Artist development

Practice: Bradford – Artists announcement

13 Feb 2025

Practice: Bradford is an accelerator programme based on the Yorkshire Contemporary Practice Model (formerly the Tetley Artist Associate Programme – TAAP) delivered in partnership with Bradford Producing Hub and Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Bradford’s year as the UK City of Culture 2025 is now in full swing and with the Turner Prize coming to Cartwright Hall later this year – co-curated by Yorkshire Contemporary – the visual arts scene across the Bradford district is set to gain national attention.

Building on this momentum, Practice: Bradford will provide funding, mentorship, and professional development for four emerging artists. The programme will culminate in a major exhibition at Loading Bay, Bradford 2025’s new temporary exhibition and performance space, as part of the inaugural Our Turn visual arts festival in Autumn 2025.

The artist cohort will also receive tailored mentoring, bi-monthly one-to-one sessions, peer-to-peer support days, and funding for research and development. Over the coming months, they will refine their projects in preparation for the final exhibition.

This exhibition will mark an important moment in the city’s cultural calendar, providing a platform for emerging talent and fostering a stronger visual arts community. Our Turn will also feature commissions, artist-led initiatives, and open-access opportunities like the Bradford Open, which aims to welcome a broad spectrum of artists from across the District.

Yorkshire Contemporary, along with Bradford Producing Hub and Bradford 2025 are excited to announce the four early-career visual artists selected for Practice: Bradford and we look forward to seeing their creative visions unfold in the months ahead. Follow Bradford Producing Hub and Yorkshire Contemporary over on Instagram to hear how the artists get on!

Meet the Artists

Atiyya Mirza

Bradford-based, British Pakistani artist, Atiyya Mirza creates textile and sculptural works exploring womanhood, empowerment, and cultural identity. Her art incorporates elements of storytelling, traditional textile techniques, and political discourse. Through Practice: Bradford, Atiyya aims to push the boundaries of her practice by creating large-scale, interactive textile installations that challenge stereotypes and invite audiences to engage with her personal narratives.

Joanna Byrne

Bradford-based artist Joanna Byrne works with analogue moving images, blending tactile, sustainable filmmaking with painterly, camera-less techniques. Through Practice: Bradford, Joanna will explore an abandoned urban space in Shipley, investigating themes of accidental rewilding, pollution, and urban history. Her work will include field recordings, film developed with materials from the site, and a soundscape reflecting the space’s transformation over time.

Liv Preston

Keighley-born sculptor Liv Preston is inspired by the material culture of West Yorkshire, particularly objects associated with subterranean spaces, hobbyist communities, and industrial histories. Her project for Practice: Bradford will delve into the underground becks and wells of Bradford, uncovering the hidden waterways and their connections to the city’s industrial past. Working with local historians and urban explorers, Liv’s work will blend historical research with contemporary artistic interventions.

Saba Siddiqui

Working from her studio in Baildon, Bradford, Saba’s practice explores themes of decolonisation, museums, and galleries through the use of colour, pattern, and texture. Her work draws from her South Asian heritage and childhood experiences in Dubai, with an emphasis on community storytelling and accessibility. During Practice: Bradford, Saba will research the city’s textile industry, heritage, and migration stories, creating nostalgic and multilayered artworks that foster cross-community engagement.