A BRADFORD museum is celebrating after successfully applying for a major grant which will allow it to curate a new exhibition later this year.

The Bradford Police Museum is planning to launch a new exhibition on diversity and policing after receiving the grant from the Association of Independent Museums on behalf of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The independent museum - based in the original Victorian police station at Bradford City Hall - received the grant as part of the New Audiences, New Stories initiative.

The exhibition, Diversity & Policing: A Shared History, is being led in partnership with the Bradford-based Race Equality Network (REN).

Dr Martin Baines QPM, Director of The Bradford Police Museum, said: “We are delighted to receive this funding and be able to work with the Race Equality Network.

“For some time, we have recognised that we need to do more to attract people from minority communities into the museum.

“We also know we have a story to tell about some of the pioneering work in Bradford to tackle hate crime, forced marriage and honour crimes.

“Additionally, Bradford Police has a rich history of international police reform and operational work that we can finally exhibit”.

Yusuf Karolia, Chair of Bradford Race Equality Network, said: “We are pleased to partner with our friends at The Bradford Police Museum to help present the groundbreaking work undertaken in the city on race and diversity.

“It is important young people and newcomers to the city appreciate the hard work that has taken place in the district.”

The funding also provides for a travelling display so that the museum can take the exhibition out to communities.

Martin Baines added: “This is an important part of the exhibition. We want to reach as wide an audience as possible.”

The museum’s curatorial team and staff from the REN are now working hard on the design and production of the new exhibition.

Phil Read OBE, Chair of The Bradford Police Museum board, said: “This is one of two grant awards we have won recently which will now help us build on the success of the museum, as we recover from the pandemic.”

The exhibition will launch later in the year and will exhibit in the museum at City Hall, as well as at a number of venues across the Bradford district.