The twice-yearly BD is LIT returns to the city this weekend, with the festival taking place tonight and tomorrow (Nov 3 and 4).
For this year’s event, Bradford Council, Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, The Leap and Science and Media Museum have come together to commission a range of local and national artists to create stunning installations, which light up several buildings across the city.
Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for people and places said: ‘We’re delighted that BD is LIT is back for its second iteration. It’s such a good alternative to Bonfire Night and with its multi-sensory offering – it is an opportunity to bring people together across the district, celebrate our spaces and shine a light on some of our unexpected places.”
This year’s BD:is LIT programme is the first since Bradford won UK City of Culture 2025, with the Bradford 2025 team collaborating on the event.
Shanaz Gulzar, creative director at Bradford 2025 said: “With autumn nights bringing darker evenings, BD:is LIT allows us to explore our city and district in a new light. There are some incredibly exciting commissions this year that seek to surprise and delight residents while recognising the diversity and history of our city. It’s time to put the dates in your diary and start thinking about how you can experience all the great things that will appear across the district.”
6. BD is LIT
This year’s BD:is LIT programme is the first since Bradford won UK City of Culture 2025, with the Bradford 2025 team collaborating on the event. Photo: Simon Dewhurst
7. BD is LIT
Window Vipers is a unique installation that will turn the windows of a city centre building into the Nokia classic game SNAKE, for audience to play over the weekend of November 3 Photo: Simon Dewhurst
8. BD is LIT
The Bekun by Fayakunu will pop up in the mirror pool over the weekend of November 3, as artist Kasim Tariq works with a range of local artisans to create a reconstruction of the Lister Mills Chimney. Photo: Simon Dewhurst