Local writers, directors, artists and theatre makers supported by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture

Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture (Bradford 2025) has announced some of the creatives that are benefitting from its programmes set to leave a long-lasting impact on the district.

Bradford Artist Awards

Ten Bradford district-based artists have been successful in Bradford 2025’s first round of Artist-Led Project Awards. The awards support a broad range of artforms including theatre, music, live art, visual arts, photography, literature and storytelling. Those successful will now work alongside the Bradford 2025 team to create new projects that will take place during the year of culture and connect with residents from across Bradford.

The successful artists and organisations from this round include: Ascendance, a charity in the Dance for Health sector; Imaran Ali and Tarique Naeem who work with emerging technologies; playwrights Deborah Pakkar-Hull and Emma Adams; multi-disciplinary artist Lucy Barker; visual artists Jim Mitcham and Geoff Kendal; writer, multilingual poet and spoken word artist Nabeela Ahmed; Northern Duck Productions, a theatre company supporting underrepresented stories in Bradford; street band The Peace Artistes; Arabic Calligraphy artist Razwan Ul Haq and Shipley based People Powered Press, who engage people through letter press printing, typography and creative writing.

More information on the projects from the first-round artists will be announced in due course. A second round of Artist-Led Project Awards will open in August.

Venice Fellowships

Through its partnership with the British Council, Bradford 2025 has given two local artists the opportunity to be a part of the Venice Biennale, one of the world's most prestigious arts festivals.

Millicent Sanders from Shipley and Tahir Shah from Heaton have the once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the Biennale as ambassadors of John Akomfrah’s British Pavilion exhibition.

The duo will each spend a month in Venice where they will join other artists from across Britain and act as Exhibition Ambassadors at the British Pavilion, interacting with visitors and supporting the exhibition.

Whist in Venice, they also have the chance to enhance their creative practice, connect with artists from all over the world and develop a piece of work within an international context. Upon their return, Millicent and Tahir will participate in a knowledge exchange with local creatives and Bradford 2025. 

FORGE Film Lab

Bradford 2025 is drawing on the region’s rich cinematic history to create the next generation of creative professionals.

Bradford is a UNESCO Heritage City of Film and through the FORGE Film Lab, budding Bradford-based screenwriters, filmmakers and directors will have the unique opportunity to take part in workshops and masterclasses, led by industry professionals and, they will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity premiere their work in the year of culture itself.

Those involved in the FORGE Film Lab will be able to develop their films, scripts and cinematic ideas within a specialist environment at The Unit, in Keighley. They will also benefit from having access to a wide range of resources, mentoring and hands-on training allowing them to develop their films and perfect their skills, ready for future careers in the screen industry. The successful filmmakers, screen writers and directors will be announced this summer.

The FORGE Film Lab has been developed in collaboration with Screen Yorkshire and will be delivered through The Unit, based in Keighley.

Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director of Bradford 2025, said:

“The Bradford district is brimming with creativity and we’re proud to be offering opportunities for it to further progress and thrive. Through these programmes and more, we’re ensuring that people in the region are at the heart of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.”

Millicent Saunders, a textile designer from Shipley commented:

“I am really excited to be going to Venice, as part of the Venice fellowship programme with British Council and Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. I’ll be developing my own research project, connecting Italian migrant workers from the textile industry to Bradford’s mills and textile workers. This is an incredible opportunity that will allow me to meet artists from across the world, make bespoke pieces based on my experience and enrich my craft.’’