Latest news with #Wedderburn
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.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ex-warehouse transformed into city's new art space
Once home to pallets of ladies' hosiery and men's coats, a former city centre superstore's warehouse has been transformed into a pop-up arts space for Bradford's year of culture celebrations. The Bradford Council-owned Loading Bay is due to open later on the site of what was a Marks and Spencer store. An exhibition of portraits created as a part of a BBC TV series hosted by comedian Bill Bailey is one of the first events to be held there as part of a programme running through 2025. Meanwhile, Victor Wedderburn, whose Bradford-based photographic work dating back to the 1970s will also be on display at The Loading Bay, said he was "overwhelmed" his pictures would be on show in his home city. "I'm pleased and I'm happy and I can't wait to see the exhibition myself," he said. Mr Wedderburn, whose Frontline 1984/1985 show runs at The Loading Bay from 17 April to 11 May, said he first started taking photographs in about 1973, mainly at a cafe and pub in Manningham called Frontline. "This was mainly people from the Caribbean, not just Jamaica but also English people as well, and people from the Asian community," he explained. "The photographs are even more important now because all that area has gone," Mr Wedderburn, a retired mental health nurse, said. "The pub is a chemist, the cafe sells fruit and veg. It's completely different when you look at it now." The Bradford and Cardiff-based Common/Wealth theatre group is also expected to put on a play called Public Interest at The Loading Bay between 21-31 May. Evie Manning, 40, the group's co-artistic director, said the play would focus on the criminal justice system and was based on work with young people in Bradford. "We've worked in about 20 youth centres to find the cast and to also bring in lots of other young people who will be engaged in the themes of the show," she said. Ms Manning said the Common/Wealth group's work in the city had a strong emphasis on people from working class backgrounds. "Common/Wealth is all about working class people, their stories, the audiences. We want working class audiences," she said. Comedy is also on its way to The Loading Bay, with Bradford funnyman Alex Dunlop, 30, set to host a series of shows there, starting on Friday with a showcase of local talent. "Bradford doesn't have a full-time, seven-days-a-week comedy club. It doesn't have many comedy nights in general," Mr Dunlop said. "Obviously we've got The Alhambra and St George's Hall and big comedians coming over. But an actual comedy club doesn't exist." Mr Dunlop said he had high hopes for future of the comedy nights. "Could it eventually become a weekly thing? Can we expand the comedy scene in Bradford?" he asked. "I do have to go to Leeds and Manchester too much. I think it would be nice to perform to my home city." Other planned events at The Loading Bay include cabaret from RuPaul's Drag Race winner Ginger Johnson and a show featuring true-life stories from young people. The venue will also host the world premiere of theatre production Elmet in October, described as an "epic northern noir set in the wilds of the West Riding". With so much due to happen at The Loading Bay during the city's culture celebrations, Daniel Bates, executive director of Bradford 2025, said the new venue - expected to eventually be run as a permanent arts space - was particularly welcome. "Bradford has many excellent performance venues and galleries, and we're excited to add to the creative landscape by repurposing a derelict warehouse in the city as a pop-up arts space," he said. "UK City of Culture offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to create lasting change in Bradford, through significant investment in the district's cultural infrastructure." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Former warehouse to become City of Culture hub Four-storey arts venue planned for City of Culture Bradford hosts Extraordinary Portraits exhibition Bradford City of Culture 2025
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ex-warehouse transformed into Bradford's newest art space
Once home to pallets of ladies' hosiery and men's coats, a former city centre superstore's warehouse has been transformed into a pop-up arts space for Bradford's year of culture Bradford Council-owned Loading Bay is due to open later on the site of what was a Marks and Spencer exhibition of portraits created as a part of a BBC TV series hosted by comedian Bill Bailey is one of the first events to be held there as part of a programme running through 2025. Meanwhile, Victor Wedderburn, whose Bradford-based photographic work dating back to the 1970s will also be on display at The Loading Bay, said he was "overwhelmed" his pictures would be on show in his home city. "I'm pleased and I'm happy and I can't wait to see the exhibition myself," he said. Mr Wedderburn, whose Frontline 1984/1985 show runs at The Loading Bay from 17 April to 11 May, said he first started taking photographs in about 1973, mainly at a cafe and pub in Manningham called Frontline."This was mainly people from the Caribbean, not just Jamaica but also English people as well, and people from the Asian community," he explained."The photographs are even more important now because all that area has gone," Mr Wedderburn, a retired mental health nurse, said."The pub is a chemist, the cafe sells fruit and veg. It's completely different when you look at it now." The Bradford and Cardiff-based Common/Wealth theatre group is also expected to put on a play called Public Interest at The Loading Bay between 21-31 May. Evie Manning, 40, the group's co-artistic director, said the play would focus on the criminal justice system and was based on work with young people in Bradford. "We've worked in about 20 youth centres to find the cast and to also bring in lots of other young people who will be engaged in the themes of the show," she Manning said the Common/Wealth group's work in the city had a strong emphasis on people from working class backgrounds."Common/Wealth is all about working class people, their stories, the audiences. We want working class audiences," she said. Comedy is also on its way to The Loading Bay, with Bradford funnyman Alex Dunlop, 30, set to host a series of shows there, starting on Friday with a showcase of local talent."Bradford doesn't have a full-time, seven-days-a-week comedy club. It doesn't have many comedy nights in general," Mr Dunlop said."Obviously we've got The Alhambra and St George's Hall and big comedians coming over. But an actual comedy club doesn't exist."Mr Dunlop said he had high hopes for future of the comedy nights."Could it eventually become a weekly thing? Can we expand the comedy scene in Bradford?" he asked."I do have to go to Leeds and Manchester too much. I think it would be nice to perform to my home city." Other planned events at The Loading Bay include cabaret from RuPaul's Drag Race winner Ginger Johnson and a show featuring true-life stories from young venue will also host the world premiere of theatre production Elmet in October, described as an "epic northern noir set in the wilds of the West Riding".With so much due to happen at The Loading Bay during the city's culture celebrations, Daniel Bates, executive director of Bradford 2025, said the new venue - expected to eventually be run as a permanent arts space - was particularly welcome."Bradford has many excellent performance venues and galleries, and we're excited to add to the creative landscape by repurposing a derelict warehouse in the city as a pop-up arts space," he said."UK City of Culture offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to create lasting change in Bradford, through significant investment in the district's cultural infrastructure." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
