Large crowds gathered to celebrate the culmination of Bradford’s tenure as the UK City of Culture.
The first performance of “Brighter Still” took place in Bingley’s Myrtle Park, showcasing a “community cast” of local residents who brought dance, poetry, and song to the stage.
Co-director Emily Lim praised the participants, stating they had “done themselves and their city incredibly proud”.
Throughout its year as City of Culture, Bradford hosted approximately 5,000 events, including the Turner Prize exhibition, leading to a reported 25% increase in city center footfall.
The sold-out closing event, which concludes on Sunday, is timed to coincide with the winter solstice. Saturday’s performance is available for viewing on BBC iPlayer.
With 5,000 tickets sold per show, the event is hailed as one of the largest community participation initiatives of the year, featuring over 250 local performers.
A community cast of 90 Bradford residents, aged eight to 76, collaborated with dancers, musicians, and choirs for the performance.
Organizers highlighted that the community cast actively contributed to co-creating and narrating the show, incorporating personal stories and experiences from Bradford’s diverse communities.
Gavin Wood, a participant in the show, described his involvement as “very fulfilling”.
“I’m Bradford born and bred and incredibly proud of my roots,” he stated.
“It’s a beautiful place to live, and I feel like the City of Culture is helping the city turn its narrative around towards a more positive outlook.”
Shanaz Gulzar, creative director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, characterized “Brighter Still” as a “dynamic reflection of Bradford, honoring our heritage, marking the present and looking to the future”.
“We complete this remarkable year by putting local people centre stage where they belong,” she added.
The year-long City of Culture celebration is estimated to have cost approximately £51 million and attracted an audience of three million people.
Organizers clarified that the budget was funded through a combination of fundraising, ticket sales, and commercial activities.
Significant grants included £15 million from the government, £10 million from Bradford Council, and £6 million from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Other notable events included a stage production of “The Railway Children” inside an engine shed, a drone recreation of works by Bradford-born artist David Hockney, and a celebration of local brass bands.
Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England, emphasized that the year-long event demonstrated “culture had the power to change people’s lives”.
“If you were born here in Bradford and are a young person, look at the possibility of what you can do now,” he said.
“You can be born in West Yorkshire, you can come here, you can study here, you can do your job here, you can be creating things that will be radiating out across the world and that’s something that’s really exciting.”
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracey Brabin believes the year’s legacy will particularly impact young people.
“It’s about giving young people the confidence,” she stated.
“We’ve heard youngsters on the stage tonight speaking in front of thousands of people.
“They may never be actors, but they’ll be better paramedics, entrepreneurs because they’ve got that confidence and the identity that they were part of something so magical.”
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.