News

Bradford District is home to some of the most exciting museums and galleries in Yorkshire. Come and see for yourself
The Ice Age Art now exhibition has been an amazing process, working with the British Museum team and Bradford 2025 to bring national collections up to the district and link them to Bradford's own history & heritage.
Our Assistant Curator of Collections, Emma Longmuir, shares the journey of curating 'Woven through Time'
As we look forward to the opening of Ice Age Art Now at Cliffe Castle Museum, British Museum curator Jill Cook introduces the themes of the exhibition.
Fatima looks back on the change between when she started volunteering and now
an insight into the behind the scenes work around the new display
Here at Bradford District Museums & Galleries Photo Archive we are celebrating the stories of two Bradfordian war veterans
written for us by Arlo, who was involved with the selection and creation of the 'I AM ME' exhibition
Our newest blog has been written by one of the participants involved in 'Fighting to be heard' at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery
We're taking a look at contemporary artworks by women artists in the Bradford District Museums and Galleries collection.
We came across a fascinating set of travel diaries by Mrs Smith, a relative of the Butterfields - let us use her own words to tell the story
Learn more about the 2024 Cohort of Young Ambassadors
examining the long-standing links that the building, the family and the collections have to music,

Our Venues

What’s On

Cliffe Castle Museum

29 July 2025 11:00 am – 29 July 2025 3:00 pm

Help create a modern version of cave art on fabric.

carved stone in a moorland landscape
Bracken Hall Countryside Centre

29 July 2025 2:00 pm – 29 July 2025 4:30 pm

Join Gavin Edwards, archaeological expert & volunteer at Bracken Hall Countryside Centre, for a fascinating walk focusing on rock art

A little girl in a museum holding a magnifying glass
Cliffe Castle Museum

30 July 2025 10:30 am – 30 July 2025 12:30 pm

We have also prepared fun for our youngest visitors during the Festival of Archaeology.

a dark haired woman standing in front of a case of archaeological objects, with 'Vindolanda' embroidered on her jacker
Cliffe Castle Museum

30 July 2025 11:00 am – 30 July 2025 2:00 pm

In this session, you will become archaeology detectives as you put climate change under the microscope.

Family listening to Abraham Sharpe - a man in 18th century dress and long grey wig
Bolling Hall Museum

30 July 2025 11:00 am – 30 July 2025 3:00 pm

Come along and hear how Bradford’s very own Abraham Sharp helped mapped the stars with Isaac Newton.

image of Jill Cook. A white woman with short blonde hair, and is wearing a blue top and a carved pendant necklace
Cliffe Castle Museum

30 July 2025 2:00 pm – 30 July 2025 3:00 pm

Jill Cook will talk about the exhibition of Ice Age art now showing at Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley

close up of a gold coin with stylised design on it
Cliffe Castle Museum

30 July 2025 3:30 pm – 30 July 2025 4:30 pm

Gavin Edwards, offers an insight into an intriguing iron-age hoard

carved stone in a moorland landscape
Cliffe Castle Museum

30 July 2025 5:00 pm – 30 July 2025 6:00 pm

Find out more about the mysterious carved stones that are found dotted about the moor

Cliffe Castle Museum

30 July 2025 6:30 pm – 30 July 2025 7:30 pm

Delve into the fascinating world of buildings folklore

Jess (artist) posing with clay for a workshop
Cliffe Castle Museum

31 July 2025 10:30 am – 31 July 2025 12:30 pm

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel this event. Jess will be with us on Saturday with a family-friendly drop in workshop as part of the Festival of Archaeology Finale

Young girl drawing, henna design on side.

31 July 2025 11:00 am – 31 July 2025 3:00 pm

A thread of light between my Mother’s fingers and heaven.

Jess (artist) posing with clay for a workshop
Cliffe Castle Museum

31 July 2025 1:30 pm – 31 July 2025 3:30 pm

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel this event. Jess will be with us on Saturday with a family-friendly drop in workshop as part of the Festival of Archaeology Finale

Bradford Industrial Museum

1 August 2025 11:00 am – 1 August 2025 3:00 pm

Join us at Bradford Industrial Museum to celebrate Yorkshire Day!

an event happening outside Bolling Hall - there are dancers in the background and a woman is smiling directly at the camera
Bolling Hall Museum

1 August 2025 11:00 am – 1 August 2025 3:00 pm

Come and Celebrate Yorkshire Day with Museum Volunteers

Bradford Industrial Museum

2 August 2025 11:00 am – 2 August 2025 1:00 pm

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”

An image of Cliffe Castle and the words 'Join us for a family fun weekend celebrating archeaology.'
Cliffe Castle Museum

2 August 2025 11:00 am – 2 August 2025 4:00 pm

Join us for a FREE family fun-filled two-day finale to this year's amazing Festival of Archaeology at the beautiful Cliffe Castle Museum.

An image of Cliffe Castle and the words 'Join us for a family fun weekend celebrating archeaology.'
Cliffe Castle Museum

2 August 2025 11:00 am – 3 August 2025 4:00 pm

Join us for the festival of archaeology finale 2025

An image of Cliffe Castle and the words 'Join us for a family fun weekend celebrating archeaology.'
Cliffe Castle Museum

3 August 2025 11:00 am – 3 August 2025 4:00 pm

Join us for a FREE family fun-filled two-day finale to this year's amazing Festival of Archaeology at the beautiful Cliffe Castle Museum.

Ice Age Art Now
Cliffe Castle Museum

5 August 2025 10:30 am – 5 August 2025 3:40 pm

By blending history, technology, and imagination, Families can explore the world of the Ice Age using AI.

children playing outside Bolling Hall
Bolling Hall Museum

6 August 2025 11:00 am – 6 August 2025 3:00 pm

Visit us for some outdoor fun

Cartwright Hall in the sunshine, with BD2025 banner visible just in front

7 August 2025 11:00 am – 7 August 2025 3:00 pm

Join us to explore our galleries and have a go at doing your own drawing just like David Hockney.

Ice Age Art Now
Cliffe Castle Museum

7 August 2025 11:00 am – 7 August 2025 3:00 pm

Explore Ice Age life & communication in this drop-in family workshop

8 August 2025 10:30 am – 8 August 2025 12:30 pm

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”.

clock tower, Bradford Industrial Museum
Bradford Industrial Museum

8 August 2025 11:00 am – 8 August 2025 3:00 pm

Bring a long an old plain t-shirt that you want to change and learn to make something funky and unique.

Montanka or Yarn dolls in shades of pink and purple
Bradford Industrial Museum

9 August 2025 11:00 am – 9 August 2025 3:00 pm

Join us for a free drop-in workshop celebrating Ukrainian Crafts

image of mai painted by Joshua Reynolds. This is a cropped image showing just the top half of the picture

9 August 2025 12:00 pm – 9 August 2025 3:00 pm

Explore the Portrait of Mai through activities and talks all led by young people from Bradford.

Ice Age Art Now
Cliffe Castle Museum

12 August 2025 11:00 am – 12 August 2025 3:00 pm

cast of Cromwell's death mask in a case
Bolling Hall Museum

13 August 2025 11:00 am – 13 August 2025 3:00 pm

Make your own creepy clay mask...

close up of natural pigments and examples
Cliffe Castle Museum

13 August 2025 11:00 am – 13 August 2025 3:00 pm

Explore the Ice Age Art now exhibition and make your own cave paintings using natural pigments.

Ice Age Art Now
Cliffe Castle Museum

13 September 2025 11:00 am – 13 August 2025 3:00 pm

Explore Ice Age life & communication in this drop-in family workshop

Cartwright Hall in the sunshine, with BD2025 banner visible just in front

14 August 2025 3:00 pm – 14 August 2025 7:00 pm

Join us for an evening of family activities, talks and workshops at Cartwright Hall and Lister Park.

fuzzy black and green cushion made with fabric from the dressing gown in front.
Bradford Industrial Museum

15 August 2025 11:00 am – 15 August 2025 3:00 pm

Bring an old dressing gown, top, trousers and turn it into a bag or cushion. Learn how to make new things out of your old clothes.

image of a bound book
Bradford Industrial Museum

16 August 2025 11:00 am – 16 August 2025 1:00 pm

Learn the basics of craft bookbinding

shows a figure (in shadow and only part of face visible) holding a broken plate or dish with islamic (?) calligraphy visible on the plate

23 May 2025 – 17 August 2025

The Jameel Prize is the V&A’s award for contemporary art inspired by Islamic culture, history, society and ideas. This edition is devoted to moving image and digital media.

Exhibition poster - ourneys with Mai logo also says 'Te Tero o Mai ' (same information in Tahitian) and a stylised wave design alongside an image of the portrait and

23 May 2025 – 17 August 2025

See this majestic 18th century portrait of Mai by Sir Joshua Reynolds – recently saved for the nation – as it travels from London’s National Portrait Gallery to Cartwright Hall as part of a major national tour.

Ice age jewellery in a case
Cliffe Castle Museum

17 August 2025 11:00 am – 17 August 2025 3:00 pm

Making Ice Age inspired jewellery.

Bolling Hall Museum

20 August 2025 10:30 am – 20 August 2025 12:30 pm

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”.

View of herbal medicines set up in Bolling Hall Housebody
Bolling Hall Museum

20 August 2025 11:00 am – 20 August 2025 3:00 pm

Find out what Tudor remedies were used to treat people that were sick

view of the main mill building at Bradford Industrial museum
Bradford Industrial Museum

22 August 2025 11:00 am – 22 August 2025 3:00 pm

Fast Fashion is a real issue - this will help Families to understand why mending, repurposing and recycling needs to be a way of life.

A large teddy bear in front of cave drawings
Cliffe Castle Museum

28 August 2025 10:30 am – 28 August 2025 12:30 pm

Bradford Industrial Museum

6 September 2025 11:00 am – 6 September 2025 1:00 pm

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”

Cliffe Castle Museum

6 September 2025 11:00 am – 6 September 2025 3:00 pm

Help create a modern version of cave art on fabric.

Reindeer bone (metatarsal) with a carving of a cow-like creature
Cliffe Castle Museum

21 June 2025 – 14 September 2025

Travel back in time at this British Museum Partnership Exhibition with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and encounter works of art dating back thousands of years.

A view of Bolling Hall from the grounds
Bolling Hall Museum

14 September 2025 11:00 am – 14 September 2025 3:00 pm

Bolling Hall opened as a museum in September 1915. Join us to celebrate 110 years of being open to the public!

Bolling Hall Museum

17 September 2025 10:30 am – 17 September 2025 12:30 pm

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”.

students looking at stained glass
Cliffe Castle Museum

20 June 2025 10:00 am – 21 September 2025 4:00 pm

Celebrating historic collections through sustainable design

Cliffe Castle Museum

25 September 2025 10:30 am – 25 September 2025 12:30 pm

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”.

Bradford Industrial Museum

4 October 2025 11:00 am – 4 October 2025 1:00 pm

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”

10 October 2025 10:30 am – 10 October 2025 12:30 pm

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”.

Bolling Hall Museum

15 October 2025 10:30 am – 15 October 2025 12:30 pm

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”.

Cliffe Castle Museum

23 October 2025 10:30 am – 23 October 2025 12:30 pm

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”.

Bradford Industrial Museum

1 November 2025 11:00 am – 1 November 2025 1:00 pm

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”

14 November 2025 10:30 am – 14 November 2025 12:30 pm

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”.

close up on woven fabric , with blues, reds and yellow
Bradford Industrial Museum

19 April 2025 – 16 November 2025

The past and present of the Bradford textile industry are explored in this exhibition featuring beautiful costume, fascinating sample books and tools from the industry. Objects from our designated worsted collection sit alongside stunning visuals taken by photographer Ian Beesley

Bolling Hall Museum

19 November 2025 10:30 am – 19 November 2025 12:30 pm

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”.

Young
Bolling Hall Museum

22 November 2025 11:00 am – 22 November 2025

Put the date in your diary! More details to come

Cliffe Castle Museum

27 November 2025 10:30 am – 27 November 2025 12:30 pm

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”.

Mostly B&W image- father christmas is colourised in red. He is in the middle of changing a tire on an old car
Bradford Industrial Museum

29 November 2025 – 29 November 2025

Make a note of the date and check back for more details!

Mostly B&W image- father christmas is colourised in red. He is in the middle of changing a tire on an old car
Bradford Industrial Museum

30 November 2025 – 30 November 2025

Make a note of the date and check back for more details!

Bradford Industrial Museum

6 December 2025 11:00 am – 6 December 2025 1:00 pm

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”

12 December 2025 10:30 am – 12 December 2025 12:30 pm

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”.

Bolling Hall Museum

17 December 2025 10:30 am – 17 December 2025 12:30 pm

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”.

Learn At Bolling Hall Museum & Library
Bolling Hall Museum

7 March 2024 11:00 am – 31 December 2025 4:00 pm

Visit Bolling Hall Library! Opening times are: Wednesday 10 to 2pm Thursday 10 to 2pm Friday 11 to 3.30pm Saturday – 11.30 to 3pm Sunday – 11.30 to 3pm T: 07582 108216 E: bollinghall.library@gmail.com

Images of the 4 nominated artists

27 September 2025 – 22 February 2026

The Turner Prize is one of the world’s best-known prizes for the visual arts. It aims to promote public debate around new developments in contemporary British art.

Items from Fountains Cafe - table, mural, painting etc
Bradford Industrial Museum

13 February 2025 – 13 February 2027

This display at Bradford Industrial Museum showcases iconic and recognisable objects from the well-known and much-loved Fountains Café, Bradford

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About Us

Bradford District is home to some of the most exciting museums and galleries in Yorkshire. Come and see for yourself

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