The University is partnering with Bradford 2025 to enhance engagement by staff and students with the UK City of Culture’s plans for the year ahead.
The City of Culture is a government initiative which showcases the chosen city, setting out its vision for culture-led regeneration through government funding and investment, as well as attracting visitors and tourists. Awarded every four years, it has previously been bestowed on Derry, Hull and Coventry.
University of Leeds students have already begun getting involved by securing Year in Industry placements and there are further opportunities to take part, with a variety of activities offered by an exciting UK City of Culture programme.
Our position at the heart of the region is hugely important to us and our partnership with Bradford 2025 will forge even closer connections between the two cities and universities.”
Bradford is home to the youngest and one of the most diverse population in the UK, and the year-long artistic programme will feed into student learning programmes through organised visits, end of year and capstone projects.
Creative Collaboration
The Cultural Institute’s collaboration with Bradford 2025, along with the University of Bradford, will feature a wide variety of activities over the next 18 months, including two Year in Industry placements, and a fully-funded PhD scholarship exploring the impact of community engagement.
The University has already invested in new research relationships between its researchers and Bradford artists through a Creative Lab, exploring innovative approaches to health, delivered in partnership with the Bradford Producing Hub.
Collaboration with the University of Bradford has also seeded new joint research through ‘sandpit’ workshops for artists and academics. These were co-facilitated by Leeds’ Horizon’s Institute, which also provided pump-prime funding for successful partnerships developed through the sandpits.
This partnership is a springboard to building stronger long-term links with Bradford.
Getting Involved
Staff and students can get involved Bradford 2025 themselves through volunteering opportunities including ambassador roles, meet-and-greet roles and helping out behind the scenes.
Third year student Evie Facer-Floate from the School of Geography is already making the most of the partnership, through her Year in Industry placement as a programme assistant. She will build on her love of arts and culture and a desire to work in event management.
Evie said: “It’s been great learning about the Bradford city district. It seems like a really exciting place to work. Everybody is new in the team and you can grow alongside the company. I love arts and culture too, so it is such a great fit for me.”
As a programme assistant, Evie is engaging with education providers to encourage children and young people of all ages to interact with Bradford 2025.
She added: “Around 16,000 children have so far been using our e-learning resources which encourages young children and young people up to Key Stage 3 to learn more about Bradford and what the year of culture will mean to families in the district.”
Evie hopes her experience with Bradford 2025 will be invaluable in building her skills and learning about the creative and cultural industries.
“I don’t think I would have had an opportunity like this without having a connection with the University of Leeds, which encouraged me to apply for the placement and gave me lots of support with the process, which I really appreciate.
“I am now excited to learn and grow more and see how I develop over the coming months.”
Dan Bates, Chief Executive of Bradford 2025, said: “We have two placement students from the University of Leeds working with us in evaluation and participation and having their insight is invaluable.
“The relationship not only contributes directly to the Bradford 2025 programme but also establishes longer term partnerships which will positively impact Bradford and the region in the future.”
Programme of events
Bradford 2025’s exciting programme of events will celebrate the district’s dynamic contemporary culture with the aim of securing a legacy that will have a positive social impact for many years to come.
The artistic programme, launched live on BBC’s The One Show, features The Turner Prize, which is celebrating the 250th anniversary of JMW Turner’s birth and will be hosted at Cartwright Hall. The programme also includes Draw! - a national drawing project supported by Bradford born David Hockney, who also studied at the Bradford School of Art.
Other highlights include an immersive show on justice and youth culture, Right/s, performed by Bradford’s emerging youth talent, created by Common Wealth; and new projects in collaboration with artists such as Jeremy Deller, Black Dyke Band, Asian Dub Foundation and Marshmallow Laser Fest.
Right/s - the immersive show on youth culture
Professor Hai-Sui Yu, Interim Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of Leeds, said: “Our position at the heart of the region is hugely important to us and our partnership with Bradford 2025 will forge even closer connections between the two cities and universities.
“We pride ourselves on working with partners across the cultural scene to enable people to benefit from events and experiences such as Bradford 2025 and the Leeds International Piano Competition, which has just got underway on our campus. It's exciting that the finals will this year be hosted at St George’s Hall in Bradford.”
Wieke Eringa, Director of the Cultural Institute, said: “This partnership is a springboard to building stronger long-term links with Bradford and we aim to develop future collaborations with the Bradford district’s cultural and academic sectors throughout 2025 and beyond.”
Dan Bates added: “This partnership represents a brilliant opportunity to connect the Bradford 2025 programme and Bradford’s cultural and academic sectors with exciting research and creative learning collaborations at the University of Leeds.
Further Information
Anyone wishing to to volunteer or find out more about the programme should contact Abby Dix-Mason, Partnerships Development Manager, Bradford 2025, A.Dix-Mason@leeds.ac.uk