Affordable rooms with a hue at vibrant new Art Hostel in Leeds

East Street Arts has granted paid commissions to more than 30 artists to transform a former presbytery it has bought on New York Road, Mabgate, near Leeds city centre.

There will be 60 beds across 12 themed rooms - including one dedicated to 1980s alternative culture and one inspired by east African communities.

East Street Arts is hoping the new permanent Arts Hostel will start welcoming visitors to the city from April, depending on Covid restrictions.

It will cost from around £20 a night for a bed in a dormitory room and private ensuite rooms will be priced from around £50 per night.

East Street Arts previously ran a popular Art Hostel at a temporary home on Kirkgate in Leeds city centre from 2016 to 2018.

It attracted visitors and volunteers from 114 different countries, including Italy, Argentina and Australia.

Australian artist Jesse Paul Wright, 32, salvages and recycles old clothes, which he is using to decorate what he calls the 'Woolly Ewe' themed room at the new hostel.

Jesse, who is living in Chapeltown, is creating a woven ceiling using 400 curved tiles, each covered in a piece of recycled clothing.

Art Hostel manager Rhian Aitken, said people from Leeds as well as visitors to the city will be welcome at the hostel, which has a shared kitchen, lounge and reception area.

Rhian said: "You will get to learn a lot about Leeds. You will get to talk to people and meet the staff - is not just like a little grey box where you could be in any city.

"Some people just come for the weekend to go shopping or go to a gig in Leeds.

"Some guests have stayed with us all summer long if they are exploring Yorkshire or if they are studying in Leeds."

In October 2020, East Street Arts was granted funding from the Arts Council's Culture Recovery Fund to help fund the launch of the new ArtHostel.

East Street Arts, which has been operating for 27 years, has supported more than 20,000 artists and has used 500 temporary venues as art galleries and studios.

It was established in 1993 and is a registered charity. The Art Hostel is East Street Arts' largest ever social enterprise.

Artists involved in the project Arts Hostel project are Akeelah Bertram & Julian McIntosh, Alison Smith , Andrew Small, Bernd Trasberger, Caraboo , Edwin Li, Sarah Li & Lady Kitt, Emma Bentley Fox, Jesse Wright, Jonathan Lang, Kadija de Paula & Chico Togni, Kevin Chege, Louise McKenzie, Mandy Barker, Mary & Jiem of Wanderlust Social Club, Matilda Njau, Mo Barrangi, Precious Collective, Sayang Sound, Thompson Brand Partners and YOKE.