Two of the leaders behind the success of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, Dan Bates and Shanaz Gulzar, have both been awarded an MBE in this year’s New Year’s Honours list for services to Culture in Bradford. 

Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, is an acclaimed artist, producer and presenter whose career spans film, visual arts, theatre, public art and media. She led on the creation of the Bradford 2025 cultural programme; working with local, national and international partners to deliver an ambitious programme of work rooted in the unique heritage and character of Bradford district, ensuring local people were at the heart of the programme. 

Shanaz has previously worked as a producer at Manchester International Festival (MIF) and has presented a number of BBC television programmes including Yorkshire Walks and the documentary film Hidden Histories: The Lost Portraits of Bradford.   

Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director, Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture says “This honour isn’t just for me it also marks the work of all my remarkable colleagues. I am so proud of the work that the Bradford 2025 team have delivered in the lead up to and throughout this extraordinary year of art and culture. The people of our city and district have completely owned this year, which has been a privilege and a delight to witness. I am grateful and humbled by this recognition.” 

Dan Bates, Executive Director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture returned to West Yorkshire to run Bradford Culture Company in 2022. Working with Shanaz he has led on capital projects, skills & training initiatives, the volunteering programme and overseen the operation of Bradford Culture Company.  

During his previous 13-year tenure as Chief Executive of Sheffield Theatres, Dan led the organisation to national and international acclaim, including being named the UK’s Regional Theatre of the Year for four consecutive years. Productions he oversaw include the world premieres of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Life of Pi and Standing at the Sky’s Edge, which has since transferred to London following a sell-out run at the National Theatre. In 2022, he was ranked number 16 in The Stage 100 list of the most influential people in theatre. Dan is also a Board member of the Bradford Business Improvement District (BID). 

Dan Bates, Executive Director, Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture states “I am thrilled and humbled to have been nominated for this honour. Working on Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture has been a huge privilege and a career highlight.  We’ve had an incredible year, and that’s down to our brilliant team who have delivered so much for the city and district. The people of Bradford have welcomed this designation with open arms, and I am excited to see what’s next for culture in the region.” 

Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture was delivered by Bradford Culture Company Limited, a charity supported by public funding, trusts, foundations and sponsors.  

A year-long celebration of Bradford city and district, Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture has laid the foundations for long-term transformation through its cultural programme, training opportunities, education initiatives, artist-development and capital investments. It has reshaped the narrative about Bradford and raised the profile of the region nationally and internationally as a destination for culture.  

Events took place in its city, towns, villages and greenspaces, with early estimates showing that more than 3 million people attended 5,000+, Bradford 2025 events, with audiences coming from all 30 wards of the district, across the UK and around the world. 

Bradford residents have been at the heart of the programme, with more than 87,000 of people participating in events, and over 2,700 volunteers helping to deliver the year of culture. Residents say that Bradford 2025 has improved their wellbeing, increased civic pride, and brought communities together. 

Bradford 2025 has supported the district’s creative sector through its significant capital investment in 30 cultural organisations, more than 650 local artists and cultural organisations involved in the programme and 5,500 people benefitting from training. 

Young people have been key to the success of Bradford 2025 through apprenticeship and young creative schemes, extensive engagement with over 160 schools and education settings, and a Youth Board, all leading to building pathways into creative careers. 

The designation has helped to increase tourism and contributed to local economic growth, with higher numbers of visitors to cultural spaces, increased footfall in the city centre, a significant rise in overnight stays and growing investment. 

Bradford Culture Company Limited’s work will continue beyond 2025 in partnership with Bradford Council to build on the success of the designation and sustain the district’s cultural growth. 

It is predicted that the UK City of Culture designation will have attracted 15.5m visitors to the district and brought in an additional visitor spend of £136.9m into the local economy. Overall, the increased cultural and economic activity is expected to deliver up to £389m of growth for Bradford District. A full economic and social impact report will be published at the end of 2026.