Volunteers at a Bradford Council-owned community arts space have raised concerns about its uncertain future.
Loading Bay Arts Centre opened in March 2025 after being transformed from a disused M&S storage depot into a pop-up cultural hub for Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture.
Since opening, the venue has attracted more than 35,000 attendees, hosting everything from gigs and comedy nights to art exhibitions and immersive virtual reality experiences.
However, as Bradford 2025 draws to a close this weekend, the future of Loading Bay remains unresolved.
Plans for a City of Culture “legacy programme” were announced this week, but with no mention of Loading Bay or its future.
Though many are doubtful it will stay open, volunteers working at the site emphasised the “spirit” and “togetherness” that it has brought to Bradford and were keen to see it stay open going forward.
Whilst they neither confirmed nor denied that the venue would close next year, a Bradford 2025 spokesperson said: “The huge public response to Loading Bay this year has clearly demonstrated the need for this kind of space in the city centre of Bradford going into the future.”
The creation of arts spaces like Loading Bay was made possible through over £40 million in funding and grants for Bradford 2025, with £15 million coming directly from the UK Government.
Over the course of Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture, around three million people attended over 5,000 events, according to organisers.
More than 650 local artists and organisations were involved in the year-long programme, whilst over 87,000 people participated or performed in its events.