BRADFORD is one step nearer being crowned UK City of Culture 2025 after making the long list of places through to the next round of the competition

The Secretary of State for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Nadine Dorries, announced that the district is one of eight longlisted places selected from a “highly competitive and far-reaching field of 20 locations from all four nations of Britain”.

She said: “Culture is for everyone, regardless of their background and I’m delighted that the bids from our eight longlisted places will help areas across the UK level up by increasing access to culture.

"I wish all our successful bids luck in the next phase of the competition. Bradford’s bid showed huge promise and I look forward to seeing what they have in store.”

This marks a major milestone for Bradford which has committed to embedding culture in the district’s inclusive growth as part of a 10-year cultural strategy, ‘Culture is Our Plan’.

Bradford 2025 chair Shanaz Gulzar said: “We’re thrilled to have made the longlist for UK City of Culture 2025.

"The competition is about to ramp up and we are completely focused on creating the best possible bid - a winning bid - with and for the district.

"Bradford district is changing fast and we want to use our rich cultural heritage, our storytellers, innovators and diverse young population to create a bid that is both recognisably Bradford and a new story written on our own terms. We’re in this to win.”

Bradford Council leader Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe said: “Thousands of people across Bradford, Keighley, Ilkley, Shipley and Bingley have been involved in getting the district to this point.

"To be selected for the longlist of eight is a massive show of confidence in all that we’ve done together.”

In July Bradford was officially named as one of 20 UK locations bidding for the title - the highest number in the competition’s history.

The other longlisted locations are: Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon; Cornwall; County Durham; Derby; Southampton; Stirling and Wrexham County Borough. Wakefield, which expressed an interest as a rival West Yorkshire bid, didn't make the list. 

The longlisted places must submit final bids in January 2022. Up to four places will be shortlisted in March 2022 and the winner will be announced in May 2022.

Bradford 2025 says a City of Culture designation brings “considerable long-term benefits, including increased employment, new investment, enhanced skills, renewed pride, greater cultural capacity and more opportunities to participate in arts and cultural activities”. Preparations for Bradford 2025 have generated a new confidence in the area’s creative sector which has secured £2 million for The Leap, the city’s Creative People and Places programme, and £1.5 million for Bradford Producing Hub - one of only two pilot projects in the UK receiving funds to develop local talent. The district is also set to benefit from major cultural capital projects including Bradford Live; the Darley Street Market; the National Science and Media Museum’s new galleries and the Transforming Cities £50m public realm enhancement programme.

Businesses championing the bid as partners include The Broadway, Morrisons, Jinnah Group, Rushbond PLC and Yorkshire Building Society. David Potts, CEO of Morrisons said: “People are increasingly aware of Bradford’s potential and that’s good for residents, businesses and visitors. Local people will benefit hugely from the opportunities, not to mention the incredible experiences, of a year-long city of culture celebration. We are looking forward to supporting the bid over the coming months and creating awareness of the campaign amongst our thousands of customers as well as our colleagues across the district.”

Bradford 2025 Bid Director Richard Shaw said: “Our focus now, alongside creating a winning bid, is to ensure that everyone, from every corner of the district, joins us to make ours the most inclusive, most imaginative bid. We want to create a programme that is unique to Bradford, to build ‘BD25’, a new place and time where difference is celebrated, where we relish diverse views, where creativity can flourish and thrive.”

Local people can get involved in shaping the themes and cultural activities for Bradford 2025’s final bid submission. The bid team is urging everyone to attend one of the community events now taking place in every ward across the district.