'Festival will help build City of Culture legacy'

This summer's Bradford Festival will help "build the legacy" of last year's City of Culture celebrations, the council said as the line-up was announced.

The free arts festival on 18 and 19 July will feature more than 100 artists from across the globe, including aerial circus acts, a pub-themed dance performance and live music.

The entertainment will be spread throughout the city centre, including the Mirror Pool, Darley Street Market and Norfolk Gardens.

Andrew Judson, Bradford Council Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Growth, said the event showed Bradford was "open for business".

The festival is co-produced by the council and Bradford Culture Company.

Creative Director Shanaz Gulzar said: "This year's Bradford Festival will surprise and delight, and continue to shine a spotlight on our region as a key destination for culture and creativity."

Bradford's Mirror Pool will host a large-scale aerial act by Gorilla Circus, while poet Kirsty Taylor will write a new work for the show, reflecting the diverse voices of Bradford.

Hip-hop choreography piece Closer To My Dreams will take place in new city-centre park Norfolk Gardens, while Darley Street Market will be the venue for Last Orders, a dance piece inspired by pub culture.

The event also includes printing workshops, a bus full of books and pop-up performances for children, as well as a live music stage in Centenary Square, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Judson said: "We are starting to build the legacy of our year as UK City of Culture; demonstrating pride in place for residents, attracting visitors, and showing our ongoing commitment to culture-led regeneration across the district to give business the confidence to invest more here."

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