Bradford's City of Culture bid will change its image

It is also about people in the district telling our stories in a way that will change Bradford’s image forever, using the power of culture to transform lives and growing our local economy, particularly in the creative and tourism sectors.

I’m Professor of Pharmacology based at the University of Bradford, a strategic partner for the bid. I’ve been seconded to the Bradford 2025 bid team for the last two years as part of the University’s contribution.

The evidence that creativity and culture can transform lives is overwhelming and scientifically proven - art can be as effective as many medicines. I’m a fan of both.

My role as Research Convenor for the bid has been to bring together some of our great minds from the University and across different sectors into our diverse Research Advisory Group. The group has ensured the bid is informed by the best available evidence and thinking.

Working closely with the Bradford 2025 team, we have carried out new research and learned from creative practitioners, from thousands of people in the district and about cultural programmes in other UK and world cites.

Professor Marcus Rattray is Professor of Pharmacology at University of Bradford and Research Convenor at Bradford 2025

We have brought all this together in the bid to describe how the power of culture can produce much needed economic growth as well as social, health and cultural benefits. We need this boost more than most places, with our stark inequalities in earnings, health and social mobility. Culture is part of the solution to tackle these needs and make lasting change.

It’s complex and detailed work - as you would expect. For our year of culture to be for everyone and to realise its potential, we want to involve as many people as possible, particularly those who have felt ‘left out’ or have faced barrier to engaging with arts and culture up to now.

Getting involved and meeting and mixing with others, whether as a volunteer, a participant in creating culture or as part of an audience brings many social and health benefits including increased skills and confidence. These are proven to improve lives and people’s prospects, increase the number of people with good jobs and taking higher level qualifications.

So that everyone can be involved and enjoy the opportunities from culture, arts, and creativity, we want to make it easier by addressing these barriers to participation, including cost, location as well as the appeal of the events themselves.

The bid aims are very closely aligned with the University of Bradford’s principles. The University is committed to help make Bradford a better place for everyone, tackling inequalities and supporting our communities. The University will work to secure the best outcomes from a successful bid by deploying our academic strengths, particularly in supporting business growth, sustainability and levelling up.

We hope that the judging panel will recognise that Bradford has the will as well as a well-evidenced plan to make the most of the City of Culture opportunities.

* Professor Marcus Rattray is Professor of Pharmacology at University of Bradford and Research Convenor at Bradford 2025.

* In May a panel of judges will visit Bradford and the other three places on the shortlist in the competition to be UK City of Culture 2025. The other shortlisted places are County Durham, Southampton and Wrexham County Borough.

The City of Culture Expert Advisory Panel, chaired by TV producer Sir Phil Redmond, will visit Bradford and the other shortlisted places before making their final recommendation at the end of May. The winner will be announced this year in Coventry.

Sir Phil Redmond said: “Culture can act as a catalyst for community engagement, civic cohesion and a driver for economic and social change as previously seen not just in Derry-Londonderry, Hull and Coventry, but all those other places who went on a journey to develop their own cultural strategy.

“Simply taking part has proved a catalyst in itself. We’ve had a great longlist to select from, which made the shortlisting difficult.

“I am now looking forward to visiting each of the shortlisted places with the panel to witness culture’s catalytic effect in action.”

Bradford’s bid campaign has offered a glimpse into what its City of Culture year could look like. Events so far have included a public art programme; Summer Unblocked season of cultural events; Bradford is LIT, a light festival visited by over 20,000 people; and The Mills Are Alive in Manningham projection show illuminating the Lister Mills chimney.

Last month Bradford Council’s Youth Service, with Bradford 2025, arranged for 100 young people aged 15-20 from the district to visit Coventry, the current UK City of Culture, as part of its commitment to putting young people at the heart of the bid. Zahabia Naveed from Bradford 2025 Engagement & Inclusion Reference Group said: “Lots of young people of all backgrounds have been involved in the bid. If we win it will create amazing opportunities for the youth of Bradford.”