Bringing Bradford 2025’s DRAW! campaign to life, the DRAW Tour took artists and materials to the places where people are – libraries, hubs and community spaces buzzing with life.

We knew that if we wanted people to feel at home, then we had to go to their spaces. That’s why we set up in familiar, welcoming places like libraries and community hubs. This way, people didn’t have to go somewhere new or scary — DRAW popped up right where they were already comfortable. It’s about being part of the community, not outside of it.

Part of Our Patch, our free community creativity programme.

From drawing on the windows of Shipley Library in January, to seeing more than 100 people take part in Eccleshill Library in February, and even inspiring Oakworth’s litter-pickers to stop and sketch in November, the Draw Tour made a real impact across the district in 2025.

The tour joined many special events throughout the year, including a day of drawing to music in Damart Mall as part of Bradford Progress, a Hockney-inspired visit to Ilkley Lido in May, and many creative sessions at The Beacon, such as Sip & Paint’s, the Mega Drawing Box, and a massive DRAW Tour take-over for the Beacon’s finale weekend at Lister Park.

One of the standout success stories from the DRAW Tour comes from the amazing Possibilities Group, who meet at the E4 Community Hub. What started as a simple visit to January’s DRAW session at Laisterdyke Library, led by Creative Practitioner Duncan Burnett, led to something much more meaningful: regular creative sessions with them!

Our Patch was a year-long arts programme across Bradford in 2025, that invited community groups and residents to design and take part in free workshops, activities and events in their local area. Led by local ‘Our Patch Producers’ alongside artists and makers, the project brought people together through creative experiences ranging from painting and poetry to dancing, cooking and gardening. Taking place in community halls, libraries, faith spaces and social hubs across Bradford East, Bradford South, Bradford West, Keighley & Ilkley and Shipley, Our Patch celebrated local culture while helping people learn skills, build confidence and make new connections. This was Our Patch.

Our Patch was funded by The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and The National Lottery Community Fund. We extended our thanks to all players of the National Lottery.