District sets out its cultural vision
Council places cultural renaissance at heart of decade-long programme aimed at regenerating the area
BOASTING LEADING theatre companies, the moors which inspired the Brontë sisters and one of only two World Heritage sites in Yorkshire, the essence of culture is evident in the Bradford district.
But for many casual observers, the area might not be at the forefront of the nation’s arts and cultural scene despite all that is already on offer.
An ambitious 10-year project, Culture Is Our Plan, was launched yesterday to promote the arts and heritage in the West Yorkshire district following a 12-month consultation involving hundreds of organisations and individuals.
The vision overseen by Bradford Council has set out targets to be met by 2031 with a cultural renaissance at the heart of the decade-long programme, which aims to harness the youthful diversity and entrepreneurial spirit of the district.
Arts Council England’s chief executive officer, Darren Henley, said: “Bradford is a district and a city I have been to many, many, times, and the thing that always strikes me about the Bradford district is the assets you’ve got
– a fantastic place and fantastic people. For me, it’s the real definition of opportunity. It is really far-sighted that the council has got this 10-year plan as not many places around the country have that.”
The district is already home to renowned theatre companies such as Mind the Gap and leading venues including the Kala Sangam arts centre, St George’s Hall and The Alhambra.
The moors above Haworth inspired the Brontës to write novels such as Wuthering Heights, while Saltaire was named a UNESCO World Heritage site 20 years ago. The only other World Heritage site in the region is at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.
Bradford was named the world’s first UNESCO City of Film in 2009, and the city is home to the Science and Media Museum.
Its former Odeon cinema is undergoing a multi-million pound transformation into a 4,500-capacity venue, which will become Bradford Live in 2022.
However, the new strategy aims to open up the arts and culture to a far more diverse audience, building momentum for Bradford’s bid to be named the UK City of Culture in 2025.
The vision is hoping to create 3,000 jobs in the cultural sector, with a more diverse workforce from communities under-represented in creative industries. It is hoped 70 per cent of people in the district will be regularly engaging in arts and heritage by 2031, and 250,000 residents from the most deprived wards will become involved in the cultural sector.
Bradford Council’s leader and the chairwoman of the Bradford Cultural Place Partnership, Coun Susan Hinchcliffe, said: “The plan doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. But it offers a 10-year vision to help us on a journey of culture-led recovery and regeneration.”
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has provided £207,400 to support a plan to build skills among community groups to develop a more diverse grassroots-led heritage.
At yesterday’s launch at the South Square arts centre in Thornton, a programme of 24 projects was unveiled for the summer including one-off events, performances, hip-hop sessions and acrobatic displays.
It is really farsighted that the council has got this 10-year plan. Darren Henley, chief executive officer of Arts Council England.