Successful applications to Bradford Council’s large arts, culture and heritage grants

Bradford Council is delighted to announce the latest round of successful applications to this year’s large arts, culture and heritage grants.

The panel reviewed 19 project applications and were able to award seven successful applications with a total sum of £74,000. This latest round of grant awards adds to the existing wide range of programmes now spanning 17 council wards across the district.

The shortlisting panel were excited to see the variety of applications that were presented in the latest round of large grants and this year the Council’s Culture team look forward to welcoming even more communities to participate and engage in cultural experiences across the district.

The following are projects that have been supported in this latest round of grants:

• Bradford Opera Festival are developing the first ever ‘Bradford Opera Festival’ presenting ‘The Barber of Seville’, Rossini’s classic remade for Bradford by Ian McMillan, with the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra and a diverse cast as well as 2 pop up operas by new artists who will be engaging new audiences with the communities and young people across the district.
• Displace Yourself Theatre are working on project leading to a theatre production called A ‘World Without Death.’ The project will be an energetic travelling show set on a HGV truck exploring life, death and everything in between. Based on the Norwegian Folk Tale ‘The Boy Who Tried to Cheat Death’ this production is part performance, part gig and part revolt, with some of England and Bradford’s most exciting artists. Starting in February 2024 and spanning six months, the project will deliver an in-depth research and development phase engaging with communities across the district and internationally in the lead up to Bradford 2025.
• Freedom Studios are creating a project called ‘Bradford Voice’ with a vision to re-imagine theatre and new writing in the Bradford district. Building on the legacy of amplifying South Asian, ethnically diverse, working-class and young people’s voices.
• Castle in The Sky Projects are developing ‘OUT OUT’ which is a responsive drag and cabaret project with LGBTTQAI+ artists support agency and development programme. As part of the project there will be a residency for four days and a year-round residence programme for artists based in West Yorkshire. The project will also deliver two new commissions to enable showcasing of live art spaces for performance and productions.
• Holding Time Project will be working with ‘WomenZone’ and ‘Singing Mamas’ to deliver a 10-week course of singing for wellbeing workshops tailored to the needs of new mothers. The project will aim to reduce social isolation and the symptoms of post-natal depression as well as improve mental wellbeing and encourage breastfeeding, therefore reducing health inequalities in those who may be at increased risk of poorer health outcomes.
• Keighley Association for Women and Children’s Centre are running a 36-week project that will enable 50 South Asian women to explore the creative use of calligraphy in their culture and develop calligraphy skills while simultaneously breaking their isolation and adopting approaches that positively improve mental wellbeing. Delivered in collaboration with Keighley local calligraphy artists, users will produce artwork which they can keep and pieces of artwork that will decorate their new extension – being built in 2024.
• Fundraising For You a project about the ‘Real McCoy’ - celebrating Black inventors. The project seeks to design and build a mobile exhibition that captures a rich heritage. It will involve collections including physical models and historical accounts that will showcase Black inventors.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “As the district builds up towards our year as UK City of Culture in 2025 it’s incredible to see the growth and range of applications that are coming forward to deliver, unique cultural and heritage activities. The applications we received for these grants really shows the diversity of the district’s arts, culture and heritage, and the passion of those leading these creative and innovative projects.

“By working with communities, the projects will enable opportunities for the continued growth in the district’s cultural ecology to support new talent development, community engagement and promote health and wellbeing though the arts.

“We are committed to supporting access to culture and therefore I look forward to seeing the culture sector in the district continuing to thrive in the lead up our year as the UK City of Culture in 2025 and beyond.”

For more information on Bradford Council’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Grants please visit our website:
https://www.bradford.gov.uk/arts-and-culture/funding/arts-culture-and-heritage-grants/

For more information about the Bradford district’s year as UK City of Culture in 2025 visit www.bradford2025.co.uk, follow social media using @Bradford2025 or use the hashtag #Bradford2025