Uncertain future for pop-up Bradford arts venue Loading Bay as final events held
Loading Bay opened in the former Marks & Spencer warehouse space on Piccadilly this Spring and was one of the main venues for Bradford’s City of Culture
A POP-up arts venue that has attracted over 40,000 visitors and some major names will close after this weekend, and faces an uncertain future.
Loading Bay opened in the former Marks & Spencer warehouse space on Piccadilly this Spring and was one of the main venues for Bradford’s City of Culture events.
But with the year drawing to a close, the venue’s final exhibitions end this Sunday.
There has not yet been any indication of what the future holds for the Bradford Council owned building, but the head of Bradford’s Civic Society says keeping it operating as an arts venue is a “no brainer.”
Loading Bay includes a 200-seat theatre, art gallery and performance space. Since it opened in March it has attracted names like Bill Bailey and Steven Frayne, the magician formerly known as Dynamo.
Although it was only intended to be a pop-up space for 2025, the company behind the City of Culture year says its success has “demonstrated the need for this kind of space” in Bradford.
As well as being opposite the new Darley Street Market, the building is also yards from the Kirkgate Centre, which will be demolished and redeveloped as a “City Village” of hundreds of homes.
The final two exhibitions running in Loading Bay, Bradford Art Show and mixed reality experience Built By Sound, end on Sunday.
When asked about the future of the building, a spokesperson for Bradford 2025 said: “There have been more than 40,000 attendees to Loading Bay since it opened in March, visiting unique exhibitions such as Extraordinary Portraits and Frontline 1984/1985, site-specific shows like Public Interest and Unseen Stories, a unique residency from Steven Frayne, as well as live music and touring theatre.
“The huge public response to Loading Bay this year has clearly demonstrated the need for this kind of space in the city centre of Bradford, supporting a thriving night-time economy, going into the future.”
Si Cunningham, Chair of Bradford Civic Society, said: “Loading Bay is a great asset for Bradford and ticks a lot of boxes – providing much needed space for the creative industries, while bringing vacant space back into use.
“It’s a strong model for a sustainable city centre.
“Ultimately it will be up to the groups and creative practitioners who’ve used it, or who need it, to make the case for its future use – but personally I think it’s a no brainer to try and keep it going.
“We know that there are a number of groups, both within the city but also the wider region, who need spaces like these.
“With Bradford Live growing its reputation, plus the likes of Bradford Arts Centre and Bradford Playhouse refreshing their offer, and the Brit school coming soon, now is the time to be securing Bradford’s status as a true capital of culture.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has approached Bradford Council for a comment.