Bradford UK City of Culture 2025

{{main|UK City of Culture}}

UK City of Culture is a designation given to a different city every four years by the DCMS with the aim of using the arts to celebrate and regenerate forgotten areas.{{cite web |title=Guidance for Bidding Cities |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/582972/UKCITYOFCULTURE2021guidance.pdf |website=GOV.UK |access-date=1 March 2021}}

{{main|UK City of Culture 2025 bids}}

By the deadline at the end of July 2021, it was reported that a record number of twenty cities and areas had submitted bids to hold the title of UK City of Culture 2025, a quarter of which are from Wales. The then Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden MP, stated that the sheer number of applicants for the title was a "testament to the huge success of City of Culture". The 2025 bidding competition has allowed for the first time, bids from regions and areas, including groups of towns across one or multiple local authorities, and even across the borders of the constituent countries. Those long-listed have been awarded £40,000 to support their bid progressing to the next stage of the competition.{{cite news|date=20 August 2021|title=Record number of bids for UK City of Culture 2025|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-58272630|access-date=24 August 2021}} The holder was set to be announced in December 2021, but was postponed due to the number of applicants, with a longlist released on 8 October 2021,{{cite web|title=UK City of Culture 2025 longlist revealed|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-city-of-culture-2025-longlist-revealed|access-date=7 October 2021|website=GOV.UK}} a final shortlist of bidders was released on 18 March 2022.{{cite web |date=18 March 2022 |title=UK city of culture 2025: Southampton and Bradford among those on shortlist |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/mar/18/uk-city-of-culture-2025-shortlist |access-date=18 March 2022 |website=The Guardian }}{{cite news |date=18 March 2022 |title=UK City of Culture 2025: Derby misses out on shortlist |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-60799301 |access-date=18 March 2022}} Bradford was announced as the 2025 holder by Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries on 31 May 2022,{{cite web |title=Date for City of Culture announcement revealed – how to watch live |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/20169117.will-city-culture-winner-announced-date-revealed/ |access-date=27 May 2022 |website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus }} winning over the other shortlisted bids from County Durham, Southampton and Wrexham County Borough which all received £125,000 as runners-up. The competition was judged by Sir Phil Redmond, chair of the expert advisory panel for the UK City of Culture 2025 competition, who led visits to each bidder prior to the final announcement.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

File:Bradford 2025 - Kirsty Taylor on screen.jpg and Steven Frayne ]]

The opening ceremony took place on 10 January 2025 with an outdoor performance in freezing temperatures by magician Steven Frayne and poets, singers and dancers from Bradford.{{cite news |last=Bakare |first=Lanre |date=10 January 2025 |title=Bradford city of culture: five events to look out for in 2025 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/10/bradford-city-of-culture-five-events-to-look-out-for-in-2025 |access-date=11 January 2025 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}{{cite web |title=Bradford City of Culture: Opening night |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8787njnql1t |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=BBC News }}{{cite web |date=11 January 2025 |title='Real energy' – How Bradford is set to deliver in its year of opportunity |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/people/bradford-2025-uk-city-of-culture-real-energy-how-bradford-is-set-to-deliver-in-its-year-of-opportunity-4939421 |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Yorkshire Post }}

The year-long programme is also due to include: a season of performances celebrating the life of Andrea Dunbar; Asian Dub Foundation with a live-score of La Haine; Richard Hawley with the Black Dyke Band; The Bradford Progress, new colaborative pieces by Charles Hazlewood; newly commissioned dance performances by Akram Khan at the Bradford Alhambra, featuring inter-generational and inter-cultural performers from around the city.

• Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 – the previous winner
• European Capital of Culture – the scheme that inspired UK City of Culture

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Category:Events in the United Kingdom

Category:2025 in the United Kingdom

Category:Arts festivals in England