Bradford 2025 Organisers Receive MBEs in New Year Honours

Recognition for contributions to culture in Bradford

Two key figures behind Bradford’s designation as UK City of Culture 2025, Dan Bates and Shanaz Gulzar, have been awarded MBEs in the King’s New Year’s Honours List for their services to culture in the district.

Shanaz Gulzar’s role and background

Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, has a diverse career spanning film, visual arts, theatre, public art, and media. She led the development of the Bradford 2025 cultural programme, collaborating with local, national, and international partners to create a programme reflecting Bradford’s heritage and character. The programme aimed to involve local communities centrally.

Before her role with Bradford 2025, Shanaz worked as a producer at Manchester International Festival and presented several BBC television programmes, including Yorkshire Walks and the documentary Hidden Histories: The Lost Portraits of Bradford.

Dan Bates’ contributions and experience

Dan Bates, Executive Director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, returned to West Yorkshire in 2022 to lead Bradford Culture Company. He has overseen capital projects, skills and training initiatives, the volunteering programme, and the overall operation of the organisation.

Previously, Dan was Chief Executive of Sheffield Theatres for 13 years, during which the organisation received national and international recognition. Notable productions under his leadership included the world premieres of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Life of Pi, and Standing at the Sky’s Edge. In 2022, he was ranked 16th in The Stage 100 list of the most influential people in theatre. Dan also serves as a Board member of the Bradford Business Improvement District (BID).

Impact of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture

Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture was delivered by Bradford Culture Company Limited, a charity supported by public funding, trusts, foundations, and sponsors. The year-long programme included cultural events across the city, towns, villages, and green spaces within the district.

• Over 5,000 events took place, attracting an estimated 3 million attendees from all 30 wards of the district, the UK, and internationally.
• More than 87,000 local people participated in events, with over 2,700 volunteers involved in delivery.
• The programme supported over 650 local artists and cultural organisations, and invested in 30 cultural organisations.
• Training opportunities benefited 5,500 people, with young people engaged through apprenticeships, creative schemes, and education initiatives involving over 160 schools and settings.

Residents reported improvements in wellbeing, increased civic pride, and stronger community cohesion as outcomes of the programme.

Economic and future outlook

The designation has contributed to increased tourism, higher visitor numbers to cultural venues, greater city centre footfall, more overnight stays, and rising investment in the district. It is estimated that the UK City of Culture status will have attracted 15.5 million visitors and generated an additional £136.9 million in visitor spending.

Overall, the increased cultural and economic activity is expected to deliver up to £389 million of growth for Bradford District. A full economic and social impact report is scheduled for publication at the end of 2026.

Bradford Culture Company Limited will continue its work beyond 2025 in partnership with Bradford Council to sustain cultural development in the district.

Source: Bradford 2025 official website