Events and What's On across the Bradford district

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city of bradford metropolitan district council

Events and What's On across the Bradford district

UK City of Culture 2025

BD25

2025 in Bradford

Bradford has been named as UK City of Culture 2025. Bradford district’s year of culture is set to deliver more than 1,000 new performances and events including 365 artist commissions, a series of major arts festivals and major national and international collaborations.

We can't wait to tell you about all the amazing events coming up all across the district throughout the year including Bradford and Ilkley hosting the Yorkshire Day celebrations on 1st August!

Programme of events


RISE

RISE

Friday, 10 January - Saturday, 11 January (5pm) in City Park

Tickets: £2 (free for under-16s, over-60s and Youth Pass members)

Come along to City Park this week (10 - 11 January) to experience the launch of our year as UK City of Culture with an unforgettable celebration of Bradford. 

RISE is an open-air spectacular inspired by the people and places of our district. Created by award-winning director Kirsty Housley with Bradford-born magician Steven Frayne (formerly known as Dynamo), RISE celebrates the magic of Bradford – and, above all, the people who make it what it is. 

This dazzling show features a 200-strong cast, including professional performers and the people of Bradford. There’ll be aerialists, projections, music from a huge community choir and orchestra, and much more – including, of course, some breathtaking magic. 

With DJ and food stalls creating a true festival vibe in the heart of the city, RISE is an unmissable opening to Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Don’t miss this historic moment for our district– a true tribute to the people and communities who make Bradford magic. 

For travel advice and other useful information, please visit: https://bradford2025.co.uk/whats-on/rise-faqs/

The last few tickets for Friday and the waiting list for Saturday are available via Bradford 2025 website! 

Get tickets now


Mills Transformed

Mills Transformed

Until Sunday, 26 January (10am - 4pm) at Bradford Industrial Museum

FREE

Mills Transformed is a project documenting mill buildings which have been renovated and repurposed. Over the last three years Neil Horsley, a local photographer, has been documenting the repurposing of derelict textile mills, by inspiring people, who have found creative new uses for such buildings.

This involved visiting, photographing and interviewing mill renovators at 33 mill conversions across the north of England – amazing success stories of how large-scale mill complexes have, against all odds, been renovated to accommodate a wide range of uses such as housing, business workspace, artist studios, galleries, colleges, café restaurants, a classic car workshop, retail outlets, music venues and even the longest bar in Britain.

Find out more


Grue Family Craft Workshop

Grue

Saturday, 11 January (10am - 12pm) at Bingley Library

FREE

Grue – a fabulous walk-through experience for all the family – is coming to Damart Mill, Bingley in February 2025, and we need your help to build this enchanted world.

Have fun at Bingley Library, turning recycled cardboard and materials into something magical alongside experienced artists and facilitators. All welcome, no experience needed, only a willingness to try something new and get involved.

This is a drop in session meaning you can turn up and stay for as long as you like. Under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All materials provided.

Find out more


A Grand Day Out

Wallace and Gromit

Saturday, 11 January (10am - 5pm) at National Science and Media Museum

FREE

Join us to celebrate the reopening of the National Science and Media Museum with a special day of animation-themed events.

Our Grand Day Out is a special partnership with animation studio Aardman. Get hands-on with model-making workshops, enjoy screenings of Wallace & Gromit and much more.

Find out more


David Hockney: Pieced Together

Pieced together

Wednesday, 15 January - Sunday, 18 May at National Science and Media Museum

FREE

Explore the pioneering use of film and photography by world-renowned Bradford-born artist David Hockney in this new exhibition.

While best known for his paintings, Hockney has also embraced technology to create innovative art. Using still and video cameras, he crafts visual 'collages' that capture how we perceive scenes in real life. His works challenge the limits of film and photography, offering a true-to-life sense of time, scale, and perspective.

The exhibition features Hockney's video installation The Four Seasons: Woldgate Woods and draws connections to his early ‘joiner’ photocollages, including one created at the museum in 1985, which shows the building in its early days as the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television.

Find out more


Fighting to be Heard

Book

Friday, 17 January - Sunday, 27 April (10am - 4pm) at Cartwright Hall

FREE

The ancient art of calligraphy and the noble art of boxing are an unlikely pairing, but they share a surprising amount of common ground. This free exhibition explores connections between the two disciplines through the eyes of a group of British South Asian Muslim men living in Bradford today.

Fighting to Be Heard also features the men’s personal stories and their reactions to the collections – offering fascinating new perspectives on these objects.

On Saturday, 18 January, visitors can join us for some fun family friendly activities on our Celebration Day. We will be joined from 11.30am – 12.30pm by exhibition co-creators, including World Champion Boxer Tasif Khan, calligrapher Razwan Ul-Haq and Daniel Lowe, Curator of Arabic Collections at the British Library who will talk about the making of Fighting to be Heard.

Find out more


Season of Music

Season of Music

Saturday, 18 January - Saturday, 26 April at Cliffe Castle Museum

FREE

Cliffe Castle Museum is kicking off a spectacular year of art and culture with a 'Season of Music' running from January to April 2025. This four-month long programme features a vibrant mix of musical concerts, family-friendly activities, talks, and interactive events—all set in the magnificent surroundings of Cliffe Castle Museum.

On Saturday, 18 January (12.30pm - 3.45pm), Opera North will be kicking off the season at our launch event with an enchanting family performance of Cinderella as part of their Little Listeners series.

Before the performance, guests are welcome to make their very own magical wand. And why not learn a Cinderella song ahead of time to join in the sing-along?

The performance lasts 40 minutes, with doors opening 30 minutes before to allow time for arrivals and the craft activity.

Find out more


Countryside Guided Walks

Guided walks

2025 - Various locations

Millennium Way Walks for 2025 - Several walking groups have come together to offer a series of 16 circular walks based on the Bradford Millennium Way which was launched 25 years ago. The walks will take place on Saturdays at 3 week intervals from January through to November 2025 as our contribution to the Bradford 2025 programme. All the groups offer their own programme of walks in addition to this Millennium Way programme.

Find out more


Into the Light: Pioneers of Black British Ballet

Black British Ballet

Saturday, 11 January - Friday, 31 January at City Library

A ground-breaking exhibition, workshops, talks and storytelling sessions for all ages, celebrating the often-overlooked history of Black dancers in British ballet.

  • Onisere and the Ballet Queen Storytelling & Dance Workshop (Ages 4-8) - For younger visitors, Bradford Libraries will host special Onisere and the Ballet Queen storytelling sessions. This interactive event follows the journey of Onisere, a young girl who dreams of being a ballet dancer but has never seen anyone who looks like her. With the help of the magical ballet queen Simbira.

    Saturday, 11 January (11am) at City Library (contact: city.library@bradford.gov.uk)

    Monday, 13 January (4pm) at Manningham Library (contact:  manningham.library@bradford.gov.uk)

    Tuesday, 14 January (4pm) at Shipley Library (contact: shipley.library@bradford.gov.uk)

  • Creating a VR Experience – A Talk with BOM Media (Friday, 10 January | 4pm at Shipley Library) - Discover the process behind creating an immersive Virtual Reality Experience. In this engaging 60-minute talk, representatives from BOM (Birmingham Open Media), the UK’s leading immersive arts organisation, will explain how they brought the history of Black British ballet to life through virtual reality.

  • Dance Photography Workshop (Saturday, 11 January | 2pm - 3.30pm at Keighley Library) - For aspiring photographers, Bradford Libraries is offering a Dance Photography Workshop. Participants will learn how to capture the beauty of movement, with a professional dancer available to model. Sony mirrorless cameras will be provided, or participants can bring their own. This hands-on session is a must for those interested in learning how to photograph dance and movement.

  • Dance workshop, lecture and Q&A (Saturday, 18 January | 2pm - 3.30pm at City Library) - Dance workshop led by one of the dancers from the project, that could include ballet mixed with contemporary, African or Caribbean dance. The lecture will be by Dr Sandie Bourne and will include a Q&A with the dancer and Dr Bourne. 
  • Classical Ballet Workshop for all ages (Saturday, 25 January | 12pm - 1.30pm at City Library) - Bradford Libraries is hosting a Classical Ballet Workshop, led by one of the dancers from the Black British ballet project. The workshop offers a fun and accessible introduction to basic ballet movements, followed by a short Q&A with the session leader. No prior experience is required, making it the perfect opportunity for anyone curious to try ballet in a less formal setting. 
  • Panel Event – Celebrating Black British Ballet (Saturday, 25 January | 2pm - 4pm at City Library) - Join us for a Panel Event featuring prominent figures from the Black British Ballet project. This event will provide a joyful and enlightening discussion about their careers, the challenges they faced, and their extraordinary journeys in ballet. From meeting international celebrities to overcoming barriers in the ballet world, the panelists will share fascinating insights into their experiences

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