City of Culture director speaks on Bradford 2025 plans

Dan Bates, who was recently crowned the 15th most influential person working in theatre, is the newly appointed executive director of Bradford 2025.

As the countdown to 2025 begins, Dan will be responsible for turning dreams and promises from the city’s bid into reality.

His career has taken him from Leeds Playhouse to York Theatre Royal and Sheffield’s theatrical scene – and now he’s stopping off in Bradford.

Revealing as much as he can about Bradford 2025’s plans, Dan has promised a cultural calendar jam-packed with pride and history.

Sir Phil Redmond CBE was among 10 expert judges touring round the district's cultural gems before Bradford won the City of Culture bid (Image: PA/Bradford Council)

Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus, Dan said: “I want Bradford in the lead up to City of Culture to be really on everybody’s lips across the world.

“We know that we’ll be curating events that won’t be on anywhere else in the world. It’s not just about the visitors, it’s about the people of Bradford, it’s about what’s going on in your city.

“What we are excited about is how we celebrate the history of the whole district as well.

“It’s about welcoming people, audiences, developing more interest in culture. Be it from street art, something that’s on in the museum to something that’s on in the Alhambra or in a mill.

“I’m excited about ensuring more people by the end of it are more interested in making culture their career, making sure young people want to work in culture, in the arts or gaming, if we can create more work opportunities. The legacy is as key as what we do in the year, what’s left at the end of it.

Photo shows the City of Culture slogan projected onto City Hall (Image: Bradford 2025)

“Above all I want to make sure Bradford has some fun. I’m working with Shanaz Gulzar and she’s the creative director.”

It is hoped the 2025 team will be made up of Bradford and Yorkshire based creatives to boost opportunities in the North.

“It’s about the legacy of City of Culture,” he said.

There will also be 4,000 volunteering opportunities created with an announcement set to come in due course.

“Our job is to make sure it’s accessible. I know from Sheffield there are some people on the bigger estates that never go to the city centre. There would be things on your doorstep. There might be some things that are online.”

Describing how the opportunity to be executive director arose, Dan said: “I’ve been working in theatre nearly all my working life. I started off at Leeds Playhouse, went to York Theatre Royal, then Sheffield, and now to Bradford. It’s been really interesting and I’ve always enjoyed theatre obviously but also enjoy organisations and setting up organisations and effective organisations as well.

City Park in lights for the spectacular Bradford is LIT festival, picture by Visit Bradford

“When Bradford was announced, everyone watching it on the news that night, I was so delighted for Bradford. I was like, that’s such a big achievement. I thought then, I wonder what they’d be looking for to work on it. I saw the role advertised and I thought, that feels like an incredible opportunity.

“What I’m really loving about being in Bradford is pride in the fact we’re going to be City of Culture in 2025. They talk about it all the time. It feels like lots of people know about it and people are incredibly excited about that.

“When I worked in Leeds I used to come to Bradford a lot - visits to the Alhambra as I thought that was a place for a great night out, exciting and big shows coming there. I used to come to City Park and the museums as well, but I hadn’t been for a good 10 or 15 years so it’s lovely to come back and get to know some of the places again.

“I’m just a person that likes to wander round. You’ve got to make sure when you’re walking around Bradford to look up at the incredible buildings that are here.”

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