Where Culture Begins: The Case for Play in Bradford

Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture is a celebration of our rich heritage, vibrant creativity, and proud diversity, and at the heart of it all is PLAY.

When we talk about culture in Bradford, we’re not just talking about celebrated artists or historic landmarks, we’re talking about the city’s children. We’re talking about the powerful role that play has in shaping a cultural legacy that truly belongs to everyone. In the words of Dr Alexandra Long, course leader and lifetime play advocate, “Children’s play is children’s culture.” And in Bradford, that means recognising the city’s children not just as spectators of culture, but as active participants and future cultural leaders. 

Play is children’s first language of creativity. It’s how they imagine, build, tell stories, and solve problems - the same tools that artists, musicians, dancers, and designers use to shape culture.

Culture shouldn’t be confined to theatres or galleries. It should thrive in parks, streets, and playgrounds, places where children make friends, and learn from each other. When a city prioritises play, it sends a powerful message: our children matter, and so does their creativity. 

Play Makes Culture Accessible to All

One of Bradford’s greatest strengths is its diversity. From Little Horton to Ilkley, it’s a city of many voices, languages, and traditions. 

Play is a universal language, a way every child can engage, regardless of background, ability, or culture. And there are some great playful events threaded into Bradford 2025.

Take Island of Foam: Version #40, where our city is celebrating National Playday in Centenary Square with an extravagant foam fest, an open invitation for all families to splash, slide, and bond through joyous mess-making. The RedBall Project: this 15-foot inflatable red orb rolls into parks, streets, and unexpected corners, inviting children and families to laugh, explore, and connect through shared curiosity.  

Back in April we also had Claytime, hosted at The Beacon in Wibsey Park, where children co-created an impromptu clay theatre, dreaming up characters and stories that come alive before their eyes. We also had Palette(s), a playful production, which felt like loose part play, showing how everyday objects can become art. 

All of the fantastic events taking place in Bradford this year are amazing to see and be a part of, and we are delighted to be working with the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture team to invite families on a journey around our beautiful city to 25 wonderful locations, focusing on the exciting new themes of: Where to Play; What to See; Where to Explore: What to Find; and What to Make! We know that Bradford's culture will continue to shine beyond 2025, and these fun things to do are part of our culture forever!

The famous Big Swing Adventure Playground is one the amazing locations highlighted by the 25 Things to Do in Bradford project. As a cultural centre for children and families in Bradford. The Big Swing represents a space “where children are seen, heard and they are witnessed playing.” By more communities in Bradford seeing children play, “children can be seen as members of their community with equal rights to access their local green space.” 

These aren’t just fun days out, they are powerful tools for connection, empathy, and cultural exchange.

A City That Plays is a City That Grows

By placing play at the heart of its cultural vision, Bradford can lead the way. Dr Alexandra Long, who has most certainly impacted positively on Bradford’s culture of play tells us, “Bradford has been building its culture of play slowly and steadily. As the first city to publish a play strategy, Bradford responds to the needs of the children and provides them with opportunities to play. Everyone looks to Bradford to see what can be learnt from us.” We are a city that celebrates culture, but we are also one that grows it from the ground up, beginning with the joyful creativity of our playful children. 

Take a look at our new project with Bradford City of Culture for 2025 - 25 Things to Do! 

We know that Bradford's culture will continue to shine beyond 2025, that’s why our 25 Things to do can be done past 2025 and beyond. No matter your age, join us on our journey around our city, where we will be getting out and about to 25 wonderful locations! 

Visit our new page to find out more.

Keep an eye out in Bradford for our colourful 25 Things to Do leaflets!