New partnership between Bradford 2025 and Bradford Producing hub set to raise the bar

Bradford 2025 has appointed Bradford Producing Hub [BPH] as its cultural capacity partner, with a remit to work together over the next three years to train, upskill and expand the workforce of local creative talent capable of delivering city’s ambitious UK City of Culture programme.

BPH, which was set up in 2019 with the aim of creating, challenging and developing better ways to support access to arts careers for residents from across the Bradford district, will work closely with the Bradford 2025 team to deliver four strategic strands of work: creative development; talent development; organisational development and sustainability and generating a caring culture.

The development opportunities will be open to creatives and organisations already working in the arts sector who are looking to take their creative practice and programming to the next level, as well as individuals looking to forge a new career in the arts.

Opportunities include a skills development scheme covering all artforms, including theatre, music and visual arts, as well as fast track development programmes; assistance with funding applications and bids; research and development opportunities and work placement prospects.

Lisa Mallahan, project director at Bradford Producing Hub, said: “We want to make the most of the incredible opportunity UK City of Culture offers our bold and ambitious arts sector here in the district. This programme is all about developing our creative talent, who until now lacked access to the type of funding and opportunities to deliver new work of the size and scale we hope to showcase in our City of Culture year.

“This is a once in a generation opportunity for us to reach and engage as many people across Bradford who are interested in working in and delivering cultural projects. By helping to grow our burgeoning creative community, building skill levels and increasing diversity, we will create a sustainable creative sector which will flourish into 2025 and beyond.

“This isn’t just about working towards one year of culture for us, it’s about making Bradford district a cultural hot spot for years to come.”

The development initiative aims to ensure that 50 per cent of the creatives working on the Bradford 2025 programme come from the district. The partnership also builds on funding already secured by BPH for PROPEL; a two-year skills development programme for 12 early-career producers and production managers who will be ready to develop and deliver new work for 2025.

This programme is one of 16 recipients of the £1m Jerwood Developing Artists Fund.

Shanaz Gulzar, creative director for Bradford 2025 added: “Bradford district is a diverse, passionate and cultural place but it’s not always had the support and opportunities to give people confidence that they can have a career in the creative industries long term. Bradford 2025 is our chance to change all that.

“Working with BPH, using their already established networks and skills and supporting them to do so much more, we will grow our creative sector and furnish our producers and artists, musicians and dancers, stage crew and production designers with all they need to properly embed the creative industries in Bradford for generations.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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