A SCHEME to encourage a wider range of people in Bradford to get involved in the arts has been awarded national funding.

The LEAP was a 10 year project set up in 2019 with the goal of generate 100,000 new attendances at arts and cultural events in the District.

This week it was announced that the organisation was one of 14 creative projects in the North to share over £15.5m in Arts Council funding.

Part of the Creative People and Places projects, the funding was set up to to deliver more grassroots-led cultural experiences in areas across the North where involvement in arts and culture is below the national average.

Although the exact funding amounts for each group will not be confirmed until Spring each is likely to benefit from a funding amount between £750,000 and £1 million up to 2025.

Shazia Khadim, Community Development Manager, The Leap said: “We are delighted with this additional funding from ACE. It will ensure we can continue to support and embed community-led arts and culture across the Bradford District. Bradford District has a rich and varied cultural identity, which we will continue to promote and support in all areas of our engagement and work."

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Healthy People and Places Portfolio Holder, said: “We are delighted The LEAP which we support, has been successful in securing this funding. “The grant will allow thousands of local people to engage for the first time in some excellent arts projects and boost what is already a thriving and energetic local cultural scene. “This successful bid complements over £5.2m of new arts investment we have brought to the district since 2019.”