LATEST NEWS: Arts hub in city centre receives more than £60,000 from Government fund

SOME of Bradford’s best-loved cultural and creative organisations are to receive a share of millions of pounds in funding as they look to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The money, which will be distributed by Arts Council England, is part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund. 

The recipients in the Bradford district include:

Bradford Theatres (which includes the Alhambra and St George’s Hall) - £445,000
The Brick Box - £35,000
Mind the Gap - £33,915
Fuse Art Space CIC - £33,125
Kala Sangam - £61,500
Ilkley Literature Festival Ltd - £27,000
Bingley Little Theatre - £76,045
Black Dyke Band    £38,040

Other groups in West Yorkshire which will benefit include Brighouse & Rastrick Band, Northern Broadsides Theatre Company, Kirklees Theatre Trust and Kirklees Museums and Galleries among others.

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair of Arts Council England, said: “Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. 

“These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work. 

“We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.”

Back in December, the head of Arts Council England praised Bradford’s “nationally significant” cultural venues which he says will lead the way in helping to re-build the district’s future in the post-pandemic world.

Chief Executive Darren Henley made the comments as he reflected on an “incredibly tough year” for those working in the arts, museums and libraries.

He said: “In Bradford, labouring under tough and changing Covid restrictions, theatres, galleries, museums and music venues have had to close or restrict admission for long periods since March. Such measures, while necessary, have been devastating with ticket sales hit hard.

“At Arts Council England, we’re doing our best to make sure that Bradford’s brilliant cultural organisations are in the best possible position to welcome visitors again. 

“In times like these it can be hard to imagine what might be possible in future, but Bradford’s artists, cultural organisations and the people who live, work and study here are busy using their creative ingenuity to ensure the city is among the top contenders to become UK City of Culture 2025.”