Journeys with MAI

23 May 2025 – 17 August 2025

About this event

23 May 2025 – 17 August 2025

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery

Portrait of Mai (Omai) (about 1753-1780) by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792) will embark on its first national tour, visiting Bradford , Cambridge and Plymouth as part of a major new partnership project.

Touring for the first time since it was saved for the nation in 2023, Portrait of Mai will travel to Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, as part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture; The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge; and The Box in Plymouth.

Titled Journeys with Mai, this national partnership project will also include a new engagement programme with the Youth Panel members from City of Culture 2025 and young people from the ground-breaking theatre company Commonwealth. The national project is creating opportunities for contemporary artists and communities from the Pacific and across the UK.

Portrait of Mai will is on display in Cartwright Hall from 23 May – 17 August. There will be a summit led by young people and associated events for schools, young people and families.

The project has been made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Art Fund and other supporters.

Partners

Gallery

Audio Transcripts

Listen to Mililani Ganivet (Tahitian academic and curator) talking about Mai. © National Portrait Gallery, London

Listen to Miriama Bono, former director of Te Fare Iamanaha (Museum of Tahiti), talk about the significance of the clothing (barkcloth) that Mai is wearing in the portrait. © National Portrait Gallery, London

Further information

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery

Address

Lister Park, Bradford, BD9 4NS

Opening times

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 closed between Mon 23^rd February – Friday 27^th March (re-open Saturday 28^th Feb)

The Refreshment Rooms cafe closed between Mon 23^rd February – Sunday 8^th March (re-open Tuesday 10^th March)

By public transport

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.