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Khadijah Ibrahiim\\u2019s essay, A Journey of Things Past and Present, looks at how Leeds\\u2019s built environment has changed and what that tells us about it as a society. Leeds is a rich north England city in a beautiful rural setting, but only the former is reflected in its physical development. The starting point is a much-loved mural that Khadijah contributed to as part of a school art project about the city\\u2019s historical and modern architecture. \\nKhadijah still lives in the city and has watched as the skyline has become blotted out by high rise buildings, changing the view and creating a sort of forest of grey trees. She is struck by how beautiful the countryside is around the city, as are many of its historical buildings.

The essay will consider what the built city tells us about its identity and why/how the landscape is developed, then move us into the future, talking about the imminent David Oluwale memorial sculpture by Yinka Shonibare, Hibiscus Rising, in currently empty open space down near the river.

Khadijah Ibrahiim is a literary activist, theatre maker and published poet/writer. She is the Artistic director of Leeds Young Authors, and executive producer of the award-winning documentary \\u2018We Are Poets\\u2019. Recently work includes writing and directing \\u2018Sorrel & Black cake\\u2019 A Windrush Story, a Heritage Lottery funded program as part of GCF. \\u2018Dead and Wake\\u2019 Opera North 2020 Resonance and Leeds Playhouse Connecting Voices.

Writer/reader, Khadijah Ibrahiim\\nSound designer, Alisdair McGregor\\nProducer, Polly Thomas

Looking at Leeds is a co-commission between BBC Radio 3 and The Space with funding from Arts Council England.\\nA Thomas Carter Project for BBC Radio 3.