What’s happening in Bradford: the appointment of a new Bradford 2025 bid director!

Bradford’s City of Culture 2025 bid has taken a giant leap forward with the appointment of a new bid director. No, he’s not from Bradford – and that’s just one of the brilliant things he’s got to offer.

Now, hear me out on this. Richard Shaw IS originally from Yorkshire, but he left to spend the past 30 years working for huge national arts organisations like the BFI, National Theatre and English National Ballet, as well in TV production and broadcasting.

That means a lot of time spent thinking nationally rather than locally, and working with huge audiences, giving him exactly the kind of fresh professional perspective on Bradford we need to put this bid together.

Richard has already been immersed in a cultural scene of national repute, and those are exactly the same heights Bradford will scale if we win (which of course I believe we could).

So what now?

Well, those of us who’ve been happily living in Bradford for long enough to know all the best places to go and things to do have a chance to turn all our knowledge into gold when it comes to the bid. And we can start right now.

Between Richard’s CV and our collective wisdom, there’s a powerful partnership to be made. You can do your bit to help the bid by following @Bradford2025 on Twitter and Instagram, and using the hashtag #bradford2025 for absolutely EVERYTHING even vaguely cultural you’re doing in Bradford, Keighley, Ilkley, or in any other bit of the district.

Aside from helping Richard to find out more about Bradford than he ever thought possible, we can also teach each other about things we never knew were happening in our own backyard.

For example, just this week I found out about a social after-dark bike ride in Ilkley, a pop-up farm in the city centre, a vinyl night at Fuse Art Space, and the 20th anniversary of classic club night Kulu at The Mill – all by following Bradford 2025 social media. Who knows what you’ll find (or what you’ll have to share)! Join in and enjoy!