SI CUNNINGHAM, Bradford 2025 bid development manager, looks at cultural programmes planned for the district.

“As Bradford endures the dark days of another lockdown, it’s difficult to imagine a time when we’re free to enjoy the things we love doing around our district. A lazy Saturday at the cinema. A pint after trekking over the moors above Haworth. An intimate concert at Kala Sangam. For now, these are distant fantasies.

Yet behind the scenes, a small army of creatives, cultural leaders, and custodians of our greatest attractions are working hard to ensure that Bradford’s culture offer is bigger, more diverse, and better than ever once we’re all able to enjoy it fully again.

Bradford 2025 will join partners from around the district throughout the year to devise and curate a series of installations and cultural programmes that will keep Bradford entertained as we emerge from the pandemic. The Make: Film programme is fuelling the next generation of movie-makers in the world’s first UNESCO City of Film; There will be street art and the illumination of some of our great old buildings and, once safe to do so, districtwide events to shine a light on Bradford’s unique heritage and cultural ambitions.

But we know Bradford people want bricks and mortar, so we’re equally encouraged to see high-profile cultural developments take huge steps forward. In Keighley and Shipley, the multi-million pound Towns Fund is earmarking sites for new cultural uses. In Thornton work is underway on a huge restoration at South Square Centre. In the city centre work continues on a 4,000 capacity venue within the former Odeon building, and work is underway at Darley Street to create a market with performance spaces that will act as a cultural catalyst for the wider area.

These projects, and the inclusion of culture in Bradford’s Economic Recovery Plan, show that an improved cultural offer is a big deal for this district. It’s why the Council is launching a 10-year cultural strategy too. With long-term changes to retail and office habits, culture has clear potential to rejuvenate our town and city centres and provide a common purpose for high streets.

We must look forward to little moments of pleasure too. The curtain will rise again at the Alhambra, brass bands will play; the sights and smells of Leeds Road will entice us to enjoy the country’s most delicious cuisine, our museums will surprise and delight us. And Bradford’s breathtaking countryside will continue to provide an enviable green lung for the district.

At Bradford 2025, we have big dreams for what this year, but we also look forward to sampling the little pleasures again too.” Visit bradford2025.co.uk / info@bradford2025.co.uk

* A programme nurturing budding Bradford film-makers is gathering pace, as Bradford prepares its 2025 bid. Last autumn 25 film-makers were selected, with a range of skills from producing music videos to high-quality mobile phone content, live-streamed entertainment, directing short dramas and digital content for cinema. Participants are matched with industry professionals.

“They’re a fantastic group with an incredible range of skills,” says Ruth Pitt, project leader and MD of media consultancy Under The Moon. “Nationally the sector is booming and there’s a determination to see more great film, TV and online content originating in Bradford. The district is currently under-represented on UK screens but there’s no shortage of great talent.”

Among the FilmMakers25 are Nathan Allan and Jack Nolan, graduates of the Northern Film School in Leeds and University of Bradford, who are working on Auditions, a comedy about a talent show set in Bingley. Nathan, whose mentor is Sian Palfrey, head of development at Kay Mellor’s Rollem Productions, says: “This is a love letter to dreaming big, from two small-town film-makers. We want to showcase the people of Bradford and we’re asking talented individuals to send videos to AuditionsShortFilm@gmail.com”.

All 25 film-makers will be mentored by producers and broadcasters. Naila Hussain, who runs online coaching sessions, says: “It’s an honour to work with both upcoming and established talent, to move towards achieving beyond what they thought was possible. I’m so excited to see what they create in the future.” FilmMakers25 is funded by Bradford Council and Bradford 2025 with Bradford City of Film and ScreenSkills, using National Lottery funds awarded by the BFI as part of the Future Film Skills programme.