Get ready to pull up, unload and be transported into a world of creativity - welcome to Loading Bay!
This amazing new pop-up art space, an artistic cargo hub, providing much needed performance, rehearsal and exhibition space, has been created as part of Bradford City Of Culture 2025.
And ahead of it opening this week we got a sneak peek look inside, writes Graham Walker.
WHAT’S ON: For Loading Bay’s full 2025 line-up of events and tickets visit https://bradford2025.co.uk/programme/loading-bay/
Loading Bay has taken over an empty Marks and Spencer storage depot on Duke Street to bring a Bradford 2025 buzz to the heart of the city, to boosting the cultural offering in Yorkshire and beyond.
Featuring two performance areas and a gallery spread across three atmospheric floors, it will host music concerts and exhibitions to immersive theatre and even live video games.
It plans to live up to its name as an arts warehouse, loading up the city’s cultural momentum with creativity by the pallet-load to deliver an unforgettable year.
The temporary venue is being programmed and operated by Bradford 2025 until December, but there is already a desire for the new space to become a permanent legacy.
Shanaz Gulzar, Bradford City of Culture Creative director explained the venue is running through to the end of this year. But she said: We'd love to see it have a life beyond 2025.
"For us, it's about responding to our need this year, we also recognise the need that this responds to for Bradford's creative and cultural sector, also nationally, for shows to come to tour to Bradford who couldn't come if this venue didn't exist."
