In this blog, Sarah, our Community Content Producer, explores how partnerships across the district are helping communities connect with creativity, nature and wellbeing through our museums and green spaces.
Here at Bradford District Museums and Galleries we have been working in partnership with a range of amazing community organisations to encourage communities to use our buildings and green spaces to improve both mental and physical wellbeing. We have invited people to engage in creative activities to improve brain health, increase confidence, explore new spaces and feel at home across all four of our Museums and Galleries.
We have been working with Bradford Care Association (BCA) to create opportunities for people who live on care homes or who receive care to engage with our collections, parks and gardens. The aim of the project was to build up a range of ways that people could engage and use creativity to improve their health and make them feel better. We started by planning a walk for care in May 2025 which involved a range of care homes visiting Cliffe Castle Park for a walk with some creative activities along the way. We did Thai Chi, drawing nature and a sound bath activity along the way. We ended up inside Cliffe Castle where we had the chance for a much-needed rest and hot drink. It was a lovely day, and other care homes decided to create their own walks for care in their local parks. All the activities were aimed at increasing mood, helping with dementia and brain health issues as well as physical wellbeing.
Another part of the partnership project with BCA included creating some wellbeing pages on our website which holds details of all the wellbeing activities we have created so far and up and coming events. We worked with BCA create some sensory films of each site which are on the website to view anytime – we are due to add the final film of Bolling Hall and its cherry blossom trees in June so watch this space. We have had some amazing feedback about the films being shared in care homes, but also in hospitals and a way of calming adults and children which is great. Take a look and let us know what you think!
A part of the project an exhibition of portraits was exhibited at the Industrial Museum called Portraits of our Time. Photography Louise Raynor visited Elderthorpe residential home and took some beautiful photographs of the residents with objects that meant a lot to them and brought back memories from their lifetime. The project was such a success, other care providers took part and over 60 portraits were created. A book was created alongside the exhibition where people explained what their object was and the story behind it. The exhibition leaves us soon and will be shown in different locations in Bradford. We will be sad to see it leave.
Another partnership we are developing is with Happy Healthy You, who are an award wining community organisation who work to help people feel happier and live healthier. They have been delivering activities in Lister Park and we have recently connected with them to develop our connections to wellbeing, nature and creativity. This summer we have a range of events which aim to increase connections with nature, creativity, heritage and wellbeing with our community partners and local communities.
We believe that working together and creating events, exhibitions and activities that everyone can enjoy helps to keep us all well, happy and healthy.
We hope to see you there!