Bradford’s cultural landscape is set for a transformative journey, thanks to over £1 million awarded by Arts Council England’s National Lottery-funded Place Partnership Fund.
The funding will support The Bradford Way, a multi-faceted cultural programme designed to foster creativity, support local talent, and create a lasting legacy for the district as it gears up for the City of Culture year in 2025.
Running until March 2026, the initiative will be delivered by a newly formed consortium of key local partners, including The Leap, Bradford Producing Hub, Bradford Council, and the Cultural Voice Forum. Together, they aim to develop cultural skills, unite communities, and promote micro-businesses and freelancers in the creative sector.
A key component of The Bradford Way is the Your Way Awards, which will invest in at least 17 community-led ideas with grants ranging from £2,000 to £10,000. The initiative prioritizes projects led by global majority communities and aims to provide over 5,000 people—particularly families and young people in underserved areas—with access to engaging cultural experiences.
The funding will also support 10 festivals across the district in 2025, bringing vibrant events and creative energy to the community.
As part of its mission, “The Bradford Way” will guide creatives through a comprehensive support network, enabling them to grow their skills and access resources while staying rooted in Bradford. This will include bringing workshops and exhibitions to unconventional spaces, ensuring arts and culture reach every corner of the district.
The programme will culminate in a sector-wide conference in 2026, celebrating the district’s achievements and planning for the future.
Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places said: “We welcome this funding from Arts Council England. We are an agile, networked and resourceful district so this extra funding will allow us to work collaboratively to support our beneficiaries wherever they are in their development, elevate voices that are sometimes less heard, and increase capacity and longevity in our freelance cultural sector. This will enable the Bradford District to be a vibrant and creative place to live, work and play for the long term.”
Pete Massey, Director, North and Northern Economy and Partnerships, Arts Council England said: “I’m delighted that we are supporting ‘The Bradford Way’ through our National Lottery Place Partnership fund. The cultural landscape across the district of Bradford has grown significantly in the last number of years thanks to the vision of Bradford Council- it truly is an exciting place to be especially with the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture programme just around the corner.
“The Bradford Way will help to secure the legacy of both the UK City of Culture and initiatives before it to ensure creatives across the district are provided with opportunities to develop skills and grow their creative practice without having to leave where they are from. I’m excited to see the work that is created through the programme by the organisations and cultural practitioners who will be supported.”
The Leap’s Director, Zulfiqar Ahmed, commented: “Arts Council England is uniquely placed to help create innovative initiatives such as ‘The Bradford Way’ which will help promote and support arts and culture in areas of low arts engagement.
“The Your Way Awards put Bradford District’s communities at the heart of leading cultural activities for children and families. We anticipate thousands of people will benefit from a diversity of high-quality arts experiences through the programme.”
Lisa Mallaghan, Executive Director of Bradford Producing Hub said: “Bradford Producing Hub has been working informally with The Leap and Cultural Voice Forum over a number of years, and ongoing support from Bradford Council has enabled us all to establish and grow.
“This new funding from Arts Council England comes at a really vital moment, ensuring that creative people across District can more easily access and benefit from the brilliant opportunities being offered. It’s an incredible time to be an aspiring creative in the Bradford District, and we’re here to provide the training, connectivity and support to help everyone succeed!”
Cultural Voice Forum’s Co-Chair, Vicky Clifton, said: “Cultural Voice Forum is thrilled to be a key partner of ‘The Bradford Way’, a project generously funded by Arts Council England. This initiative not only empowers our communities and members but fosters innovation and growth within the arts and heritage sector, paving the way for a vibrant cultural future for Bradford”.
For more information, contact eventsteaminfo@bradford.gov.uk
