Exile, identity and the nature of home come into focus at this captivating exhibition exploring Polish and Ukrainian communities in Bradford and beyond.
More than 150,000 Poles and 35,000 Ukrainians resettled in the UK following the Second World War – and the thriving local textiles industry helped make Yorkshire a popular destination. Bradford soon became home to large, proud and tight-knit Polish and Ukrainian communities – joined in the last two decades by economic migrants from Poland and, more recently, people displaced by the war in Ukraine.
Tu i Tam/Tyt i Tam (respectively, Polish and Ukrainian for ‘Here and There’) explores the fascinating histories of these communities through unique objects, rare archival materials and photographs – including many by Bradford’s own Tim Smith, who’s been documenting the city’s Polish and Ukrainian communities for more than 40 years.
The exhibition, which has been created in partnership with Łódź Fotofestiwal, will be accompanied by a programme of special events exploring the nature of migration, exile and social change, both then and now – details to be announced.
Credits
Curated by Tim Smith and Marta Szymańska. Commissioned by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and British Council Poland.
Lead image: © Tim Smith
