Shared Ground: The Our Patch Gathering brought together the people who took part in Our Patch – and those curious about socially engaged practice – to share stories, ideas and learning from a year of working side by side across the district.

Throughout 2025, artists, producers and communities came together through Our Patch to explore what socially engaged practice can look like in real neighbourhoods. More than making artworks, this meant building relationships, trying things out, and responding to what mattered locally. Along the way, important questions kept coming up: about who leads, how decisions are made, how time and place shape what happens, and what meaningful creative work looks like when it grows from lived experience.

This gathering was a chance to pause, look back and look forward together. Through conversations, presentations and practical sessions, we shared what’s been learned and how socially engaged practice might continue beyond Bradford 2025. A group of invited critical friends also offered their reflections, helping place Our Patch in a wider context.

The day was designed to be welcoming, open and participatory – a space to listen, share, connect and think together.

At Shared Ground we:

• Presented the Our Patch programme highlights and impact as part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
• Explored the impact of socially engaged practice for artists, communities, and places.
• Provided opportunities for learning together and networking

Shared Ground was divided into morning and afternoon sessions, including talks, panel discussions, workshops, performances and more. See the full schedule here.

Shared Ground coincided with Lent, the 40 days before Easter, and Ramadan, a holy month in the Islam calendar. With both involving fasting, prayer and reflection, we made the day fasting friendly. There were quiet spaces for rest, reflection, and prayer, and places for anyone who needs to eat or drink during the day. In the evening, we came together for a Community Iftar – a welcoming meal for all, to share in the spirit of togetherness.

Shared Ground was for anyone interested in how socially engaged practice works in communities – including local residents, artists and makers, producers, funders, organisers and people who were simply curious about what Our Patch has done across Bradford.

In 2025, Bradford became the fourth UK City of Culture. Alongside a packed public programme of visual art, performance, poetry, food, and play, Our Patch delivered socially engaged creative activity at a grassroots level across the whole district, placing the UK City of Culture right into the heart of communities through over 150 co-produced projects. With a collective of more than 50 local freelance creative practitioners and producers, Our Patch visited every ward in the district, bringing people together to learn skills, make connections, and experience the joy of taking part in art.

Find out more about Our Patch.