Bradford Council's Museums and Galleries Service will be hosting a series of exciting events for families over the February Half-Term school holidays from 11 to 18 February.
The "We Built this City" events are all free and celebrate the fabulous people and inventions that built our city and district now and in the past.
The series of wonderful hands-on activities, workshops and partnerships taking place at the four venues throughout the district.
At Cliffe Castle in Keighley be inspired by the fabulous stained glass and make your own creation, check out the clogs in the workshop and design your own shoe, have a go at screen printing, hop on the Bradford Stories Bus, design and create a fairy-tale castle using recycled materials. You'll also be able to learn how to play the musical stones at the museum, use the new Women in STEM poster as inspiration to create your own badge and pick up your very own tree at the free tree give away.
At Bolling Hall Museum and Library families will get the opportunity to meet local historic astrologer Abraham Sharp to learn about his marvellous inventions that helped us to explore the globe and space, and have a go at making your own, jump on the Bradford Stories Bus and grab a book and interview your family, there will also be storytelling sessions with themed craft activities.
At Cartwright Hall Art Gallery join the 50 Things team to help make a giant adventure map, work with a local artist to create portraits of local inventors out of light, explore the collections and take part in a self-led printing activity, meet ‘Samuel Lister' local historic inventor and mill owner and take part in a challenge to see if your family can build the tallest chimney.
At Bradford Industrial Museum you can hop on the Bradford Stories Bus, take part in an activity to make your own Jowett Car, meet the team from Undercliffe Cemetery to find out about Bradford's past and take part in the chimney building challenge. You can also wreck some tech and make some art, joint the 50 Things team and make and test paper planes and get your hands dirty and travel back to 1940s wash day.
Councillor Sarah Ferriby Bradford Council's Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: "There is so much for families to explore at our museums and galleries. From meeting famous historical figures to creating crafts inspired by them – there's something for everyone to enjoy at these free family friendly events throughout the school half-term holidays.
Make your own stained glass creations to take away. 11am-12.30pm and 1pm-2.30pm
Tuesday 14 February
Design your own shoe- linking in with the clogs in the workshop. 1pm-3pm
Try out Screen printing with local artist Naseem Darby. 11am-12.30pm and 1pm-2.30pm
Hop on the the Bradford Stories Bus, grab a book and interview your family. 10am-4pm
Meet the Curator and Guess the Objects. 11am-2pm
Wednesday 15 February
• Join the 50 Things team. All day
Design and create your own Fairytale Castle with the Parks Team. Using recycled materials. 12pm-3pm
Friday 17 February
Learn how to play Musical Stones with local musician Stuart Kaplan. 11am-12.30pm and 1pm- 2.30pm
Using the new Women in STEM Poster display as inspiration create a badge of a woman who inspires you. 1pm-3pm
Saturday 18 February
Trees for Cities giveaway in the park. 9.30am (after park run).
Bolling Hall - Museum and Library
Saturday 11 February
Join the 50 Things team to share stories or even create your own! 12.30pm-2.30pm
Thursday 16 February
Meet local, historic astrologer, Abraham Sharp in his study as he tells you all about his amazing inventions that helped us explore space and take part in a sundial making activity. 11am-12pm and 1pm-2pm.
Theatre in a Box workshop. 1pm-3pm Story telling sessions with themed craft activities.
Hop on the Bradford Stories Bus, a mobile library and storytelling space from Bradford Stories and the National Literacy Trust, grab a book and interview your family. 10am-4pm. Visit @BradfordStories on Facebook for more information
Cartwright Hall Art Gallery
Tuesday 14 February
Join the 50 Things team to Discover and Draw with Lou and Rachael. Help us make a giant adventure map. 10.30am-12.30pm
Wednesday 15 February
Working with local artist Frank Darnley, create portraits of local inventors out of light! 11am-12.30pm and 1pm-2.30pm
Thursday 16 February
Take part in a self-led printing activity, linked to the collections, with a grab bag to take away! 11am-12pm and 2pm-3pm
Friday 17 February
Meet Samuel Lister, local Mill Owner and Inventor. 11am and 1pm
Take part in a challenge to see whose family can build the biggest chimney 12pm-2pm
Bradford Industrial Museum
Saturday 11 February
Hop on the Bradford Stories Bus, discover a new book, interview your family and unlock special stories and secrets from their life. All day.
Make Your Own Jowett Car. 1pm-3pm - reception.
Meet the team from Undercliffe Cemetery unlocking stories from Bradford's past
Take part in a challenge to see whose family can build the biggest chimney 1pm-3pm
Tuesday 14 February
Join artist Scott Chaney to wreck some tech and make some art. 10.30am-3pm
Wednesday 15 February
Join artist Lindsay Tempest - and create images of iconic Bradford. 10.30am-1.30pm
Thursday 16 February
Join the 50 Things team to design and build a paper plane. Flight test zone available! 10am-12pm
Friday 17 February
Join our resident washer woman and get your hands dirty with a visit to the 1940's back to back on "Wash Day". 11am-12.30pm and 1pm-2.30pm
Bradford Council arranged for 11 of the traders of the new Darley Street Market, to get a tour of the site, to give them an idea of where they will be trading from once the new market is complete.
Those given a special look round the site included - Kammy from Kammy's Essentials, Ash from Solly Fruits, Gunther from Roswitha Deli, Johnny from Taplins Butchers, Martyn from Tropikal Foods and Neil from Priestley Fish who are all currently trading at the Oastler Market, as well as Kath from The Joke Shop and Mandy from Melting Moments from the Kirkgate Market. They were joined by new traders Joanna a local artist, Colin from Di's Pies Ltd and Estela from Miski Mexican Food.
These traders are just 11 of those who the council has made initial offers to for the fresh food and non-food trading floors at the market. So far the response from businesses has been really positive and over 90% of the stalls have been let.
Further offers are being made to businesses who have expressed an interest in the remaining stalls as well as other new businesses who will add value to the mix of products already selected.
Traders at the new market will be offering a wide range of quality products and services and are a great mix of experienced existing businesses as well as new traders that will meet the needs of existing customers but also new customers attracted to what the market will offer.
On the non-food floor there will be a wide range of products and services including health and beauty, gifts, shoe repairs, clothing and footwear, fabric, art and craft supplies, fresh and artificial flowers and two cafes.
The fresh food hall will have businesses offering an extensive array of fresh foods such as fruit and vegetables, traditional butchers, fresh fish and seafood, sweets and confectionary, traditional African and Mexican foods, delicatessen, cooked meats, spices, juices, cheese, pies as well as artisan breads, bakery goods and health foods.
The council intends to appoint an operating partner shortly to manage the food and beverage hall located on the top floor, which offers 13 kiosk type stalls and seating for up to 500 customers. The trader selection process for this floor will take place jointly with the new operating partner.
The multi-level market which also incorporates an outdoor square for pop up trading, concerts and events, is currently under construction on a prominent and large site on Darley Street in Bradford city centre.
The market is part of the ongoing cultural and physical regeneration of Bradford city centre, complementing what's on offer across the district and enhancing Bradford's destination status as the host city for UK City of Culture 2025.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: "There has been a great deal of demand for stalls at the new market with lots of interest from existing Bradford Markets traders as well as new traders, including many from outside the district.
"We've worked hard on the selection process to ensure that the new market has a great range of stalls with products that add real value to the retail mix. To get so much interest from businesses from across the North and the Midlands, is a real vote of confidence in Bradford's future and Darley Street Market being one of the best markets in the North of England."
Joanna, a local artist whose first permanent pitch will be at the new market, said: "This is such an exciting opportunity for me as a multi-disciplinary Afro-Caribbean business woman. As a small to medium business owner, I am elated for this opportunity to take my business to the next level and bring you the very best of my creative art and design work. I look forward to trading at Darley Street, adding my unique touch as I contribute to making Bradford thrive as the City of Culture."
Neil from Priestley Fish currently at the Oastler Market, said: "I am looking forward to things being busier, and it will be a nicer environment. I have been in Oastler Shopping Centre since 2001, Priestley Fish has a stream of regular customers. Some people have been coming for many years and some come every week for the same order. But since people's routines have been broken due to Covid that is getting less common and I think moving closer to the bottom end of town will see our stall welcome more footfall."
Gunther from Roswitha's Deli, said: "Roswitha's Deli has been in the heart of the Oastler Market for 30 years, I am so excited to move to the new market and continue our market journey in a more city central shopping location. We have sold a dizzying variety of European staples inside Oastler for so long and the market holds so many good memories for our business but we have lots of exciting plans for our stall inside the new market and we look forward to seeing our deli evolve and grow with new and old customers."
Information about more of the traders at the new market will be released over the coming months. Traders unable to be accommodated in the new market will be supported by Bradford Markets to assist their search for alternative premises in the district.
