Bradford joins the culture club

Arts boost could bring £700m to city

BRADFORD is set to rake in over £700million after being crowned the 2025 city of culture last night.

The West Yorkshire city fought off tough competition from County Durham, Southampton and Wrexham County Borough to clinch the coveted title.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries made the announcement live on the BBC’s The One Show after months of intense competition.

The win will net Bradford an estimated £700million in investment, creating 3,000 jobs and attracting around 1.1million visitors.

The title is awarded every four years, with champions getting big investments to boost local business. Winners also get a year in the ‘cultural spotlight’ with events encouraging participation in the arts.

Declaring the result, Mrs Dorries said that the city was ‘a worthy winner’.

She added: ‘Art and culture should be accessible to everyone and this prestigious title will help Bradford deliver unforgettable events.’

The shortlist was compiled from a record group of 20 bidders for the title, currently held by Coventry. Since winning, Coventry has seen more than £172million invested in concerts and the UK’s first permanent immersive digital art gallery, as well as a further £500million for the city’s regeneration.

The advisory panel, chaired by Sir Phil Redmond, the television producer behind Hollyoaks and Grange Hill, visited the four shortlisted places before making its final recommendations in May, which were later approved by Mrs Dorries.

Labour MP for Bradford East Imran Hussain said he was ‘delighted’ the city had secured the title.

■Cultural figures from the city include artist David Hockney and singers Kiki Dee and One Direction’s Zayn Malik ■The Bronte sisters were born on the outskirts of Bradford ■The 1987 sex comedy Rita, Sue And Bob Too was filmed on the Buttershaw estate ■The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford is one of the North’s most visited museums