This major new work used light, sound and projection to explore a landmark moment in the history of Bradford and the modern labour movement – and spotlight the fearless women who made it happen.

Nine days before Christmas in 1890, the Lister & Co workforce at Manningham Mills walked out on strike in protest against pay cuts. Strikes were common in 19th-century England, but this was different. For one thing, the workforce at Lister’s silk mill was largely women. For another, the strike changed history, ultimately leading to the foundation of the Independent Labour Party.

STRIKE was a spectacular show that used light, sound and projections to celebrate these and other pioneering Bradford women who helped shape not just our district but our nation and the wider world. Created by Urban Projections (aka artist Rebecca Smith), with poetry by Princess Arinola Adegbite and sound by CJ Mirra, the show was projected on to Lister Mills across three evenings in October 2025 – and was accompanied by a major engagement programme with local schools and community groups in and around Manningham.

We held a series of workshops to help you explore words, identity, and heritage while celebrating the radical women who shaped modern Bradford:

• Poetry Drop-In Workshops: You joined poet and facilitator Nabeela Ahmed for free, family-friendly poetry workshops at Manningham Library.
• Banner-Making and Printmaking Drop-In Workshops: You joined MEK SUMMAT for a series of creative, drop-in workshops at Lister Mills.