Latest news with #BradfordCityofCulture2025
BBC News
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Place and people now gone' caught on camera by city snapper
A self-taught photographer has said he hopes images he took capturing life in Bradford's African Caribbean communities in the early 1980s can eventually find pride of place in a museum in his home photographs by Victor Wedderburn, who is now 70, reveal a snapshot of life in Manningham towards the end of last century and are currently on show in his first ever public exhibition as part of this year's City of Culture Wedderburn said he hoped the photos could eventually go on display in the National Science and Media Museum in said: "I was right when I thought it was important to take these pictures. It's of a place and people that have now gone." Mr Wedderburn arrived in the UK from Jamaica in 1971 at the age of 16 to join his Windrush Generation he was later made redundant from his driving job at Crofts Engineers, he used his pay-off to buy a second-hand camera and kit to develop an atmosphere of racism and community tensions, he set about documenting everyday life in Bradford as he saw it. His colour photographs of landmarks on Lumb Lane such as Roots Record Shop, the Young Lions Cafe and the Perseverance Hotel remained unseen for after publishing them online and getting a positive response they also came to the attention of the Bradford City of Culture 2025 team. The images show everything from sound system parties to anti-apartheid marches and shine a light on a sometimes neglected part of Bradford's multi-cultural history. Mr Wedderburn, who still lives in Bradford, explained: "This community doesn't exist anymore, people have moved on."When you go to the area now, it's completely different. It's completely changed. "We miss it of course, but that's life." Mr Wedderburn's pictures are currently on show in his first ever public exhibition, Frontline 1984/1985, which runs until Sunday 11 May in the Gallery at the Loading Bay in said that once that exhibition was over, he hoped they could find a permanent home."For the photographs, I'm hoping - or the plans are - that they go to the photographic museum in Bradford," he said."And, who knows? But I hope they get exhibited elsewhere. That's the plan." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bradford Playhouse renovation to give venue a 'new lease of life'
Renovation work at Bradford Playhouse will give the 1930s-built venue a "new lease of life", according to its director. The 260-capacity auditorium is undergoing its first facelift since it was damaged in a fire in 1996, with work set to finish in July. The work is being supported by Bradford City of Culture 2025 and will have a "jam-packed" calendar for the second half of the Megan Wilson said she hoped the improvements allow the theatre could cater for the people of Bradford for "another 100 years". The renovation will include a new façade, seating and toilets, as well as lifts to make the theatre more accessible."It will just give us a new lease of life," Ms Wilson said."We want to be as accessible as possible and we appreciate that doesn't just mean people with mobility issues, but that has been one of our biggest sticking points."Following the work, there will be two wheelchair-assessable seats with two companion seats at the theatre in the Little Germany area of the Wilson added: "We haven't had any step free access up until now, so we're really excited that that's something we can do."It's something we've been working towards since I've been working here."She said: "Because the building has so many stairs, because it is a 1930s theatre, it has been tricky to get this up and running."Little Germany is an historical area so we had to be careful with planning." Work had been due to start last year and finish in January but Ms Wilson said it had been postponed due to delays in getting planning applications Playhouse attracts between 13,000 and 15,000 visitors each year, and Ms Wilson said she hoped the project would continue to bring people in to the venue in the future."It's a real legacy project for 2025," she said."We have been catering for the arts of Bradford for nearly 100 years and hopefully this accessible input will mean we can do another 100 years for the people of Bradford."It's not so much about footfall, it's about impact and making sure we represent as many people as we possibly can and bring as many people as we possibly can together." 'Cherished institution' Dan Bates, executive director of Bradford 2025, said: "At the heart of UK City of Culture lies a vision to create enduring cultural impact across our district that resonates well beyond 2025, one that enriches future generations and makes sure that culture is something everyone can enjoy and be part of. "We are proud to have supported a cherished institution like Bradford Playhouse to improve its access and facilities for artists and audiences alike." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bradford culture sculpture celebrates 'incredible city'
A 50ft (15m) sculpture to be installed in Bradford as part of its City of Culture year was inspired by the area's multiculturalism, its creator has Saad Qureshi, who moved with his family from Pakistan to Heaton at the age of eight, said he had designed the Tower of Now to celebrate the "incredible" city's intended to play soundscapes featuring voices in different languages, the tower has since been changed to a solely visual piece of Qureshi, 39, said the sculpture, on the site of the former Hall Ings car park, represented a "culmination of these beautiful cultures and traditions that co-exist" in Bradford. Mr Qureshi, whose work has been exhibited in shows in London, New York and New Delhi, said his formative years in Bradford had always inspired his he said that when he had first told his family he wanted to be an artist, "there was a lot of hesitation initially, from my parents particularly, about what this is going to lead to".Mr Qureshi said it was his art teacher at school, Mrs Robinson, who saw a talent that needed to be nurtured."She was the one that really inspired me and believed in me and convinced my parents that I should study art," he spending his first eight years in Bewal, a small town in rural Pakistan, Mr Qureshi said that on arrival in Bradford he faced having to familiarise himself with a whole new culture and ways of expressing himself."I had to relearn how to communicate in a new language," he said."Art class was my safe space and I remember Mrs Robinson saying, 'if you can't say it, do it'."It was really wonderful for me to be able to develop this visual language." Speaking about the inspiration for his Tower of Now sculpture, which is due to remain in its site in the centre of Bradford until March next year, Mr Qureshi said it was intended to highlight what was special about the city."I've taken small snippets and elements of sacred architecture from different traditions, cultures, religions, and I have woven them together so it sits in harmony in this one single column," he said."If you look at the sculpture, the narrowest part is down at the base of it, so it really talks about this perfect balance that multiculturalism requires."I genuinely feel Bradfordians have this very unique identity that only exists in Bradford, which is a culmination of these beautiful cultures and traditions that co-exist in the city."With Bradford City of Culture 2025 now well under way, and months of special events still ahead, Mr Qureshi said it was "high time Bradford got its due for being the incredible city it is"."I was only very happy and excited that we are finally celebrating what should have been celebrated all along," he 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.
BBC News
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bradford Playhouse to get Art Deco style makeover
Plans to improve disabled access at Bradford Playhouse and give the Art Deco theatre a makeover have been approved by the council.A crowdfunding campaign has also been launched to raise £10,000 towards the cost of the work which the council hopes will allow the theatre to attract a wider audience during Bradford's year as City of Culture. The plans include adding a lift and better disabled access and restoring much of the theatre's external 1930s Ackroyd, Bradford Council's conservation officer, said the building was of "considerable social and cultural significance" to the city. Located in Chapel Street in Little Germany, Bradford Playhouse has been at the heart of the city's cultural scene since the playwright J B Priestley was president of the theatre from 1932 until his death in 1984. 'Bold' colour scheme Under the new plans, external works will include a new doorway, the removal of metal additions from the 1990s and a repaint of the building – essentially restoring much of its 1930s design, according to the Local Democracy Reporting there will be a new washroom and accessible toilets, and a lift from street level to the bar, box office and accessible Ackroyd said: "The removal of metal additions installed in the 1990s and application of a new scheme of decoration will enhance the building. The colour scheme is bold but relevant to the Art Deco style."The proposed works will support the viability of the Playhouse, assisting its retained presence as a key component of the cultural and visual character of the conservation area." Daniel Bates, executive director of Bradford City of Culture 2025, said: "We have been working with the team at Bradford Playhouse for the last 12 months on a scheme to improve access to the Playhouse, and we are thrilled that they have now gained planning permission for the works."We are now working hard with the Playhouse to secure the funding to make the improvements, so the Playhouse will be accessible in 2025 – another great City of Culture legacy."Megan Wilson, director of the Bradford Playhouse, said: "We want to ensure that every member of our community can experience the joy of live theatre."This project is about breaking down barriers and making the arts accessible to everyone."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.
