Taking place on Thursday 20 November at Bradford Live, the one-day festival is aimed at 16–25-year-olds and is designed and delivered entirely by Bradford 2025 apprentices. The event forms part of the district’s UK City of Culture programme and focuses on opening up real pathways into sectors such as film, gaming, fashion, music, digital media and the performing arts.
Young people attending the festival will have access to workshops, panels, creative activities, speed mentoring and interactive stalls hosted by both regional and national organisations. Those involved include Opera North, Common Wealth, Dialled In, PWC, Games Republic, Channel 4’s 4Skills, Burberry, and Screen Yorkshire.
Panels in the Bradford Live auditorium will feature 13 creative professionals, ranging from presenters and filmmakers to content creators, authors and industry specialists. Among the speakers are BBC New Voices winners Irene Kaali and Humaira Bham, filmmaker Kimia Modaressi, poet Rhiannon Skye Boden, comedian Alex Dunlop, and Bradford 2025 Creative Technologist Matt Allen.
Workshops will offer practical guidance on starting a creative career, including sessions on social media skills, fashion design pathways, TV and film production, and opportunities in AI and gaming. While many mentoring and workshop slots have already been filled, organisers say additional spaces may open up on the day.
The event will also feature live performances from local poets and comedians throughout the afternoon, highlighting Bradford’s emerging creative talent.
Sherman Rabbit, Apprentice Marketing Assistant at Bradford 2025, said young people deserve dedicated spaces where they can explore careers in the creative sector:
“Creating spaces to bring young people in the creative industry together is so important. This festival is at the heart of the district so young creatives from Bradford and beyond can connect and learn from each other.”
Kieran Jones, Apprentice Operations Assistant, added: “An event like this is essential in spreading awareness of what opportunities and career paths are out there for young people who are interested in the industry.”
Bradford 2025 Creative Director Shanaz Gulzar said the event reflects a commitment made when the district won the City of Culture title: “When Bradford won the UK City of Culture title, we made a commitment to the young people of Bradford to create opportunities to experience and learn more about how the creative and cultural industries work. The Creative Careers Festival delivers that access and opens up conversations with the professionals shaping the sector.”
The Creative Careers Festival runs from 11am to 3pm at Bradford Live. Entry is free.
Workshops and speed mentoring sessions are fully booked, but additional spaces may be released on the day.
