£3m cultural capital fund and a new architectural competition announced in Bradford 2025

One year on from Bradford winning the title of UK City of Culture 2025, preparations for the district’s year in the international spotlight are well underway with the announcement of new investment in venues, communities and creative projects.

Shanaz Gulzar, creative director for Bradford 2025, said: “We’ve already supported 35 local artists and organisations to develop new work and with Bradford Council we’re encouraging more large scale commissions for this November’s ‘Bradford is LIT’. The biannual light festival is growing into a standout date in the cultural calendar and will be an important moment in our lead up to 2025.”

The leader of Bradford Council, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, said: “The City of Culture team are committed to making the arts, culture, and heritage sectors sustainable, creating a long-lasting legacy across the Bradford District. The energy and partnership working we’ve seen so far is phenomenal.”

Cultural venues in Bradford district will benefit from a new £3m cultural capital fund to improve access and facilities for local people and the millions of visitors anticipated for Bradford 2025. With funding from City of Bradford Metropolitan Council, Bradford 2025 will deliver two grant schemes for cultural venues: small scale of up to £5,000 each and larger scale for a minimum of £50,000.

A new temporary touring performance venue will be located in parks across the district during 2025, enabling larger scale events to take place in the heart of local communities. ‘Beacon’ will be a flagship project for Bradford 2025 and architects and designers will be invited to submit creative ideas to deliver a RIBA [Royal Institute of British Architects] feasibility study and early concept designs.

An important priority for Bradford 2025 is to significantly increase access to cultural activities amongst the diverse communities that make up the youngest city in Europe, in a District with a population that is now over 500,000 strong. Working alongside Bradford 2025, local organisation GiveBradford has been appointed as official grant making partner for Bradford 2025.

Inspired by the theme ‘City of the World’, a new partnership programme will kick start in early 2024 to help communities across the district create work and events in the build up to and during the year as UK City of Culture.

GiveBradford CEO Kate Hainsworth said: “With an average population of under 37 years, the lowest in West Yorkshire, Bradford is really coming of age in 2025.

“It’s terrific to be partnering with the Bradford 2025 team on building a legacy and creating opportunities for all, well beyond the year itself testament to the positive impact of GiveBradford and the ongoing work of the local community organisations we support across the district.”

Major capital development projects underway across Bradford some of which have been in the works for years are being accelerated, ready for the district’s celebratory year. Kala Sangam and the National Science and Media Museum two of the city’s acclaimed cultural organisations– start work on substantial redevelopment projects in the next year.

Pete Massey, director, Yorkshire and the Humber, Arts Council England said: “It is fantastic to see the progress being made by Bradford Culture Company a year on from winning the UK City of Culture 2025 status. It is a testament to the excellent team it has in place that such swift progress has been made since the announcement.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily