Bradford gets £1m in funding to keep two City of Culture venues open

THE Government has awarded Bradford another £1 million to boost two venues and help secure the legacy of City of Culture.

The funding will help make the Loading Bay in Bradford city centre a permanent venue, and support the Peace Museum to further improve its new venue in Salts Mill.

The extra £1m was announced today by Culture Minister Ian Murray, and is an addition to the £15m awarded by Government in the run up to 2025.

Loading Bay, based in the former Marks & Spencer warehouse on Piccadilly, was originally only due to open for the duration of the year.

The venue includes a 200 seat theatre, performance space and art gallery, and hosted events including a residency by magician Steven Frayne, an exhibition based on popular show Extraordinary Portraits and a performance based on the lasting impact of the Valley Parade fire.

It closed in December, but last month it was announced Loading Bay would re-open in May.

Today’s Government announcement says the funding will help turn the temporary venue into “a permanent mid-scale city-centre venue.”

It adds: “This venue was a shining star in Bradford’s programme last year drawing over 42,000 visitors and offering affordable access to culture all-year long, with everything from exhibitions exploring local Polish and Ukrainian communities, immersive productions about Bradford’s textile heritage, and a special residency from magician Steven Frayne.”

Funding will also be used to provide vital capital investment for The Peace Museum, which relocated to Salts Mill in Saltaire in August 2024. The museum explores the history of peace movements and the often untold stories of peacemakers.

As a result of the move and UK City of Culture, visitor numbers increased from 3,000 annually to over 60,000 last year.

The Government statement said: “The funding will continue the district-wide benefits of the UK City of Culture and is another step towards the Prime Minister’s ambition to restore pride in every part of Britain.

“It is hoped that the funding will ensure that the economic and social benefits Bradford has gained from being UK City of Culture are protected and maintained for communities across the district and will enable Bradford to tell their part of our national story. This money will help build on the positive impact already felt across the district – which has seen eight out of ten local people say being UK City of Culture has made them proud to live in Bradford.”

Culture Minister Ian Murray said: “We know that investing in culture is so important both in terms of helping to boost local economies but also to create opportunity and make people feel proud of where they live. That is why I am proud to announce this additional funding, which will help the Bradford Culture Company to ensure the benefits of their UK City of Culture year are felt across the district for many years to come.”

Dan Bates, Executive Director of Bradford Culture Company said: “During our year as 2025 UK City of Culture, millions came to events across Bradford District, with tens of thousands experiencing unforgettable moments at Loading Bay alone. The demand proved that this venue could not be temporary, so we are hugely grateful to DCMS for this investment to complete building works to secure its future. Loading Bay can now continue to be a vibrant cultural hub for Bradford voices, as well as artists from across the UK and beyond, complementing and strengthening the district’s rich and growing cultural offer.

“DCMS’s continued investment not only secures the future of this much-loved city-centre venue but also strengthens the wider cultural ecology of Bradford District. Working with Bradford Council, we were pleased to provide a Cultural Capital Grant to the Peace Museum last year, and this additional support from DCMS demonstrates a lasting commitment to Bradford’s heritage, creativity and ambition.”

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council said: “The legacy of our year as UK City of Culture is already gaining momentum and I’m delighted that the Government are continuing to support Bradford with this latest funding commitment.

“The Peace Museum hosts a collection of national significance and Loading Bay has shown that there is demand for more event and exhibition space. Both venues will benefit hugely from this additional investment meaning residents and visitors can continue to have the opportunity to experience these for themselves.”

Rachel Julian, Chair of the Board of Trustees, The Peace Museum said: “We are delighted that DCMS has awarded The Peace Museum this funding to improve our spaces and keep them open year-round. This transformational investment safeguards our nationally significant peace collection, increases access to our gallery allowing us to welcome 15,000 additional visitors annually, and ensures a lasting legacy of cultural engagement, pride and participation for Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture in 2025.”