the country? The college is divided into the schools of academic studies, composition, keyboard studies, strings, vocal and opera studies and wind, brass and percussion. There are also departments for conducting, jazz, period performance and an international chamber music studio. It's also a venue for some of the best music around, from recitals to operas, theatre to ensembles. Occasionally you get a non-music event though, and this was why I was at the Royal Northern College of Music. One of my most beloved authors, Bret Easton Ellis, was doing a reading, Q&A and signing here, and it was the perfect excuse for me to down a cocktail for Dutch courage but still end up giggling like an eleven year old schoolgirl. Oh well, you win some... you lose some. The theatre and space itself is more than impressive and I'd happily see any performance here.

This venue caters for the more 'artsy' side of Halifax culture, with plays, concerts and workshops…read more The location is a beautiful converted chapel and there is a stage upstairs and a fantastic bar downstairs. This venue is unusual in Halifax in that it offers a place to host folk nights, theatre workshops and less mainstream arts events. Thoroughly recommended

TL;DR - An important historical building house a small but important museum…read more This house is a real slice of history, where the suffragette movement had its roots. There's something incredible about walking around the house and thinking about the conversations which must have taken place here... the back room has been restored to how it would have once been, and it's there in particular that you can imagine yourself back at the start of the 20th century. The museum itself is very small though. The front room contains a few exhibits about the key figures in the suffragette movement. The next room contains a very good video exhibit - make sure you watch the whole thing - and then the back room is a restored living room. On the other side of the house is an exhibition on more modern women's rights movements and from there you can access a small cafe. The museum itself is small and you can tell that this is a community/volunteer led affair rather than a commercial one. However, the historical importance of the movement combined with the significance of this particular building make it well worth a visit.

i love all thing to do with womans suffragetes so this was a real treat for me to get to visit the…read morehome of Emmeline Pankhurst.This is where the womans social and political union was formed in 1903 and i think without the work of these woman ,females still probably wouldnt be able to vote.The centre is for use by woman only

Beighton Lifestyle Centre with it's own Cafe is a great place to pop in for a drink and a light…read moresnack, to meet with your friends or just to sit down for a rest after taking part in some of the activities there....Dancing, Keeping Fit ect. There is some-thing for every- one, open Monday to Thursday from 9.00am, (Friday, Saturday & Sunday by appointment) well worth a visit, the place is clean, tidy and run by friendly staff and volunteer's. You can even hire the hall for that special event that you may have coming up like Birthday Parties ect, with it's own Car Park and Over Spill Car Park at the Church (just down the lane at the side of the hall) parking's no problem.

When I visited Barrow Hill Roundhouse they were holding one of their 'specials' - Rail Power 2008…read more These specials are fantastic events, held a couple of times each year and many locomotives are brought in specially. While Barrow Hill Roundhouse carries an impressive stock of locomotives awaiting preservation or repair and plays host to the Deltic Preservation Society these special weekends are a treat to both the enthusiast and the layperson alike. With train rides included in the price of the ticket and a special marquee for dealers of railwayana and models it is well worth a visit. A free preserved bus service from Chesterfield station guarantees you get there OK and gives you an opportunity to share in another area of vintage transportation. If you are expecting something like The National Railway Museum at York you will be in for a shock. Unlike the NRM Barrow Hill is noisy, dirty and smells of oil and coal. I think this is a plus, but don't wear your best clothes here. I think barrow hill Roundhouse comes into its own as a working museum actively preserving Britains railway heritage. The recent acquisition of a Midland Railway Signal Box shows an interest in more than locomotion, Barrow Hill is about keeping the spirit of steam alive. Barrow Hill Roundhouse can be quiet when not hosting specials with more of a focus on the actual work of preserving railway heritage. The roundhouse has its own cafe, vintage bookshop, gift shop and toilets. There is an outdoor picnic area if you prefer to bring your own food. Best of all when there are no special events admission is completely free. Barrow Hill Roundhouse is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm

My most local railway preservation site and always worth a visit. Walked the 7 miles from my house…read morelast weekend for a sunny Sunday afternoon visit. Always nice to visit even when there is not a big event on as you get a feel for the place a bit better. Its a unique mix of a preserved railways with a mix of steam and diesel exhibits whilst also still very much a working railway depot with a number of mainline companies having bases there so you never quiet know what will be on shed. Will be looking forward to this years Model Rail Live event in September went to the first one and was very enjoyable. And hopefully I will get to the Rela Ale festival this time been sayign it for the last few years! The site is gradually developign with new additions to the site some liek the signalbox are only open at event weekends and also the running days when you can travel on the half mile or so of runnign track behind both steam and diesel traction. Its certainly worth a visit and even better it is free, but I always make a donation to help maintain and expand the site

Selby Town Hall is on the Corner of Gowthorpe and Brook Street. There are a few parking places but…read morethere is a pay-and-display car park at the rear. The Town Hall building was built in 1862 and was the Methodist church for many years. In the 1950's it was sadly sold off to become a tyre depot (not sure what people were thinking) until the council realised its beauty. After a major restoration the Town Hall opened its door as a conference rooms, The Town Councils Offices, and a flexible place for theatre productions, music and bands and even the cinemas with a portable screen. Workshops and youth events are held regularly. The Town Hall is subsidised by the Arts Council England that enables them to stage big name acts. Many local and big name bands have played at the Town Hall, I'll list the events as they come up :)