Bradford Cultural Sector Awarded Over £1 Million in Arts Council England Funding

The cultural sector in Bradford has been granted over £1 million in funding from Arts Council England. These funds are designated for The Bradford Way scheme, an initiative designed to foster cultural entrepreneurs and businesses across the city during its tenure as UK City of Culture. The council stated that the scheme will back at least 17 community-driven projects with investments ranging from £2,000 to £10,000. Councillor Sarah Ferriby commented: “This will enable the Bradford District to be a vibrant and creative place to live, work and play for the long term.” Furthermore, the funding is expected to offer over 5,000 individuals, especially families and young people, access to a community-led arts or cultural experience. Additionally, it will provide support for ten festivals throughout the Bradford district in 2025, as part of a funding round that is yet to be announced. Ferriby added: “This extra funding will allow us to work collaboratively to support our beneficiaries wherever they are in their development, elevate voices that are sometimes less heard, and increase capacity and longevity in our freelance cultural sector.” Pete Massey of Arts Council England remarked: “The cultural landscape across the district of Bradford has grown significantly in the last number of years thanks to the vision of Bradford Council.” He continued: “It truly is an exciting place to be especially with the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture programme just around the corner.”