- National Science and Media Museum to host showcase of digital artwork by young Bradfordians as part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture programme
- Public programme of activities from 28 July
- Opens 14 June, free with museum admission
Open to the public Saturday 14 June – Sunday 7 September, ReelBFD: Digital Arts, Bradford Stories is a celebration of the artwork created by 13- and 14-year-olds, working with professional digital artists as part of the Bradford Digital Creatives project.
Visitors can play games, explore atmospheric soundscapes, and enjoy immersive video experiences - all created by students. Their plans, storyboards and drafts will also be on display, showcasing the stories and creative processes behind the artworks. A public programme will run alongside the exhibition from 28 July, including sessions for visitors to make their own digitally inspired art.
During the two-year Bradford Digital Creatives project, over 1300 teenagers from six schools have worked with digital artists including Virpi Kettu, Paul Miller, Cosmos, Arfaan Amini, Tanya Vital, Caro C and Impact Gamers, to empower them to share their stories through digital artforms. The project is delivered by the National Science and Media Museum and Born in Bradford as part of the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture programme. It is funded and supported by Bradford 2025, Born in Bradford, Bradford Council and Arts Council England.
Jo Quinton-Tulloch, Director at the National Science and Media Museum, said: "ReelBFD: Digital Arts, Bradford Stories is a testament to the creativity and talent of Bradford’s young people. This exhibition is more than just a showcase - it’s a recognition that their voices belong alongside established artists, shaping the cultural landscape of our city.
We’re incredibly proud to host this work at the National Science and Media Museum - by seeing their work in this space, we hope to inspire them to see themselves as artists too, and to believe in their creative potential and the possibilities ahead."
Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director of Bradford 2025, said:
“In a world where digital is the first stop for creativity, ReelBFD: Digital Arts, Bradford Stories showcases the imagination, talent, and technical skills of our young people. Through digital storytelling, game design, and interactive experiences, they are shaping the future of digital arts - pushing boundaries, playing with new ideas, and proving that innovation starts with them.”
Artwork will be featured by students from Appleton Academy, Belle Vue Girls’ Academy, Bradford AP Academy, Carlton Bolling, Carlton Keighley and Dixons Allerton. The student participants put their new creative skills into practice to support elements of the exhibition, including choosing the name – ReelBFD, in reference to the city and digital storytelling techniques – and designing marketing materials to engage their peers.
Editor's notes
For more information and to book tickets, please visit our website.
Further press information
For further information, interviews, images and details about a preview night on 12 June, please contact:
Aimee Philipson, Communications Lead at Bradford Digital Creatives, aimee.philipson@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk / 07920093375
About Bradford Digital Creatives
Bradford Digital Creatives is delivered by Born in Bradford and the National Science and Media Museum as part of the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture programme. It is funded and supported by Bradford 2025, Born in Bradford, Bradford Council and Arts Council England. During the two-year pilot, over 1200 teenagers from six Bradford secondary schools will work with digital artists to co-create artwork including 360-video, audio storytelling and video games, culminating in a public showcase as part of the summer programme of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
The project aims to expand cultural participation and aspirations and contribute to the development of a hub of digital talent within the city which will prepare young Bradfordians for the future jobs market. Bradford Digital Creatives will make use of the extensive research data already collected as part of Born in Bradford, as well as contributing towards internationally significant research into the impact of creativity on young people’s lives, as part of Born in Bradford: Age of Wonder—the world’s largest study of adolescent health and wellbeing.
It will also improve connectivity and collaboration across sectors by providing opportunities to develop teachers’ digital skills and confidence in the classroom, complementing the arts and culture curriculum in schools, and developing sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships between cultural and educational communities in Bradford.
About the National Science and Media Museum
The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, West Yorkshire, opened in 1983, and has since become one of the most visited UK museums outside London. It draws on more than three million objects from its national collection to explore the science and culture of image and sound technologies, and their impact on our lives.
The museum creates special exhibitions, interactive galleries and activities for families and adults, and is home to Pictureville, Yorkshire’s biggest independent cinema with three screens including Europe’s first IMAX and one of two public Cinerama venues in the world.
The National Science and Media Museum reopened on 8 January 2025, following a £6m once in a generation transformation. The museum is open seven days a week, from 10.00–17.00. For more information and to book tickets, please visit the website.
About Born in Bradford (Age of Wonder)
Born in Bradford is one of the largest research studies in the World, tracking the lives of over 30,000 Bradfordians to find out what influences the health and wellbeing of families. We use our findings to develop new and practical ways to work with families and health professionals to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities.
Born in Bradford’s Age of Wonder is the biggest and most exciting research study of young people in the world. BiB Age of Wonder is a seven-year project capturing the journey through adolescence and adulthood for all teenagers in Bradford. They work in partnership with secondary schools and young people across the district to create a detailed picture of every aspect of what it’s like to grow up in Bradford.
About Bradford 2025 City of Culture
Bradford became the fourth UK City of Culture in January 2025. Bradford 2025 takes place throughout Bradford District, which covers 141 square miles across West Yorkshire. It features performances, exhibitions, events and activities inspired by the extraordinary variety of this landscape, from the city’s historic centre to the breathtaking countryside that surrounds it. It pays homage to Bradford’s potent heritage as everything from a former industrial powerhouse to the world’s first UNESCO City of Film. Most of all, it celebrates the people of Bradford, from local artists and creative organisations to the diverse communities who call Bradford home.
Bradford 2025 is created for, with and by the people of Bradford – and it has young people at its heart. With more than a quarter of its population aged under 20, Bradford is one of the UK’s youngest cities. Bradford 2025 is proudly reflecting this youth across all aspects of its programme, from education, skills and training projects to new artistic commissions centred on the lives, concerns and ambitions of young people today.
Bradford 2025 is set to spotlight Bradford’s dynamic contemporary arts and culture, from dance and theatre to film, music and even food. At the same time, it will cement Bradford’s reputation as one of the most welcoming places in the UK for artists, producers and creative entrepreneurs, with international exchanges, development programmes and new cultural investment benefiting the entire district.
Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture is supported using public investment from HM Government, Bradford Metropolitan District Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and through National Lottery funding from Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Lottery Community Fund, Spirit of 2012 as well as private investment and donations from a number of trusts, foundations and corporate sponsors.
About City of Bradford Metropolitan Council
Bradford Council is the public sector organisation responsible for a range of services which benefit people living in the Bradford district. The council’s Culture, Policy and Events Team lead the cultural programme of events and festivals, development of cultural partnerships, and arts, culture and heritage grants programmes. The Council is an integral partner in the delivery of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
