THE Culture Secretary has said Bradford will be the “beating heart” of a new northern cultural corridor, on the day a major programme of events was announced for the city.

Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture was officially launched this evening at an event at St George’s Hall.

The first programme of events for next year was announced as part of this.

Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, has been out and about in the city today and visited the ongoing multi-million-pound redevelopment of Kala Sangam’s headquarters, in Forster Court.

Earlier, a group of Bradford 2025 volunteers were in City Park to create a buzz, with photos in front of a large sign promoting next year, and Ms Nandy has felt a good atmosphere in the city.

She said: “I think it’s clear just from being here today that the whole city is absolutely buzzing.

“I could feel it out on the street, felt it walking through these doors of what is about to become the Bradford Arts Centre when it’s finished.

“I’m really excited about the programme that’s going to be unveiled tonight.

“We know that Bradford has a proud and rich cultural inheritance from the south-Asian community through to David Hockney.

“In fact I have a David Hockney hanging on the office wall back in London, in my Government office, because of that contribution, in recognition of the contribution that’s been made.

“But this isn’t just about people recognising how much Bradford has to offer, it’s also about the lasting legacy that this City of Culture will leave.

“It’s part of a wider vision for Bradford that the council leader and the Mayor of West Yorkshire both share.

“The creative industries are some of the fastest growing industries in the UK.

“We’re determined as a new government to work with them, to put rocket boosters behind their plan, to create good jobs and apprenticeships and opportunities that will leave a lasting economic legacy for Bradford as well.”

There were hopes that the recently transformed Bradford Live would play a major role in Bradford 2025.

But question marks have been left over when, or if it will open, and the Telegraph & Argus has continually asked those in charge for answers.

Ms Nandy said: “I’m confident Bradford Live will be a real success.

“I’m really looking forward to it being open, it’s something that I’ve talked to the council about, to the Mayor of West Yorkshire as well, and everybody is fully behind the project.

“I think this is going to be a really exciting year for Bradford.

“I think you’re going to see a whole host of things opening, a whole host of jobs being created, and most of all, you’re going to see the country really sit up and pay attention to what Bradford has to offer.

“That’s the legacy that I think it’s going to leave and I think Bradford Live will be a big part of that.”

The government minister also made it clear Bradford would not be left on its own after 2025 is done and spoke of the city being the “beating heart” of a new northern cultural corridor, which is already creating exciting in other areas.

She said: “The whole ethos of the City of Culture when the last Labour government established was that it would leave a lasting legacy and it was part of a wider vision for the cities that were the beneficiaries of it.

“And for the country, because for too long, too many people haven’t seen themselves reflected in our national story, and as a new government we’re determined that that’s going to change.

“But we’re already setting about as a new government working with our mayors and council leaders across the country.

“We’re really excited about the potential of One Creative North, to create this cultural corridor all the way up the country of which Bradford will be at the absolute beating heart.

“You can already see it starting to happen here, driving that excitement in other parts of the north of England as well.

“Film industries, arts, culture, broadcasting, these are amongst the fastest growing industries in the UK and the north of England is almost uniquely placed to benefit from those, because of the great landscapes we have, because of the skills that we have, because of the rich cultural inheritance that we have, and because of where we’re situated in the country.

“Tracy Brabin the Mayor of West Yorkshire was amongst the first to recognise that, everybody is starting to recognise that now.

“That’s why I’m really confident that there’s an exciting future not just for Bradford but for the whole of the north of England because of the work that’s going on here right now.”