10 things you didn’t know about Bradford Lit Fest
AsĀ Bradford Literature FestivalĀ prepares to enter its closing weekend, here are 10 things you didn’t know about one of the North’s biggest literary celebrations. Ethical ticketing gives free access to most of the programme to students and educators. 1 The University of Bradford has supported the festival since its launch in 2014, with a number of…
Aesthetica marks 20 years with landmark programme exploring the future of contemporary art
Aesthetica announces Aesthetica 20, a major anniversary programme redefining how contemporary art is made, experienced, and understood, culminating in the Aesthetica Art Prize 2026 exhibition at York Art Gallery. Contemporary art is undergoing a profound shift in how it is produced, circulated, and interpreted. At Aesthetica, this moment is being met with clarity and ambition…
Poetry in Motion: Creative Writing lecturerās work connects passengers with the history of reopened railway
Dr John Challis āhonouredā to see his verse brought to life at stations along the Northumberland Line. Dr John Challis, Poet and Lecturer in Creative Writing at York St John University says itās a āgreat honourā for his poetry to be selected to celebrate the reopened Northumberland Line. His specially commissioned poem The Journey has…
Es Devlin responds to Vanbrugh with new artwork for Castle Howard
Internationally renowned artist and designer Es Devlin presents Library of the Four Winds, a new public sculpture in the Temple of the Four Winds at Castle Howard. The work is on show from 13 June ā 27 September and is conceived to mark the tricentenary of Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726), the visionary architect behind Castle…
Star names announced as Bradford Literature Festival returns with biggest programme yet
What do Green Party MP Hannah Spencer, official 2012 Olympic poet Lemn Sissay andĀ Bake OffĀ star Prue LeithĀ have in common?Ā ThatāsĀ right,Ā theyāreĀ all taking part in this yearās star-studdedĀ Bradford Literature Festival, from July 3-12.Ā They will be joined by not one but two former Emmerdale actors Bradley Riches and Jessie Elland, poet Lemn Sissay, former first Minister of…
Wyedean’s medal ribbon production hits record high
Internationally renowned manufacturer of braid and military uniform accoutrement, Wyedean Weaving, has reported doubling its medal ribbon orders since 2024. The fourth-generation family business has seen its medal making partnerships rocket as uniformed services, medal mounters, dealers and retailers around the world seek out the companyās British manufacturing expertise in medal ribbon manufacture. After securing…
Play installation by Yorkshire artist opens at Castle Howard
An interactive art installation designed to encourage people of all ages to play has opened at Castle Howard, Yorkshireās most famous stately home. Open to the public from today, Playshapes: Castle Constructors is a large-scale, hands-on installation made from five one-metre coloured cubes that can be broken down into steps, triangles, polygons, cylinders and prisms….
What could YOU do with an extra day a week?
That’s the question we ask every business owner we meet, because most teams spend hours each week on emails, routine admin, reports, and repetitive tasks that AI can handle in minutes. At iThink365, we help and show businesses how to put Microsoft 365 Copilot and AI Agents to work properly. Not as a gimmick, not…
Breaking free from the spreadsheet trap
How Excel Could Be Holding Your Organisation Back For many organisations, Excel has slowly become embedded in everyday operations. Holiday tracking, scheduling, order handling, approvals and finance processes. If a workflow exists, chances are someone has built it in a spreadsheet. And initially, that works just fine. But as organisations grow, expectations increase, and AI…
Over Ā£1 million awarded to boost young peopleās mental health through creative writing and ethical AIĀ
York St John University partners with Goldsmiths and University of Leeds for Creative Writing Together projectĀ A major new research project led by York St John University has secured over Ā£1 million in funding to support young peopleās mental health, strengthen family relationships and promote inclusion through creative writing. The three-year project,Ā Creative Writing Together, is…
AI questions validity of famous Anne Boleyn sketch
This year marks the 490th anniversary of the death of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and one of the most controversial, and celebrated, figures in British history, not least because of her pivotal role as catalyst of the English Reformation. It was famously Anne Boleynās refusal to become Henry VIIIās mistress that prompted…
Es Devlin responds to Vanbrugh with new artwork for Castle Howard
Internationally renowned artist and designer Es Devlin will present Library of the Four Winds this summer, a new public sculpture in the Temple of the Four Winds at Castle Howard. The work will be on show from 13 June ā 27 September and is conceived to mark the tricentenary of Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726), the…
Bradford workwear supplier launches 7-step enterprise ordering platform for local businesses
Revolutionary system streamlines uniform procurement with professional 7-step ordering process Bradford-based uniform supplier BR Apparel has announced the launch of an innovative enterprise ordering platform that transforms uniform management for local businesses with significant workwear requirements. The new system provides companies spending Ā£5,000+ annually on uniforms with a comprehensive 7-step ordering process through their own…
Do you budget for Microsoft 365 or just hope nothing breaks?
Microsoft 365 quickly becomes businessācritical. Teams, approvals, workflows, automations, before long, people rely on them every day to get work done. Licences are planned and solutions are delivered. However, what often isnāt planned is what happens after goālive. Keeping things running Improving whatās clunky Adapting as Microsoft changes Instead, support tends to be reactive. Something…
West Yorkshire consultancy marks growth with move to Salts Mill
A West Yorkshire technology consultancy is building on more than a decade of growth following its move to Salts Mill in Saltaire, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. True9 Limited, founded in 2014 by Chris Richardson and Martin Taylor, has relocated from Croft Myl in Halifax and is now based at the historic Salts…
Commemorative student and community documentary honours railway police officer killed in wartime air raids in York
PCĀ RobertĀ SmithĀ āĀ TheĀ FinalĀ BeatĀ bringsĀ togetherĀ students,Ā historians, museums,Ā businessesĀ and creatives from across York and NorthĀ Yorkshire YorkĀ StĀ JohnĀ UniversityĀ isĀ toĀ hostĀ theĀ premiereĀ ofĀ aĀ newĀ historicalĀ documentary,Ā PCĀ Robert Smith ā The Final Beat. The film tells the tale of Robert Smith, a railway police officerĀ whoĀ wasĀ onĀ dutyĀ theĀ nightĀ YorkĀ wasĀ targetedĀ inĀ theĀ so-calledĀ BaedekerĀ RaidsĀ inĀ WWII.Ā TheĀ filmĀ isĀ producedĀ andĀ directedĀ byĀ MickĀ ChildĀ asĀ hisĀ MAĀ MediaĀ ProductionĀ IndependentĀ ProjectĀ atĀ YorkĀ StĀ JohnĀ University.Ā AsĀ aĀ formerĀ railwayĀ workerĀ himself,Ā theĀ theĀ projectĀ representsĀ a deeply personal creativeĀ endeavourĀ for filmmaker Mick. MoreĀ thanĀ tenĀ MAĀ andĀ undergraduateĀ studentsĀ fromĀ YorkĀ StĀ JohnĀ UniversityĀ haveĀ beenĀ involved inĀ bothĀ theĀ filmāsĀ productionĀ and the organisation of the premiere evening. TheĀ filmĀ willĀ premiereĀ onĀ Monday 27Ā AprilĀ 2026Ā inĀ theĀ CreativeĀ CentreĀ atĀ theĀ University.Ā TheĀ date is especially significant, taking place two days before the 84th anniversary of theĀ devastatingĀ 1942Ā bombingĀ inĀ YorkĀ thatĀ claimedĀ numerousĀ lives,Ā includingĀ thatĀ ofĀ PC…
Katrina Lewis champions AI innovation transforming workplace design
As a board member of the West North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and founder of Katrina Lewis Interiors, Katrina Lewis is proud to spotlight a groundbreaking step forward in workplace design innovation led by Design Tonic. Working in client development at Design Tonic, Katrina is supporting the launch of an industry-first AI-powered moodboarding toolāan idea…
York St John researcher and music activist selected to represent the UK at TED2026 with warning about AIās cultural erasure of womenĀ
Gabriella Di Laccio MBE wins TED Idea Search London PhD student Gabriella Di Laccio MBE is to present her research at TED2026 in Vancouver after bringing judges and audiences to tears with her powerful talk about gender inequality in music through history and in the age of AI. āIf we donāt fix this silence now,…
Accu to present FightFest at Smart Manufacturing Week
Leading precision engineering screw supplier Accu is bringing a thrilling, exciting and engineering-driven combat robotics tournament with FightFest to Smart Manufacturing Week held at the NEC in Birmingham on June 3rdĀ and 4th. FightFest, presented by Accu, is a high-energy one-on-one combat robotics exhibit designed to add drama and excitement to Smart Manufacturing Week, making it…
Keane celebrates shortlisting at 2026 Prolific North Champions Awards
Recognition highlights impactful B2C campaign for Wilfreda Beehive Keane is proud to announce its shortlisting in the B2C Marketing Campaign of the Year category at the prestigious 2026 Prolific North Champions Awards, marking a significant milestone for the agency and its growing portfolio of high-impact work. The Prolific North Champions Awards celebrate excellence across the…
Bradford student champions childrenās creativity in age of AI
A University of Bradford student is encouraging children to discover their creative voices at a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how we read, write, and communicate. David Ben Eke is looking for children aged between five and 17 from the Bradford district to write short stories and poems for his next two books….
GamesmaniaĀ® powers up the Merrion Centre this Easter
Retro arcade fun, immersive gaming and family entertainment arrive in Leeds The Merrion Centre is set to level up the Easter holidays with the arrival ofĀ GamesmaniaĀ®, an exciting pop-up gaming event running from Saturday 4thĀ April to Saturday 11th April, bringing interactive entertainment for all ages into the heart of the city. Open daily from 10:00am…
Local mental health charity ensures Bradfordās City of Culture legacy lives on through major new creative health programme
Bradford District and Craven Mind is set to continue the creative legacy of Bradford 2025 with the launch of an ambitious two-year programme designed to tackle local health inequalities through arts, culture and creativity. Bradford is currently the fifth most incomeādeprived district in England, facing deep-rooted challenges including economic inequality, poor health outcomes and limited…
Our brand evolves for the future…
Over the past 27 years weāve helped thousands of companies across the UK evolve their brands or completely rebrand through visual display. Now, as we enter our next chapter, it felt right to give ourselves the same treatment. Reaching 27 years in business has given us a rare chance to pause, look back and ask…
Why Microsoft MVP expertise gives your business a strategic advantage
Microsoftās ecosystem is shifting faster than ever, new AI features, platform changes, governance updates and Copilot capabilities arrive monthly. For most businesses, that pace creates a simple challenge: how do you make confident decisions when the technology wonāt sit still? Thatās where recognised expertise matters and why partners backed by Microsoft MVP leadership, like iThink…
Council commits to York Cultural Strategy
City of York Council has confirmed it will adopt the York Cultural Strategy following a Decision Session today, Tuesday 3 March. The strategy, though funded by the Council thanks to a grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, was developed independently by arts, heritage and cultural organisations across the city.Ā It lays out a clear…
Leeds shopping centre and Yorkshire art organisation team up to raise breast cancer awareness during National Self-Check Month
Yorkshire art organisation Sand in Your Eye has partnered with White Rose Shopping Centre to showcase an impactful display highlighting the importance of breast cancer awareness: seven unique nude torsos, each sculpted from ice and snow. Created to illustrate the statistic that one in seven people will receive a breast cancer diagnosis in their life…
Leeds locals invited to be part of 400-Portrait celebration
To mark 400 years since Leeds received its Royal Charter, award-winning creative studio Buttercrumble is embarking on an ambitious creative challenge: to illustrate 400 portraits of the people who make Leeds, Leeds. During March, Buttercrumbleās twin-founders, Chloe and Abigail Baldwin, will capture residentsā faces in a celebratory drawathon designed to reflect the cityās diversity, warmth…
New member introduction: BR Apparel
The Premium Standard in Branded Workwear Across Yorkshire BR Apparel is a trusted partner to ambitious businesses seeking a higher standard in branded workwear. We specialise in supporting growing companies with 10ā50 employees who recognise that team presentation is a direct reflection of their brand. Through carefully selected premium garments, precision embroidery and refined finishing,…
Castle Howard announces Vanbrugh celebration for anniversary year
Image Caption (above): Castle Howard. Photo by David Lindsay Castle Howard celebrates its creator and architect Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726) throughout 2026, the 300thĀ anniversary of his death. Hailed as āThe Rockstar of the English BaroqueāĀ andĀ āThe original starchitectā,Ā Vanbrugh had concurrent careers as an architect, playwright, adventurer, soldier, spy, diplomat and garden designer. Castle Howard is celebrating…
Redefining creativity in the age of generative AIĀ
Internationally acclaimed VFX artist and Visiting Professor at York St John University to give free lecture on how generative AI (artificial intelligence) is transforming creative practice. Professor Andrew McNamara, an award winning VFX artist, creative and technologist, will share insights and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities AI presents, in a special talk on Wednesday…
Haworth manufacturer crafts replica Brontƫ hair bracelet for film premiere
A fourth-generation West Yorkshire manufacturer has demonstrated how heritage craftsmanship can intersect with global film promotion, after recreating one of the BrontĆ« familyās most intimate artefacts for the red carpet premiere of Wuthering Heights. Wyedean Weaving, a Haworth-based specialist in braiding and ceremonial manufacturing, was commissioned to produce a replica of the 175-year-old mourning bracelet…
Bradford students win global satellite competition
Students from the University of Bradford have been named among the global winners of a prestigious international satellite engineering competition, beating teams from around the world and becoming the only UK team ever selected in the challengeās history. The multidisciplinary student team was chosen as one of five global winners of the IEEE Geoscience and…
Browse the regionās best independent crafts at White Roseās Yorkshire Market
White Rose Shopping Centre invites guests to shop local as R.S.H Artisan Markets brings a new Yorkshire Market to the centre every month, showcasing an assortment of handmade crafts and gifts. Taking place in the Central Atrium the first weekend of each month between February and October, visitors can support local businesses and find truly…
Warm Spaces cinema returns to York
York St John University’s Cinema & Social Justice team offer free film screenings for people trying to stay warm this winter York St John University is pleased to invite the local community to freeĀ Warm SpacesĀ film screenings this winter. The Universityās Cinema & Social Justice project is screening all-ages favourites Zootropolis 2 and Happy Feet at…
North Yorkshire homebuilder sponsors creative arts day with Whitby charity
Barratt and David Wilson Homes sponsors creative arts day for Whitby charity,Ā WHISH. Barratt and David Wilson Homes sponsored a creative arts day at St. Hildaās Hub with Whitby charity, WHISH. Nearby Barratt Homesā Abbey ViewĀ and David Wilson HomesāĀ Chaloners GreenĀ developments, the charity is a hub for the community, supporting many individuals with hidden impairments. The day…
5 simple ways to introduce AI into your daily operations
Introduction Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer reserved for tech giants or futuristic visions, itās here, and itās transforming the way businesses operate every day. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), AI offers practical, affordable solutions that can save time, boost productivity, and give you a competitive edge. The good news? You donāt need a…
Bradford College launches new academy for creative skills
The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, officially opened Bradford Collegeās new skills development space for the creative leaders of tomorrow. āThe Producing Academyā is an exciting new facility designed to nurture the wave of creative talent needed across West Yorkshire, helping to position the region as a national powerhouse for the creative industries. Covering…
Dilettante wins inaugural new music stage at Aesthetica Film Festival
Aesthetica Film Festival is delighted to announceĀ DilettanteĀ as the winner of its first-ever New Music Stage, a showcase of the UKās most exciting emerging musical talent. Dubbed the āUKās version of SXSW,ā the festival brings together music, film, games, and XR in one immersive environment, providing a unique platform for collaboration, discovery, and cultural exchange. This…
Winners Announced at Aesthetica Film Festival 2025
TheĀ BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Film FestivalĀ has concluded its landmarkĀ 15th anniversary edition, announcing this yearās award-winning filmmakers ā a new generation of talent poised to shape the future of screen culture. For 15 years, Aesthetica has been theĀ home of new voices in film, where tomorrowāsĀ BAFTA and Oscar nominees and winnersĀ are first discovered. Across five transformative days, fromĀ 5-9 November…
Artistās poignant reason behind raising funds for Universityās Burns Unit
An artist whose children were at Valley Parade on the day of the 1985 fire is supporting the University of Bradford-based Burns Unit through sales of his painting of the modern-day stadium. Bob Barker, known for his ānorthern impressionismā paintings, has released a limited-edition artwork, āTake Me Homeā, which captures Bradford City AFC supporters walking…
Aesthetica Film Festival 2025: The UKās Premier Screen & Media Event Opens This Week
This November, theĀ BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Film FestivalĀ celebrates itsĀ 15th anniversary, reaffirming its position as theĀ UKās leading screen and media event. Taking place fromĀ 5ā9 November 2025, the festival brings together filmmakers, industry leaders, and audiences from across the country in a bold celebration of storytelling, innovation, and creative excellence. Transforming York into a national hub for the creative…
Care-experienced young people from York applauded at film’s world premiere
The contribution made by care-experienced young people from York to a film about fostering, was acknowledged at its world premiere yesterday (Thursday 9 October). Members of City of York Councilās Childrenās Services teams and a local care-experienced young person attended the first screening of āThe Runā, the seventh fostering awareness film produced by award-winning producers…
International graffiti artist transforms Bradford College building with striking mural
The Bradford College ATC building had a striking makeover when internationally acclaimed artistĀ Shamsia HassaniĀ paid the campus a special visit. The āProgression to Learning and Workā building was chosen as the canvas for an incredible new mural by Shamsia, the first female graffiti artist of Afghanistan. The inspirational work is the result of theĀ Bradford 2025 UK…
When Labour Costs Rise, Robots Create New Value
What happens when wages climb, staff shortages worsen and customers still expect the same high standards? It is a dilemma many businesses across Yorkshire are grappling with right now. From hotels struggling to fill cleaning shifts to warehouses facing gaps on the night roster to hospitals under pressure to keep services running, the challenge is…
Aesthetica brings the future of art to the UK with landmark double exhibition
This autumn, Aesthetica presents two landmark exhibitions at York Art Gallery, cementing the UKās position as a hub for global contemporary art. Both shows open on Friday 19 September 2025 and run until 25 January 2026, inviting audiences to experience the Aesthetica Art Prize, founded in 2007, alongside Future Tense: Art in the Age of…
UN report on AI to launch at global conference in Bradford
A major new United Nations report calling for artificial intelligence (AI) to be used to support people, not take their place, will be launched at a global conference hosted by the University of Bradford.Ā The Human Development Report 2025, produced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will be a key focus of the annual…
The future is now: two landmark exhibitions
Redefining Contemporary Art This Autumn 19 September 2025 ā 25 January 2026 At a time when the UKās cultural spotlight remains firmly fixed on London, From Memory to Possibility and Future Tense signal a meaningful shift. These are not satellite shows or regional supplements – they are major exhibitions with national and international relevance, rooted…