Connecting Culture: The Bradford Way – Interview

Bradford Producing Hub Catalysts For Culture Conference 2023. Image Credit: Tom Woollard.

After its standout year in the spotlight as UK City of Culture, Bradford is gearing up for an exciting future of cultural celebration. On 25 March 2026, the newly transformed Bradford Arts Centre will host Connecting Culture: The Bradford Way – a day-long public conference delivered in partnership with Bradford Producing Hub, The Leap, Cultural Voice Forum and City of Bradford Council. The event will bring together voices from across the district to explore the next steps for Bradford’s creative sector. We spoke to conference producer Kathryn Penny about what the event means for the city’s cultural landscape. 

Could you tell us a bit about The Bradford Way and the conference?

The Bradford Way is a long-term partnership committed to building a sustainable, inclusive and resilient cultural ecosystem by prioritising care, creativity and collaboration between local creatives, grassroots projects and cultural partners. The conference marks a major moment for the partnership – a packed public event aimed not only at Bradford’s cultural and creative sector but also at national policymakers and other towns and cities looking to host their own cultural programmes. 

‘Connecting Culture’ is a chance to pause, reflect on what’s been achieved, and get practical about how we maintain momentum beyond the incredible milestone of City of Culture 2025 — especially for local artists, freelancers and organisations.

What inspired the conference and what is it planning to achieve?

We’ve reached a point where convening the sector is essential. This is an opportunity to bring people together, discuss what has happened so far and map out what comes next. The Bradford Way began as a two-year partnership, but we hope it will become long-term, using collaborative practice to grow confidence across the city’s creative sector. 

We want Bradford delegates to leave feeling optimistic – that there is space, support and opportunity for the city’s culture and creativity to grow. For national policy makers and other creative cities attending, we hope to share ‘the Bradford Way of doing things’ and offer learning that others can apply in their own context.

How do you think the conference will help to support local artists and cultural communities beyond this year? 

The conference is shaped around four key themes, including ‘Learning and Looking Forward’. This is about reflecting on how Bradford’s collaborative spirit secured City of Culture 2025 funding, and how we can keep using that approach to strengthen the sector. 

Attendees will hear case studies of projects grown directly from the Bradford Way partnership and how they’ve contributed to the local economy. We’ll also share findings from the new Bradford-wide workforce survey – a valuable insight into the needs, hopes and realities of working in culture across the district. Alongside this, a day-long networking hub called ‘Connecting Culture’ will provide space for people to meet, share opportunities and seek work. 

The Bradford Way is still early in its journey, and the conference is a moment to gather learning so far and shape where we go next.

Keighley Creative Mega Drawing Box at The Beacon. Photo Credit: Bob Smith Photography.

How do you think The Bradford Way might address issues Bradford has faced during its year as UK City of Culture?

One of the biggest pressures of delivering something on the scale of Bradford 2025 is that with so much happening, there’s barely time to reflect or plan ahead. Evaluation takes time — there is so much data to process — but we can’t wait for that work to be completed before planning the legacy.

That’s why the Bradford Way matters. It connects four major cultural institutions so we can begin future-focused conversations now — about supporting creatives, growing networks and developing tools and training.

How do you think the Bradford Way partnership is going to influence the rest of the UK?

Although the future of the City of Culture competition isn’t yet clear, this conference aims to connect not only future bidding cities. Burnley, for example, is planning its own cultural celebration in 2027, and we hope to invite places like that to share plans and learn from our experience.

Growing a cultural sector isn’t just about funding — it’s also about confidence. Confidence in knowledge, confidence in experience and confidence that ambitious cultural projects are possible. When that belief spreads, new opportunities for creativity and collaboration follow.

Could you say a little bit more about the networking opportunities the conference is providing?

When planning began, we surveyed LEAP funding awardees and members of the Cultural Voice Forum – and the top request was a space to connect. 

So, alongside plenary sessions, breakout workshops and sidebar events, the Bradford Arts Centre will host a dedicated networking space throughout the day. We’re also creating two large opportunity boards — one for people offering opportunities (jobs, funding, partnerships) and one for people seeking them. And BCB Radio will broadcast live from the event, capturing conversations and content so knowledge exchange continues beyond the day.

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The Bradford Way Conference will take place on 25 March 2026 at the Bradford Arts Centre. You can keep up to date with conference news and register your interest on their website.