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The Heart of Cultural Festivals, Arts and Events in Leicester

Founded in 2011 by Director Amanda Leandro, Cosmopolitan Arts is a community interest company CIC based in Leicester dedicated to celebrating cultural diversity through the arts.

​At the heart of our organisation is a commitment to engaging people from all backgrounds, particularly those who may not usually access the arts. We aim to create high-quality, participatory arts experiences that inspire, challenge perceptions, and create community cohesion across cultural and social boundaries.

Cosmopolitan Arts - Lunar New Year Celebrations
Cosmopolitan Arts - For The Love of Jazz
Cosmopolitan Arts - Immersive Exhibitions
Cosmopolitan Arts - For The Love of Jazz

CULTURAL EVENTS • BESPOKE PERFORMANCES • EXHIBITIONS

For the Love of Jazz Festival - Line Up Announced!

Cosmopolitan Arts is pleased to announce that the For the Love of Jazz Festival is back for its fourth year. Taking over both Jubilee Square and Leicester Cathedral on Saturday, 16th August, from 12 pm until 8:30pm, this free Jazz extravaganza is not to be missed!

 

Introducing our spectacular finale show headliner at Leicester Cathedral, playing from 7:30pm, JOE ARMON-JONES of the Mercury Prize and Brit Award Group of the Year 2025 winning Ezra Collective. He is a London-based producer, composer, and keyboard player who creates in an uncompromising, free-flowing, and experimental way, combining jazz, dub, hip-hop, funk, and soul. A collaborative theme runs consistently throughout his work, and such unions have included: Obongjayar, the late Tony Allen, Jehst, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Nubya Garcia, Greentea Peng, Moses Boyd, Ego Ella May, Oscar Jerome, Mick Jenkins, Speakers Corner Quartet and Mala, to name a few. Armon-Jones' second album, "Turn to Clear View", was hailed as "an instant classic" and named by TIME Magazine as one of the "Top 10 Albums of 2019". He is a two-time nominee for "Best Jazz Act" at the Jazz FM Awards as well as the MOBO Awards. 

 

Hosted by TONY MINVIELLE, our main stage at Jubilee Square will showcase an array of talent from 12pm until 7pm. The fantastic TONY KOFI QUARTET will headline our main stage in Jubilee Square. Led by award-winning Jazz multi-instrumentalist Tony Kofi, this supergroup of world-class musicians will entertain audiences with their unique and innovative style. Internationally acclaimed composer and trumpet soloist BYRON WALLEN will be joining the festival with his fantastic compositions. As well as creating soundscapes for Universal Pictures and Game of Thrones, he has also been commissioned to create film scores by the BBC, Science Museum, and FIFA. Olivier award-winning composer and drummer ROMARNA CAMPBELL will also take to the stage. With a career spanning continents and genres, Romarna has captivated audiences as the drummer for Fever Ray, Benjamin Clementine, and Courtney Pine. Her mission is to create music that reflects our current reality with artistic integrity, inspiring the next generation, especially those from diverse socioeconomic, racial, and gender backgrounds.

 

Bryan Corbett’s INSTRUMENTAL GROOVE UNIT will bring a new original project full of improvisation, hip grooves, beautiful melodies, unique musicianship, interplay and virtuosity. Midlands-based composer and saxophonist IAN HILL shares themes of love, hope and inclusion through his music. He will be presenting his Miles Ahead project, which celebrates the classic ‘Kind of Blue’ album by Miles Davis, released in 1959. This tribute includes some unique arrangements and lyrics along with original compositions. Helen Gayle’s LATIN VOICES is a celebration of the music of Latin America fused with jazz, soul and contemporary music. Inspired by artists such as Tania Maria, Flora Purim, Airto Moria and Chick Corea, Helen uses these influences to create infectious rhythms, driving grooves and space for improvisation and interaction. ILKE-TA are an ambient cinematic jazz trio, consisting of Jamie Sykes and Jack Benjamin of Major Ruse, Moja Fan, Benjamin Luhis, and the Lucas Walters Trio, on drums and bass respectively, and Ben Nobuto (BBC Proms composer 2024) on keys. Exclusively for this festival, Hannah Barrs will be joining the trio on the cello, as they weave beautiful melodies with rhythmic complexity and dynamic textures.

 

The For the Love of Jazz Festival 2025 comes to life thanks to the support and funding from Arts Council England. Organised by Leicester's Cosmopolitan Arts (recognised as a National Portfolio Organisation by Arts Council England), which has been a driving force behind captivating live music, dance, theatre, and art in Leicester since 2011. We would like to give a very special thank you to Leicester Jazz House, MJazz and Leicester Cathedral for their continuing partnership and support of For the Love of Jazz Festival.

Cosmopolitan Arts Festival - Thank you!

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the Cosmopolitan Arts Festival. Your talent, dedication, and hard work helped bring the festival to life and made it a truly memorable celebration of creativity, culture, and community.

Whether you were performing, organising, volunteering, supporting behind the scenes, or cheering us on — your involvement made a real difference. It was inspiring to see so many passionate individuals come together with a shared commitment to the arts.

Thank you once again for being a part of this special event. We couldn’t have done it without you, and we’re already looking forward to next year!

We would like to give a massive thank you to our amazing funders. The Cosmopolitan Arts Festival 2025 comes to life thanks to the support and funding from Arts Council England and Leicester City Council. Organised by Leicester's Cosmopolitan Arts (recognised as a National Portfolio Organisation by Arts Council England), which has been a driving force behind captivating live music, dance, theatre, and art in Leicester since 2011.

How to get involved

Not only do we hold regular free events, but our space at Cosmopolitan Arts is available for a wide range of other uses.

Contact us today to find out more

Cultural Festivals, Arts and Events in Leicester

Contact us today to find out more

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