We recruited 17 young people aged 16–22 from a diverse range of backgrounds to join the Bradford 2025 Youth Panel.

From GCSE and A-level pupils to university students, a care worker to a finance apprentice, these brilliant young people helped to shape our work while building their skills in creative decision-making and charity governance.

The BD: Walls Talent Development Programme was a free Street Art talent development programme for West Yorkshire-based artists – part of BD:Walls.

Developed through consultations with artists from across the district, this programme was designed to support and nurture local talent, equipping emerging and established mural artists with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities to bring their creative visions to life on a grand scale.

The artists who took part in this programme created the mural Serving the District – a striking, colourful new mural, that can be found at the Morrisons store in the Bradford suburb of Idle.

Delivered by industry leaders, Graffwerk, and supported by the Morrisons Foundation, the BD: Walls Talent Development Programme was a unique opportunity to learn from experienced muralists, gain hands-on experience, and contribute to Bradford’s growing reputation as a city of bold, vibrant public art.

New Focus: Bradford Young Curators invited 10 young people from communities across Bradford to take over Impressions Gallery for Bradford 2025.

This ambitious 18-month project was part of Impressions Gallery’s award-winning New Focus programme, which supports young people aged 18–25 to gain the knowledge and skills they need to become the creatives of the future. The Young Curators benefited from workshops and mentoring from some of the UK’s leading photography experts and creative professionals.

At the heart of the project was the handover of curatorial control from Impressions Gallery to the Young Curators, who commissioned new work by five cutting-edge photographers from Bradford and beyond. The collective went out into communities around the District to unearth Bradford’s cherished family photos and preserve the stories behind them.

New Focus: Bradford Young Curators culminated in the group’s gallery takeover — the Young Curators’ exhibition at Impressions and the launch of the online family album, a powerful tribute to the people and communities of Bradford.

Exhibition at Impressions Gallery opened in September 2025.

Combining physicality, artistry and technical expertise, we supported a cohort of aerial performers to take to the skies in 2025.

Through an intensive training programme, this group of artists developed confidence and aerial skills, before taking part in Bloom – a magical open-air circus spectacle that celebrated community, connection and the people of Shipley.

This large-scale bespoke production for Bradford, united local performers, community choirs, and the world-class acrobats and aerialists of Upswing, one of the UK’s leading contemporary circus companies. Taking place on the streets and in the skies of Shipley, it was a show about connection, possibility and what we can build together – a bold and joyful expression of community and local pride.