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Bradford Zine Fair

21 Sep 2024

11:00 - 16:00

City Library

Bradford Zine Fair is back! City Library Saturday 21st Sept 2024

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Talk

Coffee Morning: C.H. Wood’s Aerial Photographs

15 Nov 2024

10:15 - 12:00

Ilkley Manor House

Join Olivia Johnson, Photo Archive Assistant at Bradford Museums and Galleries, on 15 November to learn about Charles Harold Wood.

From motorcycle test-rider, to photographer, to inventor, C. H. Wood’s archive, spanning 70 years and over 300,000 negatives, is a vital resource in preserving Bradford’s history. Not only was he one of Bradford’s most prolific industrial and aerial photographers, but his contribution to the war effort also earned him an M.B.E. and aided the Dambusters in their successful 1943 raid.

Tickets to attend the talk in person are £5 and may be purchased online through Eventbrite (a booking fee is payable), or in person through the Box Office when the House opens on weekends.

Tickets may be available on the door but will be subject to availability, and we cannot guarantee admission.

Arrive at Ilkley Manor House at 10:15am to have time to get a hot drink and biscuit. The talk will start at 10:30am, lasting roughly an hour with time for questions at the end. Please note that this talk will take place upstairs in the Western Gallery.

Photo credit: Bradford Museums and Galleries

Age Guidance
This talk is suitable for all ages but aimed at older audiences.

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General 5

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Ilkley Manor House

Ilkley Manor House, Castle Yard
LS29 9DT

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Art | Free Event

SOLAR GALLERY: A Sense Of…

21 Sep - 17 Nov 2024

11:00 - 16:00

Ilkley Manor House

The Solar Gallery artists return on 14 September 2024 with their new theme: A Sense Of…

A Sense Of… presents a real opportunity to put the ball in the viewer’s court. It implies, “Over to you! Form your own personal idea of the senses you feel when looking at this artwork.”

There will be as many interpretations as there are viewers. The artists’ mission is to use visual language to suggest rather than describe. We regard descriptions as cold, like a police report—at 1800 hours, the vehicle proceeded at 90mph in a westerly direction. Whereas suggestion is the poet’s way—it sped into the sunset!

Yes, we have the power to engage full human capacities of imagination, sensory responses, memories, and ideas.

What works of art convey A Sense Of… to you? And which senses? Come and see what the Solar Gallery artists have interpreted as part of this theme.

The featured artwork is by Catherine Slater.

The Solar Gallery is upstairs in Ilkley Manor House and opens on weekends from 11am to 4pm. Entry is free, but donations are always appreciated. 

Age Guidance
Suitable for all ages.

Ticket Information

General FREE

Venue Details

Ilkley Manor House

Ilkley Manor House, Castle Yard
LS29 9DT

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Art | Free Event

Printmakers Circle’s Impressed

2 - 10 Nov 2024

11:00 - 16:00

Ilkley Manor House

‘Impressed’ celebrates over ten years of the Printmakers Circle, a group of professional artists who specialise in printmaking and live & work in North Yorkshire. To mark a decade of collaborating & exhibiting together, they will be launching their brand new book of the same name.

Impressed features in-depth interviews with each of the members, giving insights into their techniques, working methods, and inspirations. The book will be on sale at the exhibition alongside framed and unframed original prints. Amongst the techniques on show will be etchings, screen prints, collagraphs, linocuts, monotypes & carborundum prints.

Two of the artists will be at the exhibition each day to welcome visitors and answer questions. The members are Laney Birkhead, Hester Cox, John Jones, Caroline Machray, Ian Scott Massie, Moira McTague, Helen Peyton, Bridget Tempest, and Philippa Troutman.

The exhibition runs from 2-3 and 9-10 November. Ilkley Manor House is open on weekends from 11am to 4pm. Entry to the House is free unless stated otherwise. Please check the website and our social media before visiting for opening times. Booking is not required.

Age Guidance
Suitable for all ages.

Ticket Information

General FREE

Venue Details

Ilkley Manor House

Ilkley Manor House, Castle Yard
LS29 9DT

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Music

GreenMatthews’ Midwinter Revels

7 Dec 2024

19:30 - 21:30

Ilkley Manor House

Following on from A Christmas Carol: In Concert and A Brief History of Christmas, GreenMatthews present their new festive show.

Spanning several centuries, GreenMatthews’ Midwinter Revels is a celebration of Yuletide Past guaranteed to warm the cockles of the most Scrooge-like heart. Featuring Christmas carols, winter folk songs, toe-tapping tunes and a plethora of weird and wonderful instruments, the show is brought to life with GreenMatthews’ trademark wit and humour.

“You guys are awesome!” – Bill Barclay, Director of Music at Shakespeare’s Globe

Tickets are £16 and may be purchased online via TicketTailor or in person through the Box Office when Ilkley Manor House is open on weekends.

Tickets may be available on the door but will be subject to availability. Doors open at 7:00pm and the performance begins at 7:30pm. Refreshments will be available prior to the performance and during the interval. Timings are approximate.

Age Guidance
This show is suitable for all ages but aimed towards older audiences.

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General £16

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Venue Details

Ilkley Manor House

Ilkley Manor House, Castle Yard
LS29 9DT

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Music

Sam Dunn and Nina Clark

8 Nov 2024

19:30 - 21:30

Ilkley Manor House

Sam Dunn and Nina Clark play ‘Take Love Easy’ – celebrating 50 years of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass!

Fifty years ago, Ella Fitzgerald, the First Lady of Song, and virtuoso guitarist Joe Pass recorded ‘Take Love Easy’ – beginning a series of legendary duet albums. To celebrate these iconic recordings vocalist Nina Clark and guitarist Sam Dunn bring you an evening of swinging, joyful and tender music from their songbook. Following several sell-out shows at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Nina and Sam are delighted to bring you this intimate evening of song.

Tickets are £12 and may be purchased online through Eventbrite (a booking fee is payable) or in person through the Box Office when Ilkley Manor House is open on weekends.

Tickets may be available on the door but will be subject to availability. Doors open at 7:00pm. The performance begins at 7:30pm. Refreshments will be available prior to the performance and during the interval. Timings are approximate.

Age Guidance
This show may be suitable for older audiences.

Ticket Information

General £12

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Venue Details

Ilkley Manor House

Ilkley Manor House, Castle Yard
LS29 9DT

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Music

Will Finn and Rosie Calvert

11 Oct 2024

19:30 - 21:30

Ilkley Manor House

Harmonise your autumn with the dynamic and spirited duo, Will Finn & Rosie Calvert!

Will and Rosie are an award-winning husband-and-wife duo who came together through their love of music. First coming to prominence with their acapella quartet The Teacups, the pair perform traditional and contemporary folk music with variety and flair – intricate harmonies; the rousing instrumentation of piano, steel pan, and ukulele; and joyful, warm stage presence.

Tickets are £12 and may be purchased online through Eventbrite (a booking fee is payable) or in person through the Box Office when Ilkley Manor House is open on weekends.

Tickets may be available on the door but will be subject to availability. Doors open at 7:00pm. The performance begins at 7:30pm. Refreshments will be available prior to the performance and during the interval. Timings are approximate.

Age Guidance
This concert is suitable for all ages.

Ticket Information

General £12

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Venue Details

Ilkley Manor House

Ilkley Manor House, Castle Yard
LS29 9DT

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Art | Exhibition | Free Event

Landscapes of Identity

31 Aug - 6 Oct 2024

11:00 - 16:00

Ilkley Manor House

‘Landscapes of Identity’ is a captivating photography exhibition running from 31 August to 6 October. This exhibition aims to unravel the dialogue between land and identity, exploring how our environments shape us and how we, in turn, leave our mark upon them.

The artists featured—Carolyn Mendelsohn, Robert Darch, Jonathan Dayman, Benjamin Statham, and Andreea Chițan-Woodier—each present distinct lenses through which to examine the confluence of culture, identity, and the natural world.

From Mendelsohn’s poignant celebration of the multifaceted connection between women and nature to Darch’s incisive commentary on societal divides, this exhibition weaves a rich tapestry of visual narratives that resonate deeply with the complexities of contemporary issues.

Andreea Chițan-Woodier, the exhibition curator, explains, “This exhibition invites you on a journey of discovery, where each piece not only tells a story, but also ignites conversations that transcend boundaries.” Such reflections encourage viewers to delve into their own perceptions and biases, fostering a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of our environments.

As part of the exhibition, Ilkley Manor House will also host cyanotype workshops led by a local artist. More details to follow soon.

Ilkley Manor House is open on weekends from 11am to 4pm. Entry to the House is free unless stated otherwise. Please check the website and our social media before visiting for opening times. Booking is not required.

Featured image credited to Carolyn Mendelsohn.

Age Guidance
This exhibition is suitable for all ages.

Ticket Information

General Free

Venue Details

Ilkley Manor House

Ilkley Manor House, Castle Yard
LS29 9DT

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Talk

Coffee Morning: English Longbows

27 Sep 2024

10:15 - 12:00

Ilkley Manor House

Come along to ‘English Longbows: The Military, Movies, and Making’. 

The development of the English longbow was pivotal in the English army gaining dominance in medieval Europe. The value placed by English royalty on archery had significant impacts on military tactics, armour development, society, figures of speech, human anatomy, and even French forests – before the ready availability of musketry changed warfare irrevocably.

This illustrated talk will touch on these and link them to the development of the warbow from its precedent primitive bows, why this weapon was significantly more effective than the crossbow, and the rediscovery of archery as recreation in the UK, with the introduction of the Victorian longbow.

Callum Youngson is a recently retired clinical academic who has worked at Leeds and Liverpool Universities. He has also been an amateur bowyer for the last 15 years and will bring along some examples of the various designs of longbows.

Tickets to attend the talk in person are £3 and may be purchased online through Eventbrite (a booking fee is payable) or at Ilkley Manor House when we open on weekends, 11am to 4pm. Tickets may be available on the door but will be subject to availability, and we cannot guarantee admission.

Arrive at Ilkley Manor House at 10:15am to have time to get a hot drink and biscuit. The talk will start at 10:30am, lasting roughly an hour with time for questions at the end.

Age Guidance
This talk is aimed for older audiences but suitable for younger too.

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General £3

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Venue Details

Ilkley Manor House

Ilkley Manor House, Castle Yard
LS29 9DT

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Arts & Crafts | Community | Family | Free Event | Outdoor

NEON INTERMISSION Large Mural Piece in Manningham

16 - 2 Sep 2025

01:00 - 00:04

City Hall

‘Neon Intermission’ a 32-foot mural commissioned by The Leap and created by Birmingham based street artist Mohammed Ali Aerosol depicts a young Muslim woman taking an intermission to read reading while she leans against a car, and with a cityscape reflected in her car’s wing mirror.

The mural is part of The Leap’s Fuelling Futures Campaign, a partnership with Mission 44, Bradford College and Bradford Council alongside a wide range of businesses in the motor industry. The campaign centered around arts and culture as a means to engage young people, promotes and supports young people, especially minority ethnic women into careers in STEM and motor. The campaign includes public art, an apprenticeship scheme, skills workshops and a range of experiences.

Age Guidance
All ages

Ticket Information

General Free

Venue Details

City Hall

Norfolk Gardens, Bradford
BD1 1SD

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Art | Arts & Crafts | Family | Free Event | Workshop

Prints & Plants Open Day

9 Nov 2024

10:00 - 16:00

The People Powered Press | Salts Works

The People Powered Press & Friends
present

PRINTS & PLANTS
Sat 9 November, 10am – 4pm

Print & Craft stalls by
Kristyna Baczynski
Mantric Roots
Mike Bentley
Saltaire Print Maker

Winter Wreath-making Workshop with Lou Yates
Booking essential – tickets here

Letterpress printing
Plant stalls
Children’s activities
Live Art
Permaculture resources with KT Shepherd

It’s free to get in, the People Powered Press will be up and running, and we’ll be looking forward to seeing you!

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General Free

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The People Powered Press | Salts Works

Salts Works, 202 Saltaire ROAD, SHIPLEY
BD18 3JF

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Family | Family Learning Festival | Literature | Online Event | Spoken Word

An evening with Chloe Dalton – Raising Hare

10 Oct 2024

19:00 - 20:15

Wave of Nostalgia, Haworth

When lockdown led busy professional Chloe to leave the city and return to the countryside of her childhood, she never expected to find herself custodian of a newly born hare. Yet when she finds the creature, endangered, alone and no bigger than her palm, she is compelled to give it a chance at survival.

Raising Hare chronicles their journey together and the challenges of caring for the leveret and preparing for its return to the wild. We witness an extraordinary relationship between human and animal, rekindling our sense of awe towards nature and wildlife. This improbable bond of trust serves to remind us that the most remarkable experiences, inspiring the most hope, often arise when we least expect them.

Chloe will read from her book, answer questions and sign copies.

The event is at 7PM on 10th October at Wave of Nostalgia, 74 Main Street Haworth BD22 8DP or on Zoom

Tickets are £5 and include a glass of wine plus 10% off all books in the shop at the event.

If you wish to join us online via Zoom just select the Zoom option and we’ll send you joining instructions nearer the time.

Ticket Information

General £5

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Venue Details

Wave of Nostalgia, Haworth

74 Main Street
BD22 8DP

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Film | Official City of Culture 2025 Event

La Haine – Live

15 Jan 2025

19:00

St George’s Hall

Asian Dub Foundation reprise one of their most acclaimed projects – their powerful soundtrack to cult classic French thriller La Haine, performed live to a screening of the film for one night only.

La Haine (‘Hatred’) chronicles 24 hours in the lives of three friends from a poor suburb of Paris, where tensions are at breaking point following the death of a local man at the hands of the police. Directed by Mathieu Kassowitz, the film celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025 – and with ADF on hand to provide a live soundtrack, it’s never sounded better.

Please note: event times are TBC

Credits
Presented by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and BFI.

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General TBC

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Venue Details

St George’s Hall

Bridge Street, Bradford
BD1 1JT

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Art | Exhibition | Free Event | Heritage | Official City of Culture 2025 Event

Fighting to Be Heard

17 Jan - 27 Apr 2025

10:00

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery

Boxing and calligraphy connect in an exhibition featuring rare items from the Arabic and Urdu collections of the British Library.

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.

Razwan Ul-Haq is an acclaimed calligrapher and one-time boxing trainee. Tasif Khan is a world champion boxer and founder of Bradford’s Tasif Khan Community Boxing Academy. Together with boxers and trainers from the Academy (including Nissar Hussain, Head Coach & Sohail Ahmed, Trustee), they’ve chosen a selection of rare items from the British Library’s Arabic and Urdu collections, and from the collections of Bradford District Museums & Galleries – from ninth-century calligraphy to extraordinary contemporary work.

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

Credits

A British Library co-production with Bradford District Museums & Galleries. Part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Lead Image: Part 25 of a Qur’an in 30 parts, written in gold Muḥaqqaq script and dedicated to Sultan Ulyatu in 710/1310 in Mosul, modern-day Iraq © British Library

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General Free

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Venue Details

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery

Cartwright Hall, Lister Park
BD9 4NS

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Official City of Culture 2025 Event

Marshmallow Laser Feast

4 Apr - 28 Feb 2026

10:00

National Science and Media Museum

Take an unforgettable trip discovering our connection to the universe at the newly reopened National Science and Media Museum, and understand the web of relationships that bond us all together – from the hairs on your head to the stars in the sky.

Marshmallow Laser Feast, the experiential artist collective who work at the cutting edge of art, science and technology, are creating an immersive experience for Bradford 2025. It’s a playful exploration of the invisible rhythms that underpin life on Earth, and it has Bradford running through its DNA – taking inspiration from Born in Bradford, a major research programme that’s been tracking the lives of more than 40,000 people across the district since 2007.

We’ll discover how everything in our universe can be traced back to the same cosmic explosion. We’ll see how the Big Bang wasn’t just a one-time thing – it’s still banging, right here in Bradford. And we’ll show how all of us aren’t just in the universe – we are the universe, continuing its story with every breath we take.

Please note: event times and specific dates are TBC

Credits
Commissioned by Bradford 2025 Uk City of Culture and National Science and Media Museum.

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General TBC

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Venue Details

National Science and Media Museum

Little Horton Lane
BD1 1NQ

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Akram Khan Company – Jungle Book Reimagined

24 - 25 Jan 2025

The Alhambra Theatre

Dance Official City of Culture 2025 Event

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Art | Official City of Culture 2025 Event | Photography

A Portrait of Us

9 Sep - 6 Oct 2024

00:00

Across the district

Bradford 2025 begins early! Look out on billboards now for Aïda Muluneh’s portraits of our unsung community heroes.

Bradford 2025 and Impressions Gallery have invited acclaimed photographer Aïda Muluneh to create a major new artwork for Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture – and you can see the first part now.

A Portrait of Us celebrates unsung local heroes from across Bradford and three other UK cities: Belfast, Cardiff and Glasgow. Aïda’s powerful photographs pay tribute to the people who work quietly but tirelessly to make their part of the world a better place. We’re making sure these community superstars get the recognition they deserve by installing their portraits on Bradford billboards in September and October 2024.

Meet the Bradford local heroes featured on billboards around the city:

Alyshea
Alyshea is a nationally award-winning doctor with disabilities who works hard to care for patients with mental health problems at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Carol
Carol is a health advocate who works tirelessly within Bradford’s Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities – including through Bradford’s Black Health Forum, which promotes health and wellbeing among African and Afro-Caribbean residents.

Julie
Julie is a climate activist and one of the most active members of Bingley Morsbags group. She’s made hundreds of free bags out of donated materials – saving tonnes of material from landfill and reducing our reliance on plastic bags.

Shannon
Shannon runs a food bank and a food waste shop, as well as family events and clubs supporting vulnerable adults. She’s introduced countless families to new cultural experiences, created jobs and built a truly inclusive community.

Riffut
Riffut worked as a social worker in Bradford for 35 years, caring for some of Bradford’s most vulnerable families.

Stafford
Stafford was one of the founders of the Bradford West Indian Parents’ Association, which helped integrate new arrivals from the Caribbean to the UK, and is now the Deacon of Westgate Baptist Church in Manningham.

The project also features local heroes from:

Belfast
Billy, a community and justice activist; Israel, a Black health advocate; and Susan, manager of a women’s centre.

Cardiff
Mujib, a youth worker and choreographer; Natasha, an activist for disability equality; and Paskaline, a community arts advocate.

Glasgow
Adele, a cultural worker; Anita, a human rights and equalities campaigner; and Linda, a musician, writer, publisher and activist.

A Portrait of Us can be seen on billboards around Bradford until 6 October 2024.

Aïda Muluneh’s photography project continues at Bradford’s Impressions Gallery in January 2025. Nationhood: Memory and Hope is a major exhibition featuring many of the portraits featured in A Portrait of Us – plus new work shot in Bradford, Belfast, Cardiff and Glasgow during summer 2024.

Credits

A Bradford 2025 and Impressions Gallery commission in partnership with Belfast Exposed, Ffotogallery, Cardiff and Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow.

Lead image: © Aïda Muluneh

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General Free

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Venue Details

Across the district

Bradford, England, United Kingdom,

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Official City of Culture 2025 Event

Right/s

11 - 21 Jun 2025

10:00

To be announced

An urgent immersive show on youth culture by Common Wealth, Bradford’s political theatre pioneers.

Are we really all innocent until proven guilty?

Right/s is a major new work about freedom, justice and youth culture in the 21st century. Created for Bradford 2025 by Common Wealth, and performed by a cast of 20 young people from Bradford, Right/s explores the criminalisation of young people across society – and how knowing our rights can give us the power we need to shape our future.

Right/s takes us on an immersive journey from club night to courtroom and beyond, with testimony and true-life stories from young people – and a sound-score featuring drill, bassline, grime, afrobeat and house from some of the country’s most exciting artists. Vivid and electrifying, this world-premiere show will capture and celebrate what it means to be young in the UK today.

Credits Commissioned by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Lead image: © Daniel Johnson Gray

Partners Common Wealth Bradford Council Arts Council England JENGBA

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General TBC

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Venue Details

To be announced

Bradford, England, United Kingdom,

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Akram Khan Company – Jungle Book Reimagined

24 - 25 Jan 2025

The Alhambra Theatre

Dance Official City of Culture 2025 Event

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Music | Official City of Culture 2025 Event

Simon Boccanegra

24 - 26 Apr 2025

19:00

St George’s Hall

Giuseppe Verdi’s gripping tale of political intrigue and personal tragedy gets the Opera North treatment.

Simon Boccanegra is a former pirate chosen to become the head of state in Genoa. Jacopo Fiesco is a nobleman exiled from the city. The two men are bound together by the strongest of family ties – but they’ve been sworn enemies for decades. As their poisonous rivalry plays out in power struggles and revenge plots, can they bury the hatchet before it’s too late?

The brilliant Opera North follow their concert stagings of Turandot, Aida and other Italian classics with their first ever performances of Verdi’s intense drama of love, loss and reconciliation – powered by the thrilling sound of the on-stage orchestra. Simon Boccanegra premieres at St George’s Hall as part of Bradford 2025 – and tickets are on sale now.

Credits

Produced by Opera North. Part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Roland Wood- Simon Boccanegra

Vazgen Gazaryan- Jacopo Fiesco

Sara Cortolezzis- Amelia

Andrés Presno- Gabriele Adorno

Mandla Mndebele- Paolo Albiani

Antony Hermus- Conductor

PJ Harris- Stage Director

Ticket Information

Full Price, Price Band A-E £17.50- £56.50
Leeds Card, Price Band A-D £21-£54
Retired Over 65, Price Band A-D £21-£54
Children (18 and under), Price Band A-E £11.50

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Venue Details

St George’s Hall

Bridge Street, Bradford
BD1 1JT

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Music | Official City of Culture 2025 Event | Outdoor

Earth & Sky

1 May - 31 Oct 2025

10:00

Penistone Hill Country Park

Penistone Hill Country Park is one of the wild glories of Bradford District. Earth & Sky invites us to take a fresh look at this expansive landscape – with music as our guide.

Bradford 2025 and Opera North have invited composers Caterina Barbieri, Nyokabi Kariũki and Gwen Siôn to create new music and sound works inspired by this untamed upland site soaring 1,000 feet above Haworth – and by the music of Bradford-born composer Frederick Delius, which is so rooted in the natural world.

The dramatic soundscape will take in everything from electronic innovations to African influences, woven together with field recordings by Sarah Keirle and performances of Delius’s music by the Orchestra of Opera North. This ever-changing sound world uses state-of-the-art geolocation technology: as you walk through the park, what you hear through your headphones will be triggered by every step you take – creating an unforgettable experience for every listener.

Earth & Sky is part of Wild Uplands, a series of exciting new artworks created for the vast skies and epic moorland views of Penistone Hill.

Please note: event times and specific dates are TBC

Credits

Commissioned and produced by Opera North for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Lead image: © Tom Arber

Catherine Barbieri – Composer

Nyokabi Kariũki – Composer

Gwen Siôn – Composer

Sarah Keirle – Sound Artist

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Venue Details

Penistone Hill Country Park

West Lane, Keighley, England, BD22 0ES, United Kingdom,

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Family | Free Event | Official City of Culture 2025 Event | Outdoor

RISE – Kirsty Housley & Steven Frayne (formerly known as Dynamo)

10 - 11 Jan 2025

09:00

City Park

We’re turning City Park and Centenary Square into the stage for an astonishing show – bringing magic to some unexpected places.

RISE is an open-air spectacular that heralds the start of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. It’s created by Kirsty Housley, the award-winning theatre director, in collaboration with Steven Frayne, the brilliant Bradford-born magician formerly known as Dynamo. Don’t miss this celebration of our district, an inspiring tribute to the people and communities who make Bradford magic.

Please note: event times are TBC and ticket links are coming soon

Credits Produced by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
Age Guidance
2+

Ticket Information

General Free

Venue Details

City Park

City Park, Bradford
BD1

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Exhibition | Family | Free Event | Heritage | Official City of Culture 2025 Event

Ice Age Art Now

21 Jun - 14 Sep 2025

10:00

Cliffe Castle Museum

Travel back in time at this British Museum Partnership Exhibition and encounter works of art dating back thousands of years.

This visually stunning exhibition shows how artistic creativity existed thousands of years before traditional art histories suggest – as an essential part of human life.

Ice Age Art Now presents work by people living in Europe at the end of the last Ice Age, some as much as 32,000 years old. These astounding works reveal the deep roots of drawing, sculpture, realism, abstraction, signs, symbols and more – and the extraordinary skill and imagination of these early image makers find echoes in modern and contemporary art.

This family-friendly exhibition features a wealth of rare items from the British Museum and local treasures from the collections of Bradford District Museums & Galleries, arranged into such themes as decorating the body, drawing animals and abstracting the female form. The exhibition also features an installation reimagining cave art and other imagery from thousands of years ago for the 21st century.

The exhibition will be supplemented with a programme of talks, family activities and other special events.

Credits

A British Museum partnership project with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and Bradford District Museums & Galleries.

Lead image: Mammoth spear thrower © 2024 The Trustees of the British Museum

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General Free

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Venue Details

Cliffe Castle Museum

Cliffe Castle Museum, Spring Gardens Lane
BD20 6LH

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Music | Official City of Culture 2025 Event

The Big Brass Blowout

11 - 13 Apr 2025

12:00

Bradford City Centre

From Black Dyke classics to bhangra mash-ups, join us to celebrate the best in brass.

The Big Brass Blowout brings together a variety of class brass acts for three glorious days and nights of music across Bradford District. From traditional tunes to afrobeat rhythms, much-loved classics to one-off collaborations, expect the unexpected as we spotlight the power, versatility and all-round brilliance of the great British brass band.

We’ll be announcing the full programme of concerts, events and opportunities for you to get involved in the coming months – including a free city-centre brass parade featuring some of the region’s finest ensembles. Mark your calendars now for this unmissable three-day brass party.

Credits

Produced by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Lead image: © Patrycja Maziarz

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General TBC

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Venue Details

Bradford City Centre

Bradford, England, United Kingdom,

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Exhibition | Free Event | Official City of Culture 2025 Event | Photography

Nationhood: Memory and Hope

10 Jan - 26 Apr 2025

10:00

Impressions Gallery

Portraits of our local heroes form the backbone of Aïda Muluneh’s major exhibition at Impressions Gallery.

Aïda Muluneh, the acclaimed Ethiopian photographer, celebrates the diversity of the UK in 2025 with Nationhood: Memory and Hope. This outstanding collection of new photography serves as a modern-day insight into the UK’s four nations – and shines a spotlight on those individuals who quietly but tirelessly work to make our world a better place.

Nationhood: Memory and Hope includes the portraits of community heroes that featured in A Portrait of Us, first exhibited on billboards around Bradford in September and October 2024. Alongside them are striking new photographs inspired by these local legends, shot during 2024 in iconic locations around Bradford, Belfast, Cardiff and Glasgow, as well as newly commissioned portraits by emerging photographers in each of the four cities:

  • Bradford: Roz Doherty & Shaun Connell
  • Belfast: Chad Alexander & Eva O’Rawe McCarthy
  • Cardiff: Robin Springer & Grace Springer
  • Glasgow: Haneen Hadiy & Miriam Ali

Nationhood: Memory and Hope opens in January 2025 at Impressions Gallery before travelling to Street Level Photoworks in Glasgow, Ffotogallery in Cardiff and Belfast Exposed – making this the first ever UK City of Culture project to take place in all four nations of the UK.

Credits

A Bradford 2025 and Impressions Gallery commission in partnership with Belfast Exposed, Ffotogallery, Cardiff and Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow.

Lead image: © Aïda Muluneh

Ticket Information

General Free

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Venue Details

Impressions Gallery

Centenary Square, Bradford
BD1 1SD

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Official City of Culture 2025 Event | Performance | Spoken Word

BBC Contains Strong Language

18 - 21 Sep 2025

17:00

To be announced

The UK’s biggest poetry and performance festival for new writing is coming to Bradford for the first time.

Contains Strong Language is the BBC’s annual celebration of poetry, performance and spoken word – and next year, it’s coming to Bradford for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

There’ll be four days of performances, readings, events and activities at venues across the city, and a host of BBC radio programmes will be recorded or broadcast live from Bradford – including The Verb, BBC Radio 4’s ‘cabaret of the word’. Much of the weekend will be free.

Check back in 2025 for full programme details.

Please note: event times are TBC

Credits

Produced by the BBC. Part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Lead image: © BBC

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BBC Contains Strong Language

Age Guidance
All ages

Ticket Information

General TBC

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Venue Details

To be announced

Bradford, England, United Kingdom,

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