logo
Bradford arts group opens gallery in ex-travel agency

Bradford arts group opens gallery in ex-travel agency

BBC News11-02-2025

Artist Pauline Cooke said she hoped the smell of fresh paint would be less pungent when the doors to a new gallery in Bradford open to the public. Volunteer-run artists' collective Trapezium Arts, which she co-founded, has converted a former travel agency into a creative space after having to leave its last base.The group takes over empty shops as part of its Meanwhile Space scheme, and had to move from a unit in the Kirkgate Shopping Centre just before Christmas.The gallery will open on February 22.
Ms Cooke said: "We're all artists ourselves and we got together about seven years ago and decided we needed somewhere to display our work. "There aren't the opportunities to do that in Bradford so we thought we'll get an empty shop and do it up."We've had more than 50 exhibitions over the last seven years."Sometimes community groups take it over so we do other events in here. "But our main purpose is just to exhibit artwork by Bradford artists. So we're really championing the art community in Bradford." The group has taken down internal walls and two countertops and repainted the walls to make the former shop into a space where art can be displayed.She said: "It'll just be what we did before in here, rather than two doors up the street."That's become a shoe shop now. They were in the market upstairs and we've talked to them and they're very nice."It's just how we operate. We haven't got any cash, so we rely on having empty shops and we get moved around when commercial businesses want them."That's just the nature of the beast."
The first exhibition in the new gallery on Kirkgate will be a retrospective show by Inkers, a group of independent contemporary printmakers based in Yorkshire.Spokeswoman June Russell said: "In our response work, we've been inspired to push the boundaries of printmaking."You'll see woven prints, layered prints, 3D constructions, artist's books and more, on a vast range of topics: landscapes, machines, mills, looms, ropes, working men and women, birds, bees, mummies."These have all been inspired by the museums, galleries and collections of our city, district and region."RESPONSES by Inkers is at Trapezium Gallery from Saturday 22 February until Saturday 15 March. Opening times are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 11am – 3pm. There will be refreshments and a chance to meet the artists at the launch event on Saturday 22 February between 12-4pm.Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Disney+ Rematch star admits he thought 'ridiculous' character trait was too much
Disney+ Rematch star admits he thought 'ridiculous' character trait was too much

Daily Mirror

time21-05-2025

  • Daily Mirror

Disney+ Rematch star admits he thought 'ridiculous' character trait was too much

Christian Cooke stars in Disney+'s new chess drama Rematch as real-life grandmaster Garry Kasparov Rematch lead Christian Cooke underwent extensive physical and mental training for his role as chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov in the enthralling new series now streaming on Disney+. Despite this, he confessed to initially resisting a distinctive trait of Kasparov's, which audiences will notice recurring throughout the captivating six-part run. ‌ First aired in France last year, the series has finally arrived for UK viewers eager to witness the tense and true tale of Russian genius Kasparov challenging IBM's supercomputer Deep Blue in 1997 chess bouts. ‌ Kasparov's commitment to fitness is consistently depicted in the drama, with scenes showing him breaking from chess strategising to perform push-ups in his hotel room - a frequent sight each episode. The star revealed in a chat with Express Online: "I kind of fought back against it initially", reports the Express. "I initially thought it was a bit ridiculous, right? I'm not afraid to say that." However, after discussions with Rematch's co-creator Yan England, Cooke acknowledged the physicality was aptly chosen for his character and began to see the reasoning behind it. Cooke elaborated: "But, the thing is, Garry was very fit and he was the first chess grandmaster to really approach it like an athlete. ‌ "He was very fit, he ran a lot, he did a lot of push-ups. Approaching a match, he was very strict about his diet and his training. And so, now there is this accepted thing of 'healthy body, healthy mind'. "I don't know if chess players were really putting much thought behind that in the '90s and before that as well, but he'd been doing that in the '80s, since before he was world champion." Kasparov's legacy isn't just about his iconic matches against the machine. The series introduces viewers to a host of chess legends Kasparov defeated, including the Russian prodigy Anatoly Karpov (portrayed by Szabolcs Ruszina). ‌ Cooke highlights how the series' flashbacks capture Kasparov's belief in the importance of physical fitness alongside mental agility, especially during gruelling tournaments. ‌ "His match with Karpov, when he won the world championship, it went on for five months," Cooke recounts. "It's psychological and you have to be really fit to endure that. If you're sat at a computer and you work for10 hoursa day, writing or whatever, you're knackered. And it's that times 100, I think. "So, I said to Yan, 'Look, I'm going to trust you with this, but it feels a bit ridiculous to me'. But I do think it works. ‌ "It's sort of his little quirk, so that's one of those leaps of faith you take. I'm going to do this and hope I don't get egg on my face." The team behind Rematch can breathe a sigh of relief, as the show has garnered glowing reviews from both fans and critics alike. With its UK streaming debut, even more viewers are set to be captivated by the enthralling drama based on fascinating real events.

Disney+ drops its ‘gripping' answer to The Queen's Gambit
Disney+ drops its ‘gripping' answer to The Queen's Gambit

Daily Mirror

time21-05-2025

  • Daily Mirror

Disney+ drops its ‘gripping' answer to The Queen's Gambit

Don't let this captivating series based on an unbelievable true story fly under the radar Disney+ is now streaming a six-part series that's absolutely essential for any fans of Netflix 's hit drama The Queen's Gambit. The series starring Anya Taylor-Joy as chess prodigy Beth Harmon captivated millions of viewers during the pandemic and spurred a huge boom in the classic game's popularity. ‌ Now, the rival streamer has acquired a new drama that originally aired in France last year about an equally gripping chess tournament. The biggest difference? This one's based on a true story. ‌ Starring Christian Cooke as Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov, this addictive miniseries follows his historic rematch against the first computer to win a game of chess, IBM's groundbreaking Deep Blue. Speaking to Express Online about his approach to playing Kasparov, British star Cooke teased the intensity of this incredible true story. 'I equated it to boxing,' he explained. 'It really is the same in that it's one person against another opponent and that's the kind of mindset. 'With each move you're kind of sussing your opponent out and trying to lure them in and then jabbing and jabbing and then you go for the kill. 'That was helpful for me, in terms of how he thinks about his opponents and how he might stare them down over the board. Or after a game, you shake hands like boxers who embrace afterwards.' ‌ Elaborating on the challenge on portraying the real life Russian chess pro, Cooke added: 'I didn't want to imitate Garry in any way but I wanted to capture who he was, which is this very focused person with a healthy amount of aggression to succeed and win. 'Or maybe unhealthy, occasionally, but that's just what it takes to be the top of any discipline, on the top of the tree. You do have to sacrifice a lot and you have to be slightly cutthroat and apologetic and driven, and that's how he was.' Disney+ is streaming the series from today (Wednesday, 21st May), but it's already scored rave reviews from fans who caught the initial release in France last year. ‌ A five-star review on Google read: 'Absolutely amazing. Gripping and exciting until the very last second.' ‌ Another raved: 'Captivating. I watched all 6 episodes in one go.' Someone else gave an ecstatic reaction: 'It's amazing whether you like chess or not, we're 200% into it.' An enthusiastic IMDb reviewer called Rematch a 'masterpiece', claiming: 'this is [a] high class series. ‌ 'Have fun watching it is breathtaking all along the 6 episodes. Interesting high class. 'Worth a 9/10 and up for those who like or don't like chess you will appreciate it. I watched the 6 [episodes] in a row!!!' For fans of The Queen's Gambit - which is pretty much everyone with a Netflix subscription - adding Rematch to the top of your watchlist is an absolute no-brainer.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store