IN October 2002 Bradford’s dream of becoming European Capital of Culture was shattered when it failed to make the shortlist of bidding cities.

The bid campaign had been flamboyant - its ‘One Landscape, Many Views’ slogan appeared Hollywood-style at landmarks, taxis and lorries; 6ft high letters spelling out Bradford were spread across Leicester Square; and everyone from Gareth Gates to Oscar-winner Lord Putnam backed the bid.

Expectations were high that Bradford would join the likes of Liverpool and Newcastle as six shortlisted cities. But Bradford’s bid failed because, said a report, there weren’t enough attractions to draw people here. Department of Culture feedback said the bid was full of “fun and fizz” but there wasn’t the tourist or cultural ‘infrastructure’ to sustain it. The report said the city centre had only one major attraction, believed to be the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television.

Fast forward 20 years and Bradford has won the UK City of Culture 2025 title - by being “a young, vibrant city” with a bid drawing on “its wide range of cultural assets”. The city is also investing in its future cultural assets, having secured £20 million from the Levelling Up fund to invest in the Squire Lane Wellbeing and Enterprise Centre, and developing Bradford Live.

The judges were impressed with the ambition of Bradford’s bid which “celebrates the place where people live and the power of diversity” and its strong local engagement, focusing on creating local pride. Sir Phil Redmond, Chair of the Independent Advisory Panel, said the selection was about “the potential to make a bigger and deliverable impact”. For 2021 we asked Coventry to raise the bar previously set by Derry-Londonderry 2013 then raised by Hull. Coventry have certainly done that and I’m looking forward to seeing how far the cultural bar can be raised in BD25.”

Lord Stephen Parkinson, under-secretary of State for Arts, visited Bradford in May, touring the Impact Hub film-making resource in Little Germany, the Bradford Live site, People Powered Press and Salts Mill. Back in the city yesterday, he said: “The importance of young voices really pushed Bradford’s bid because it’s about the longterm legacy and the opportunities it creates for generations. Bradford is one of the youngest cities in Europe and the fact that young people were so involved and passionate about their home city really set it apart.” He added: “The Born in Bradford initiative is key because arts and culture can have a transformative impact and here we see the impact over time.”

* In 2002, when Bradford was campaigning to be European Capital of Culture 2008 - a bid that ultimately failed because, said the Department for Culture, it didn't have enough to attract visitors - it had a very different city centre.

Since then, a series of major projects have transformed the city:

In 2009 Bradford became the world's first UNESCO City of Film, and its team has worked with major TV and film productions, including Peaky Blinders, Gentleman Jack, The Queen and Downton Abbey, in the district.

In 2012 City Park and the Mirror Pool opened with a spectacular ceremony, and quickly proved popular with young families as well as a backdrop for arts festivals and TV dramas.

2014 saw the first Bradford Literature Festival, which went on to be an internationally-renowned annual event, attracting guests such as Kate Bush, Caitlin Moran and Ian Rankin.

In February 2019, historic St George's Hall re-opened following a £9.5 million two-year restoration.

And now the former Odeon building being transformed into 4,000 seat live entertainment venue Bradford Live.