Bradford launches its 2025 UK City of Culture with outdoor event

The curtain-raiser launching ‘Bradford 2025’ will welcome at its fully booked-out outdoor theatrical event ‘RISE’ in City Park on 10th and 11th January, with world-renowned Bradford-born magician Steven Frayne (formerly known as Dynamo) as its creative lead.

Audiences for RISE will be greeted with a festival atmosphere as City Park is taken over by DJs, food trucks and entertainers ahead of the show, which is created by the district’s own magician Steven Frayne, and directed by Kirsty Housley.

The open-air event will feature aerial performers, acrobatics and magic, and will have local people, voices and stories at its heart. A 200 strong cast include poets and rappers, a community choir led by the Friendship Choir, the Airedale Symphony Orchestra, and a multi-generational community ensemble of Bradford residents aged from 12 to 65.

RISE is a spectacular outdoor theatrical event that will take place in City Park and Centenary Square, launching the year-long programme, celebrating contemporary culture in all forms and showcase the rich history and heritage of the area.

Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture said: “All eyes will be on Bradford as we mark the start of 2025 UK City of Culture. Our ambitious opening event will bring the district together reflecting Bradford’s youthfulness, diversity and heritage, lighting the creative spark that will fuel this incredible year and forge unforgettable memories.

We’ll introduce audiences to our rural landscapes, pay tribute to our local heroes, and platform the astonishing talent emerging from our radical city. Our time is now – and it starts with RISE.”

Nadim Hanif, CEO of Asian Express, media partner for Bradford 2025, commented: “Bradford has the nation’s spotlight cast on it this year, bringing internationally acclaimed artists, organisations, and a whole wide range of diverse events celebrating all the cultures it is home to. 

Bradford’s diverse communities have the opportunity to be involved by sharing their stories and experiences through the City of Culture events lined up this year. The city is buzzing, and it’s a golden opportunity for everyone to go and see some of the sensational events planned for 2025.”

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council said: “Bradford District is ready to welcome everyone to join in our celebrations as UK City of Culture 2025. Bradford district has spectacular heritage buildings, breathtaking landscapes and diverse communities whose creativity is reflected in the City of Culture programme we’ll see this year.

There will be opportunities for residents and visitors alike to celebrate and share in an amazing array of cultural activities. I would like to invite everyone to visit the Bradford District at some point during the year and see for themselves what a wonderful, inspiring place it is.”

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Bradford’s creative industries are brimming with ingenuity, diversity and attitude, and with these spectacular opening events, the whole world will get to see Bradford at its best. 

That’s why we’re investing £6 million into Bradford UK City of Culture 2025 – to attract visitors and investments, create jobs and growth, and build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire.”

Two major exhibitions will open in Bradford in January as part of the UK City of Culture programme, Nationhood: Memory and Hope (11 January – 26 April 2025), featuring new work by acclaimed Ethiopian artist Aïda Muluneh and Fighting to be Heard (17 January – 27 April 2025) at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery explores connections between the ancient art of calligraphy and boxing, alongside rare items from the Arabic and Urdu collections of the British Library.

Also launching in January is DRAW! a nation-wide drawing project inspired and supported by Bradford-born artist David Hockney in which members of the public are invited to take part.

The National Science and Media Museum reopens in January following a major £6 million development. It presents David Hockney: Pieced Together (15 January – 18 May 2025) which explores the artist’s pioneering use of film and photography.

The internationally acclaimed Akram Khan Company will perform in Bradford for the first time, with performances of Jungle Book reimagined at the Alhambra Theatre. Based on the book by Rudyard Kipling, Khan and his team have reimagined the journey of Mowgli through the eyes of a refugee caught in a world devastated by the impact of climate change.

Cinema is celebrated through the programme in Northern Soul, a season of films from working-class northern women presented at Pictureville Cinema and curated by award-winning West Yorkshire raised writer director Clio Barnard (30 January – 9 February 2025). Asian Dub Foundation make a welcome return to Bradford to reprise one of their most acclaimed projects, their powerful soundtrack to cult classic French thriller La Haine, performed live to a screening of the film (15 January 2025).

Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport said: “Our communities can and should be empowered to come together, tell their story and create change in their local area. That is what the UK City of Culture competition is all about.

So much enthusiasm and hard work has gone into organising Bradford’s year. There is a real buzz in the city as people get ready to showcase their talents. I would encourage everyone to go and see some of the fantastic events in the New Year.”

Darren Henley, Chief Executive Officer, Arts Council England said: “This programme in its breadth and range gives people from communities across Bradford the chance to tell their stories, as well as giving visitors the opportunity to discover and rediscover how creative West Yorkshire is. 

And it’s all happening thanks to public investment from taxpayers and National Lottery players. 2025 is shaping up to be an amazing year.”

Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture is supported using public investment from HM Government, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and through National Lottery funding from Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Lottery Community Fund, British Council, Spirit of 2012, as well as private investment and donations from a number of trusts, foundations and corporate sponsors.