Planning for a year of cultural celebration

The scope of the ambition for Bradford 2025 was laid out before members of the Bradford Chamber Leadership Group.

Having famously been awarded the City of Culture status for 2025 last summer, the official organisation charged with delivering the programme is now up-and-running.

Its leadership team has been established with Dan Bates and Shanaz Gulzar overseeing the programme delivery.

Dan came to Devere House, home to Bradford Chamber of Commerce, to lay out the overarching plan for the year of cultural celebration in the city.

With a background in theatre, Dan said that Bradford 2025 would look at tackling skill shortages, health inequalities and promoting Bradford’s brand.

Bradford 2025 will be the biggest City of Culture owing to it being delivered district wide, encompassing Ilkley, Keighley and surrounding areas. The current plan is to have events in every district for 2025.

Dan said he wanted there to be a real focus on community-based culture, not just on the big institutions.

Bradford 2025 is working towards a sevenperson board. It is currently recruiting and looking for partner and funder relationships.

The overall aim of Bradford 2025, as submitted in the bid document, is for 6,946 jobs to be created, for 15.5m people to visit the city and for an added GVA of £389m into the city.

A target of 44,000 volunteers has been set but Dan indicated he wanted to go beyond this.

Dan’s delivery was warmly received by the group, and it was stated by several people that business could play a crucial role in making Bradford 2025 the fantastic success it can be.