Bradford wins City of Culture bid for 2025
On 31st May 2025 it was announced that the City of Bradford had been successful in its bid to become the UK's City of Culture for 2025.
The winner of the competition was revealed on national television by Nadine Dorries, the Secretary of State for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in an edition of BBC1's "The One Show". The programme was shown live on the big screen to excited crowds who had gathered in Bradford's City Park to watch the announcement.
The city had previously put forward a bid back in 2008 which was unsuccessful, but this time Bradford made it on to the shortlist (which included Wrexham, County Durham and Southampton) and was subsequently selected as the winner!
Says Shanaz Gulzar, Chair of Bradford 2025: "This is a huge opportunity to celebrate our extraordinary cultural heritage and for our young, diverse population who have been so involved in shaping our bid to become leaders and change-makers and begin a new chapter in our story. Bradford has been overlooked and underestimated for so long - it's now our time to shine."
The award of the title will not only benefit the City of Bradford but also West Yorkshire and the rest of the Bronte Country area as well. Says Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire: "I am absolutely delighted that the Bradford district will be the UK City of Culture in 2025. No city deserves this more. The entire year will be a fitting showcase for the incredible cultural and artistic talent in this amazing city."
In its year as City of Culture Bradford is set to deliver a multitude of performances and events - including new artist commissions, a series of major arts festivals as well as exciting national and international collaborations.
Exciting times certainly lie ahead for Bradford and the rest of the Bronte Country area too!
For more information about the city's plans for 2025 please visit the Bradford 2025 website.
[N.B. Please mention the Eagle Intermedia Bronte Country website when making your enquiries.]
[News item based on information provided by Bradford 2025 posted by Eagle Intermedia - 31st May 2022.]
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