This exhibition revisits a key moment in Bradford’s history: the 1904 Great Exhibition in Lister Park. While the event celebrated local industry and innovation, its most popular and profitable attraction was the Somali Village, where 57 men, women and children lived and worked for six months as part of a colonial display.
By centering the Somali Village, the exhibition asks how Bradford’s art, institutions and public spaces were shaped by empire, and how these histories have been obscured over time. It invites you to look beyond the colonial spectacle to the conditions that made Somali lives visible, and to consider how these histories continue to shape the city today.
For a sneaky peek of some exhibition highlights, please visit Cartwright Hall Art Gallery’s Bloomberg Connects guide
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.
10 August 2026 – 21 February 2027
19 September 2026 – 28 March 2027
4 October 2026 11:00 am – 4 October 2026 3:00 pm
19 September 2026 11:30 am – 19 September 2026 1:30 pm
