Blood: Ties and Tensions at Thackray Museum of Medicine

Maja Lorkowska, Exhibitions Editor
An image of Vessel, an immersive sculpture at Thackray Museum's Blood exhibition
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Blood: Ties and Tensions at Thackray Museum of Medicine, Leeds Until 29 June 2025 Tickets from £8.95 — Book now

Thackray Museum of Medicine presents an exhibition on how deep blood runs.

This fascinating display offers a unique look at the substance we all share, and its contradictory characteristics – giving life and spreading disease, both flowing and having the ability to clot. Its symbolic meanings are rich too – blood binds and causes division.

Blood: Ties and Tensions explores its role in healthcare and related procedures as well as a wider social context. The show is co-curated with the ‘Hematopolitics project’ at the University of Leeds, inspired by research on the politics of blood donation in Japan and South Korea to offer a new perspective on objects in the Thackray collection.

The exhibition features a newly commissioned installation by artist Gemma Wood as well as objects and records of real-life experiences.

Blood: Ties and Tensions at Thackray Museum of Medicine, Leeds Until 29 June 2025 Tickets from £8.95 Book now

Where to go near Blood: Ties and Tensions at Thackray Museum of Medicine

South Asian Arts
Leeds
Event venue
South Asian Arts

South Asian Arts (SAA-UK), since its conception in June 1997 has long been recognised as the centre of excellence in Indian classical music and dance.

The Riley Theatre
Leeds
Theatre
The Riley Theatre

The Riley Theatre at the Northern School for Contemporary Dance is Yorkshire’s largest dedicated dance house, hosting a year-round programme of dance and theatre events and performances.

Leeds
Gallery
East Street Arts

East Street Arts showcases parts of the city that many people don’t even know exist, inviting visitors to participate and engage with artists on an entirely different level.

Leeds
Event venue
Leeds Print Workshop

The workshop is a co-operative, membership-based printmaking studio, open to all those with an interest in print.

Leeds Conservatoire
Leeds
Leeds Conservatoire

Leeds Conservatoire is the largest specialist conservatoire in the UK, delivering expert music and performing arts education to a community of over 1200 students.

Hotel entrance
Leeds
Hotel
Hampton by Hilton Leeds City Centre

Conveniently situated in the centre of Leeds, Hampton By Hilton Leeds City Centre provides air-conditioned rooms, a gym, free WiFi and a shared lounge. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and a business centre.

Leeds
Theatre
Leeds Playhouse

The Leeds Playhouse, formerly the West Yorkshire Playhouse is a producing theatre in Leeds with two stages at its disposal.

Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre building
Leeds
Event venue
Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre

The Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre is located in Leeds’ thriving cultural quarter on Quarry Hill, offering an exciting programme of dance, theatre and family-friendly shows.

What's on: Exhibitions

Wolf in Yellowstone
Until
ExhibitionsManchester
Wild at Manchester Museum

Manchester Museum explores the concept of ‘wild’ nature as a means of tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis in a new exhibition.

free entry

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Dynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our newest theatre guide.

Okechukwu Nzelu
Literature Events in the North

If it's inspiring, inclusive events and avant-garde, experimental afternoons you're after, look no further than live literature this spring – we've got you covered.

A woman sits in a car with hands holding the steering wheel.
Cinema in the North

Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.

Sextile
Music in the North

Open air clubs, new festivals and long-awaited gigs. The North West's live music scene is heating up this spring. 

Laura Ellen Bacon, Into Being, 2025. Photo © India Hobson, courtesy Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Exhibitions in the North

Willow weaving, textile collages, digital arts and ecology - all this and more in our exhibition top picks this month

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Tours and Activities in the North

We've got many a good time in store this month as we round up the best walking tours, cultural classes and makers markets in the land.