A NEW museum could be created in Bradford city centre to "raise awareness of the District's heritage."

Bradford Council's museum strategy for the next decade has just been published, and it reveals that a new city centre museum could join the District's four other Council run museums.

However, the plans appear to be in the very early stages, with no location for the attraction yet identified.

The Bradford District Museums and Galleries Strategy 2022-32, which will be discussed by Bradford Council's Executive next Tuesday, also reveals that the Bradford Industrial Museum would be the subject of a multi million pound bid to develop a "creative and cultural hub."

There are four Council run museums and galleries in Bradford. Cartwright Hall, which includes a David Hockney Gallery, is based in Lister Park, Manningham.

Bradford Industrial Museum is located in Moorside Mills, Eccleshill.

Bolling Hall, one of Bradford's oldest dwellings with links to the Civil War, is based in the Bowling area.

And Cliffe Castle Museum is based in Keighley.

The report details how the Council aims to improve its museum offer in the next 10 years, including by making the venues more inclusive and "reflective of all Bradford's communities," as well as hosting exhibitions more relevant to the District.

Bradford museums now 'in a better position' to bid for vital Arts Council funding The Council also plans to apply for "national portfolio status" from the Arts Council, which would include regular funding.

Although museums in neighbouring areas like Leeds and York get millions of pounds of recurring Arts Council funding, Bradford Council run museums currently get none.

The Arts Council currently provides Leeds with £31.02 funding per capita in comparison to £7.38 in Bradford.

The biggest take away from the report is the announcement that plans are underway to create a new city centre museum. The report says the existing four museums will be "joined by a strong city centre presence that introduces Bradford’s story to visitors to the city centre."

It adds: "We will take forward a business case and strategic plan for a city centre venue for Bradford district’s museum collections, working with partners within and outside the council to identify a location, narrative and funding package to progress this vision as part of our suite of venues.

"It will tell the story of Bradford district and increase the visibility of our heritage and culture for visitors to the city centre."

Although no location for the museum has been decided, the city centre has an impressive collection of buildings that could fit the bill.

Little Germany in particular has a rich heritage, being home to the highest concentration of listed buildings in Europe.

There are also numerous vacant sites if the Council opts to go for a new build museum.

The report also reveals that the Council will submit a bid to the Government's Levelling Up Fund "to transform Bradford Industrial Museum into a creative and cultural hub for Bradford East."

The Levelling Up Fund allows Councils to bid for up to £20m funding for each constituency for regeneration, wellbeing or cultural projects.