2024: That was the year that was
Join us to look back on a packed 2024, as we looked forward to an amazing year ahead.
Published: December 13, 2024
When we were just days away from Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture starting – you might have noticed that we had already begun...
You may have seen…
The big Bradford 2025 moment took place at St George’s Hall in September, when The One Show helped unveil our programme to millions. We also brought stunning artworks to Cartwright Hall, Bradford’s local heroes to billboards around the district – and seven towering red giraffes to the streets of the city. Next up was RISE, our big opening event created by Kirsty Housley and Steven Frayne (who you may know better as Dynamo).
Meet the future
Why wait for tomorrow? We put young people at the heart of Bradford 2025. With 17 young people joining our Youth Panel, we ensured young people’s perspectives shaped every decision we made.
Nine Apprentices and ten Young Creatives gained hands-on experience working with us, paving the way for creative industry careers. And we launched the Bradford 2025 Youth Pass, which offered discounted tickets, priority booking and other benefits for Bradford residents aged 16–25.
Capital ideas
Our Cultural Capital Fund was one of many initiatives designed to ensure the impact of Bradford 2025 lasts not just months but years. 21 organisations and projects have benefited from Cultural Capital grants, which have supported the Peace Museum’s move to Salts Mill, the purchase of the historic Brontë birthplace in Thornton (hopefully opening in 2025!) and access improvements at Ilkley Playhouse. Read all about it here.
Spotlighting Bradford artists
We provided funding and support for local artists to create new works for 2025 – and one of them, Jack King’s feature film The Ceremony (watch the trailer), already picked up a prestigious award from the Edinburgh International Film Festival. We partnered with the British Council on their Venice Fellowship Programme, offering opportunities to Bradford artists such as Millicent Sanders. And our Artist-Led Project Awards supported dozens of new works that premiered in 2025.
BD: Walls launches
BD: Walls is an ambitious exhibition with a difference: the gallery is Bradford District itself. We invited street artists from home and abroad to create new works on walls across Bradford District – paying vibrant tribute to our heritage while celebrating our dynamic street art culture.
BD: Walls launched in 2024 with works by NeSpoon (The Portal, in Bradford city centre) and Peachzz (Roots, at MAPA) – and it continued to bring vibrant new street art to locations across Bradford district during 2025.
Learn, learn, learn
Bradford Glow was our collection of free learning resources to unleash the creativity of local school children – and before Bradford 2025 had even started, we connected online with more than 16,000 learners. 96 schools in 29 wards had already signed up to take part in activities in 2025, with nearly 5,000 learners ready to join us for sessions. We already were running programmes such as Sing, Dance, Leap, our collaboration with Royal Ballet & Opera, Northern Ballet and Opera North and Digital Creatives. Plus, we got playful with projects like Intergenerational Play and our year-round PLAY programme for children and families.
Shaping creative communities
We brought art to people’s doorsteps with our Creative Communities Fund alongside GiveBradford and Pears Foundation, which awarded grants totalling £250,000 to 30 community organisations across Bradford. 2,000 participants from three-quarters of Bradford’s districts were already taking part in a wide range of activities, from crafting, music-making, dance and cookery. And Drumroll Please put young people’s thoughts about Bradford onto a series of striking posters designed by local artists Kirsty Taylor and Asher Titre. “Keep It Lemon” indeed…
