#Response: Bradford Council’s cultural response to Coronavirus

Culture Is Our Plan: The ten-year cultural strategy for Bradford District 2021–2031 

"We are experiencing a cultural renaissance and facing the future with new-found confidence and hope. Culture is important in everyone’s lives. It can make a sustainable contribution to the prosperity and happiness of everyone in the District and it is vital as we recover from COVID-19 and strive to level up with the rest of the UK.” 

The challenge

We have historically underperformed in attracting national investment – something we are determined to reverse. Right now, we lag behind other places of similar size and that has led to stark inequalities in cultural access too. These inequalities are reflected in other aspects of life. 

We are ranked the fifth most income deprived council in England, with low levels of educational attainment and skills that businesses seek, low life expectancy and declining rates of mental wellbeing. Our city and town centres – like many across the north – are struggling in the face of the impact of austerity and the effects of COVID-19. This is why we are determined to use our resources to solve these problems and level up the district.  

Before COVID-19, there were 5,640 workers in the cultural and creative industries sector here, compared with 8,000 in Newcastle and 10,445 in Sheffield. These lower levels of investment mean less cultural opportunity too, so it’s no surprise we also have fewer people able to engage with art, culture and heritage. Arts Council England data suggests that 55 per cent of Bradfordians have ‘low engagement’ with the arts compared with 35 per cent for England. These areas of lower engagement precisely match our poorest communities – and this includes some of the most diverse communities in the UK. 

During the coronavirus pandemic, Bradford faced challenges which were large and multi-faceted. On one-hand, the council needed to remain proactive and innovative in supporting its cultural sector and local economy during a time of real difficulty. On the other hand, and perhaps more urgently, the council also needed to decide how to utilise its brilliant cultural sector to support local communities and then families who were homeschooling and also facing intense pressure. 

The solution

An evidence summary by University College London (UCL) on the role of arts in improving health and wellbeing concluded that many of the benefits of arts and culture are scientifically proven. Published by the Department of Culture Media and Sport in September 2020, the summary said the arts had positive impacts on child development, social skills and social cohesion, including a reduction of loneliness and isolation, an increase in prosocial behaviours, a decline in aggression and discrimination, and an improvement in social consciousness (Fancourt, Warran and Aughterson, 2020). 

Just before the pandemic hit, a strategic investment of £1,435,000 was committed by Bradford Council, this investment has generated a return of £5,231,928.  During the period of lockdown this continued commitment to culture & creative industries was a driver to support our ambitions as a Clean Growth District, making the Bradford district a stronger place to experience, invest, promote and live. It has driven a real sense of culture being a driver for the future despite the challenges of the pandemic.

One of the projects was Bradford Council’s COVID-19 #Response funds which have helped people cope with isolation, fear and poor mental health and to find their own creative voice. 

“The package of support launched by Bradford Council to help the creative arts and cultural sector is aimed at harnessing the power of the sector in helping to reduce social isolation and improve residents’ health and wellbeing, the council’s grant programme will support the creative sector with innovative ideas and activities to help residents to connect with each other without leaving their homes and build on their sense of community, through various accessible platforms such as YouTube, podcasts and live-streaming.”

The first round of #Response grants supported 55 artists, creatives, and cultural groups across the district with a series of grants during the Coronavirus pandemic. #Response2 was the second of Bradford Council’s grant making programmes to support our creative sector and our communities, with a focus on supporting those struggling with home-schooling. 

The impact

This programme was quick to recognise the enormous contribution that the arts and culture sector makes to the great District of Bradford, but also the huge challenges faced by a widespread hiatus on our usual – and spectacularly diverse – creative calendar. 

The result has been an astonishing display of trademark Bradford grit and resilience, with great creative flair to match. Individuals and groups supported through #Response have served Bradford’s communities in many different ways - they’ve also inspired and entertained the district, and wider world, during these darkest of days. 

During a period of uncertainty, the council played a vital role in displaying its value in the cultural sector and building trust, respect and momentum which has led to improved representation and engagement between the council and the sector.  

Through Our Lens was one of the most successful projects that we supported through Response. Through Our Lens is a project featuring poignant photographs made by a group of young people from the Bradford District, working with award-winning artist Carolyn Mendelsohn, who quickly responded to the critical need for community, collaboration and skill development during the first national lockdown. Over 100 young people have taken part in the project, initially offering guidance and mentoring through Zoom. 

Featuring work made by 12 to 19 year olds during the first national lockdown, and 6 to 11 year olds during the third national lockdown; Through Our Lens offers a vital window into how the next generation have adapted and grown through an incredibly challenging time. The photographs in the exhibition are some of the most thoughtful, perceptive and compelling photographic works to emerge from this period, demonstrating a skill beyond age and giving us an exciting insight into the next generation of photographers. This has gone on to have national and international profile featuring in BBC Breakfast to the NY Times. 

We instantly became a service area that was recognised for reacting, delivery and across the council was recognised as good practice and opened dialogues with other departments.

How is the new approach being sustained?

We have a far more agile approach to how we react to the needs of the sector. We have now set up a continual small grants programme that enables us to receive, respond and distribute funds within a month, enabling us to support the sector and our communities. The profile of this work was not only praised by the sector, communities and other departments in the council, it raised our profile nationally as a proactive council supporting the cultural sector. Resulting in a much stronger relationship with colleagues in economic development which has led to far more joint working and successful funding bids that have been delivered jointly between both service areas. 

Lessons learned

• lead with compassion and passion  

• systems can be agile and still effective and due diligent  

• culture galvanized a place in complex challenging times.

Contact

Nicola Greenan, email: [email protected]