Local Culture Leadership People's Assemblies

The Leap are working with York St John University and community participants to look at community-based cultural leadership. What does it feel like? Who’s represented? Who counts as a leader? What are the opportunities and challenges, and what changes do we want to see?

Join us in a free creative workshop, facilitated by Wahida Shaffi, to share your voice in our ‘manifesto’ – create a placard, a statement, a poem, a rap, a song, or a rant – that communicates the change you want to see in community arts and culture.

Tuesday 14^th April, 4pm – 6pm at Khidmat Centre, 36 Bradford Road, Bradford, BD7 2EU

Are you involved in cultural or creative activities in Bradford or Keighley? Interested in how local cultural leadership is recognised, supported and funded? Book your place at our People’s Assemblies in March and April 2026 and make sure your voice is part of the conversation.

The Leap is Bradford’s Creative People and Places programme, supported by Arts Council England, Bradford Council and other partners. Our mission is to bring arts and culture to everyone, everywhere in Bradford District — especially in communities and neighbourhoods where cultural engagement is low. We support communities to take the lead in deciding, creating and enjoying cultural activities that matter to them. We call this community-led culture — rooted in ownership, representation and cultural democracy.

The Leap, working with York St John University’s Institute for Social Justice, is leading Understanding Community-Led Culture in Bradford and Keighley. This research explores what motivates local cultural leaders, the challenges they face, and how communities define cultural leadership in their own terms. We’re now inviting community members to take part in three welcoming, participatory Assemblies to explore key themes and help shape the research findings. The insights gathered will inform future cultural policy, funding and support for community-led culture across Bradford district and the wider Yorkshire region.

Event dates and times:

• Tuesday 24 March 2026, 4pm to 6pm

• Tuesday 31 March 2026, 4pm to 6pm

• Tuesday 14 April 2026, 4pm to 6pm

Each session builds on the previous one, so we encourage you to attend all three if you can, but you’re welcome to book even if you can’t make every date.

If culture matters to you, don’t miss this opportunity to influence what happens next.
Book your free place now and be part of shaping the future of community-led culture in Bradford and Keighley.

Refreshments and a light meal will be served.

If you have any queries please contact us: akinwale@the-leap.org.uk

Kind regards

The Leap