Leeds Nomad is a collaborative, community-centred organisation that exists to highlight and share Leeds’ rich history, culture and heritage. It combines twin passions of founder Mark Silver – walking and exploration – underpinned by a deep enthusiasm for discovery.
Founded in 2019 by Mark Silver, Leeds Nomad started its life as an Instagram account, created to become reacqiainted with the city after a number of years away and as a means to share the journey.
The Leeds Nomad concept is simple: ‘put a pin in a map and get lost along the way’, and over the years since, its remit has evolved to encompass many avenues of cultural interest.
On 2 December, 2023, Mark delivered the first Leeds Nomad walking tour: ’40 Years of Goth in Leeds’. This marked the start of the Leeds Goth project, which continues to raise awareness of Leeds’ heritage as the birthplace of Goth culture with the aim of embedding it firmly into the story of Leeds.
Collaboration is key
Leeds Nomad has collaboration at its heart, and enjoys working with organisations and individuals. This has included Leeds Civic Trust, Leeds City Museum, Biroguy, Sketch Club Social, Leeds Festival of Gothica, Leeds Libraries and photographer, artist and designer Justin Leeming.
Mark also designs quality, bespoke Leeds-themed products, starting with the Leeds Goth enamel pin badge and now including the Leeds Goth tote bag and Choose Leeds pin badge.
Notable projects in the first year include:
The Leeds Goth project started with a pin badge and a series of two-hour guided walks exploring the key sites of the Leeds Goth story.
In September, 2024, the Leeds Goth QR Code Challenge launched as a free ten-day scavenger hunt across Leeds City centre. A part of Heritage Open Days 2024, with support from Leeds Civic Trust, it invited people to learn about Leeds' Goth heritage by visiting key sites in the story, scanning the installed QR code and watching a short video.
In the same month, Leeds Nomad arranged for The Mission to return to the Bear pit - the location of their first band photoshoot.
The Leeds Nomad project has included a number of free talks, including for Leeds Civic Trust and 'We GOTH this', at Leeds City Museum.
In November, 2024, Leeds Nomad arranged for the exterior signage of important music venue, Joseph's Well, to be saved and preserved for future display.
The discovery of a second and more well-known sign underneath was a wonderfully unexpected moment.
Choose Leeds launched in November 2024 as a way to highlight Leeds as the nation's favourite destination to explore, enjoy and live. The brand and subsequent pin badge pays homage to the famous 'Choose Life' slogan from the 1980s, also used in the film Trainspotting.
A return after six years in the south to a new city I once knew.
Swapping the ancient stones of Avebury for the modern bricks of Monk Bridge.
New shapes, new colours, new confidence. No ley lines here, but cobbles, canals and ginnels crackle with a magic of their own.
Equipped with a trusted pair of walking shoes and a brand-new Instagram account, I started the journey I’m still on.
Ancient and modern. Old and new. Uncovering and discovering. Long-lost and renewed.
Wending, wandering, winding and wondering.
Leeds Nomad evolves and is the same: put a pin in a map and get lost along the way.
Mark Silver, Founder
