Set within the beautiful surroundings of Lister Park, just one mile from Bradford city centre, Cartwright Hall Art Gallery has been welcoming visitors since 1904.
Home to Bradford’s nationally significant art collection, the gallery brings together Victorian, modern and contemporary art alongside changing exhibitions, family activities and events throughout the year.
Bradford was one of the first local authority museum services in the UK to actively collect work by South Asian and Black artists. Today, this nationally important collection sits alongside works from across the centuries, reflecting the city’s rich artistic and cultural heritage.
The story of Bradford’s art collection began before Cartwright Hall itself. The city’s first art museum opened on Kirkgate in 1879, where annual selling exhibitions helped establish a permanent collection for the people of Bradford. As the collection grew, Samuel Cunliffe Lister donated £40,000 towards creating a purpose-built civic art gallery within Lister Park. Cartwright Hall opened in 1904 and, more than 120 years later, continues to grow and evolve through its permanent collection and programme of changing exhibitions.
While you’re here, why not enjoy refreshments in the Refreshment Room Café or take time to explore Lister Park, one of Bradford’s most-loved parks and home to beautiful gardens, a boating lake and family-friendly play areas.
Baby Changing
Cafe
Parking
Disabled Access
Toilets
Monday Closed (check Social Media for Bank Holiday openings)
Tuesday – Friday 10am-4pm
Saturday – Sunday 11am to 4pm
Cartwright Hall Art Gallery is in the middle of Lister Park, one and a half miles from the City Centre on the A650 Manningham Lane. There is limited parking in Lister Park, accessible from North Park Road (off Oak Lane). Lister Park is served by many city centre bus services including 23, 25, 26, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 622, 647, 662, w5. Cartwright Hall is about ten minutes’ uphill walk from Frizinghall railway station.
For help in planning your journey by public transport, please visit www.wymetro.com.
30 July 2026 11:00 am – 30 July 2026 3:00 pm
Join us for a day of friendship!
6 August 2026 11:00 am – 6 August 2026 3:00 pm
Explore Geometric Patterns and decorate a coaster to take home.
14 August 2026 3:00 pm – 14 August 2026 7:00 pm
Join us for hands-on activities, workshops, and fun at Cartwright Hall this summer holidays!
20 August 2026 11:00 am – 20 August 2026 3:00 pm
Create your own portrait inspired by Pre-Raphaelites
Every other Sunday
Enjoy a cosy Sunday escape for book lovers
Every second Friday of the month
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
Artist Jim Moir, widely known as Vic Reeves, presents new artworks created for this exhibition.
This is a selection of twelve artists’ voices from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
This exhibition revisits a key moment in Bradford’s history: the 1904 Great Exhibition in Lister Park.
Experience the beauty of our Pre-Raphaelite collection.
A celebration of creativity that crosses borders and generations.
Artworks revealing South Asia’s layered histories, shared memories, and evolving identities.
Bradford District Museums & Galleries’ Learning Team offers schools a wide range of curriculum-linked workshops at our inspiring sites.
Your donations are really important to us and we welcome any support you can offer.
Bradford Museums & Galleries’ Learning Team offer a range of exciting, hands-on, curriculum-linked workshops at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery.
