A MEETING has heard that Bradford’s City of Culture win is a “once in a lifetime opportunity” and will lead to the district “leaping forward.”

In the first Council meeting since Bradford was awarded City of Culture 2025, members heard that the win would transform the district, but that work would need to begin now to make sure opportunities are not squandered.

The City of Culture bid was placed on the agenda for Tuesday’s Executive meeting before the outcome was known.

Members would either have heard about how Bradford would make the most of its win, or how it could find some positive in defeat.

Thankfully Bradford beat the other contenders, and at the meeting Nic Greenham, Principal Officer for Cultural Partnerships on Bradford Council, said: “I’m very glad I’m not here today talking about our Plan B.

“There are long term opportunities, and we need to work on what the legacy of the City of Culture will be.

“It will be an absolute game changer. This could change the Bradford District forever.”

Rick Shaw, Bid Director, told members there had been 700 articles written about Bradford winning City of Culture in the past week.

Appointments to the City of Culture Leadership team will be made in the next few weeks, and in total up to 70 people would be employed specifically to organise the City of Culture events.

Andrew Dixon, who advised numerous cities including previous City of Culture Hull, told the Executive: “The more you throw into these campaigns the more you get out of it.

“In Hull they dithered for six months and didn’t sort out recruitment. In Coventry (the most recent City of Culture) they did a brilliant job and got people together quickly, but did one or two things wrong with their place making.

“I’m keen that Bradford gets things right at every level.”

Mr Dixon referenced the Telegraph & Argus front page the day after Bradford was announced as winner – with the headline “We Did It.”

He said: “At the end of the year I want to see that headline again – “We Did It, We Delivered. I’m sure we can deliver it.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Executive for Healthy People and Places, described the win as a "once in a lifetime opportunity" for the District.

Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: “Like a lot of cities in the North we work very hard to edge forward. This is our opportunity to leap forward. We need to make it count.”