Bradford, once the wool capital of the world, has a rich industrial heritage and boasts spectacular Victorian architecture. As the fourth city to be awarded the title, we’re proud to have invested £5million into Bradford’s year as City of Culture to ensure heritage is at its heart.

Launching at the iconic St George’s Hall, the programme will not only promote heritage and culture in the district but also ensure it can be a driving force for long-term change and rejuvenation.

Next year is Bradford’s chance to shine a worldwide spotlight on its stories, its culture and its future with heritage at its heart.

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Heritage at the centre of the celebrations

Street art and sculptures, stories and traditions passed down through generations and the landscapes and cityscapes that form the background to Bradford life will be a thread throughout the celebrations.

Here’s what you can expect from some of the heritage activities in the City of Culture:

• Wild Uplands is a series of new artworks created for the vast skies and expansive moorland views of Penistone Hill Country Park.
• Bradford on Foot is a rich collection of themed walks and tours, from secret streets and hidden gems to the great wide open.
• The Bradford Selection will see stories, histories and recipes from people across the district turned into biscuits.
• BD: Walls is an ambitious exhibition, inviting street artists to create new works on walls.

Impact of our funding in Bradford

Recognising Bradford’s heritage and the valuable role it plays in life across the district, we have invested over £60m in over 300 projects since 1994. This has helped communities connect to the city’s rich heritage.

St George’s Hall received £1.5m from us to restore the sandstone exterior and preserve its heritage features. The project also explored key events in the building’s history, including hosting famous names from Charles Dickens to Queen and David Bowie.

Following a grant of over £245,000, The Peace Museum’s 16,000 object collection is now more accessible in a permanent home at Salt Mills in Saltaire, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We awarded £10,000 to a Bradford-based project enabling young LGBTQ+ people to explore the history and traditions of Gwen Lally – a queer historical figure and the first woman pageant producer in England.

The history of Odsal Stadium – home to the Bradford Bulls – was protected for future generations as part of a project exploring sporting and community events in the stadium, which received £199,200 of National Lottery funding.

A landmark year for heritage and culture

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “The Heritage Fund is delighted to invest £5m into Bradford 2025 so that the city’s rich heritage is a golden thread woven throughout the programme. Next year is Bradford’s chance to shine a worldwide spotlight on its stories, its culture and its future with heritage at its heart.  

“This year marks 30 years of funding raised by National Lottery players. During those three decades the Heritage Fund has invested nearly £60m into Bradford, enabling heritage-led regeneration and sharing countless community stories. We are delighted to see that investment built on by Bradford 2025 and look forward to an incredible year of celebration.”

Get funding for your heritage project

Are you interested in celebrating Bradford’s heritage? Find out what we fund.