In September 2022, six Healthy Minds Apprentices (young people aged 18-25) and a curator at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery started working together to create a ‘calm’ gallery. The brief was to use paintings from Bradford’s public art collection to design a relaxing, safe and calm space.
To decide on a theme, the apprentices each created a gallery plan and presented their ideas to the group. The idea we all had in common was nature. Spending time in nature is important for maintaining good mental and physical health. Yet most of us spend the majority of the day indoors. Fortunately, there is also a proven benefit for people to spend time in nature inspired interiors. Because of this the group selected paintings that feature natural scenes, or take colours from nature. The walls are sky blue; the rocks are naturally formed minerals.
Visitors are invited to spend a moment looking closely, escape their daily worries and listen to the specially crafted soundscape. The hope is to offer you a moment of calm.
Open Tues-Fri 10-4; Sat-Sun 11-4. Closed Mondays (except Bank Holidays).
FREE
Photo credit: Shy Burnham.
Cartwright Hall will operating amended opening times during the Turner Prize.
Mon-Closed
Tuesday-Wednesday 10am-4pm (last entry 3pm)
Thursday – Sunday 10am to 6pm (last entry 5pm)
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.
1 February 2026 11:00 am – 1 February 2026 3:00 pm
14 December 2025 12:30 pm – 14 December 2025 3:30 pm
25 January 2026 1:00 pm – 25 January 2026 3:30 pm
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