A solo exhibition by textile artist Ann Barrans in the Upstairs Gallery, inspired by ancient philosophy, myths, legends and fairy tales.

Running: 1 October – 2 November

In this body of work from Ann Barrans she poses the question: is destiny preordained or determined by the inter-connectivity of circumstance, chance, choices, and morality?

The path of life is never straightforward – both smooth and chaotic, organised and disorganised, and interconnected with others. Every action has consequences.

Weave and stitch seek to capture this interconnectivity and sometimes chaos that fate may or may not have dictated.

Ann’s practices continues to build on the importance of direct haptic interaction with yarns.

A fascinating exploration of the past, present and future of Bradford’s radical art scene.

Opening Night : Fri 10th October | 6pm – 9pm | South Square
Last date to view : Sun 1st February

South Square presents ‘OUR TURN: Our Past, Present and Future’. This exhibition explores the past of South Square and the history of the arts industry in Bradford, and how grassroots, DIY arts organisations led to the opening of the centre. 

It looks into our present – why and how we are organising OUR TURN: Bradford’s first Visual Arts Festival. And we look to the future, showing artworks of emerging Bradford based artists. 

This exhibition is a way for us to reflect on where we have come from, who inspired and helped grow the arts industry in Bradford, how the grass roots visual arts industry grew in Thornton, how that led to the opening of South Square, how we’ve grown as a centre and what we achieve today, and we look to the future, championing the next generation of artists and hopefully inspiring them to continue to develop the local arts scene. 

Artists featured include, Eve Wright, Kennedy Drake, Martha Madden and Zoe Maxwell

The exhibition will also feature new work from a current art student from Bradford College. They will respond to the exhibition, take inspiration from the artwork and the history, and create a new piece that will join the exhibition in January.

This exhibition is part of OUR TURN – OUR TURN expects to be bold, experimental and authentically Bradford. 

OUR TURN takes place between 26th September – 28th January 2026 in venues and unusual spaces across the city. This festival will enable artists to be more ambitious, provide training for a new generation of culture makers and inspire a range of people to be excited by art which is ‘Made IN Bradford’. The festival will celebrate Bradford’s rich counter cultural scene and create an accessible platform which will reach new art goers in Bradford, underserved communities and loyal arts audiences.

The South Square team aims to include in this festival a series of events, commissions, learning opportunities, exhibitions, workshops and more, all across the Bradford district. By working closely with artists in and from Bradford, OUR TURN will be shaped and led by the artists themselves.

Photography exhibition by Nathan McGill
In the Community Room

Running: 18th October – 9th November
Closing event: Friday 7th Nov 5pm – 7pm

Becoming Bradford: Activists of Our Time celebrates Bradford’s rich activist heritage and
spotlights those shaping the fabric of the city today. Through intimate analogue portraits and oral histories, ten activists share their personal stories of activism.

By shining a light on individuals working at the grassroots – visible and invisible, loud and
quiet, celebrated and overlooked – Becoming Bradford redefines the idea of activism,
showing it in everyday actions, community initiatives, and movements led by those who call
Bradford home.

This exhibition is both tribute and magnifying glass – preserving contemporary stories as part of our shared heritage, while asking us to look closer at the inequities that persist. Becoming Bradford is not only about who we are, but who we must still become.

Nathan McGill (b.2000) is an emerging photographer born and bred in Bradford. McGill is
interested in the relationships between people and place, and his participatory art practice
seeks to collaborate with communities by engaging them with the creation of artwork.
McGill was the Recipient of the 2024 Royal Photographic Society Eamonn McCabe Bursary, which recognises talented photographers under 25.

The closing event on the 7th November will tie-in with an opening exhibition in The Gallery Upstairs at South Square, a solo exhibition by artist John Murphy.

Join us for our kids clay workshop led by artist Sophia Matty – £15

Sophia is a Leeds based ceramic artist and has lots of experience teaching from various pottery studios. She uses handbuilding technqiues to make sculptural yet functional works out of clay.

In this workshop you will explore different hand building techniques to create your own work of clay. All materials will be provided, with a variety of tools to help you sculpt away.

Suitable for ages 6 -14 years.

Child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, but they are invited to stay in an adjoining room and can grab a drink from the cafe onsite.

BOOK NOW via Eventbrite – £15

Accessibility:

The session will be in the community room, this is on the first floor. If anyone needs step free access we have a stair lift that can be used. Chairs will also be provided for anyone that would prefer to be seated during the session.

Location and access:

The session will be held in the upstairs community room at South Square Centre, Thornton Road, BD13 3LD.

A chairlift is accessible to the Community Room.

The centre can be accessed easily via public transport. There is free on street parking around the centre. There is an on-site vegetarian café, Plenty, where refreshments and lunch can be purchased.

Contact

Any questions please call South Square on 01274 834737 or email us at [email protected] , we will be happy to help you!

Plenty at the Square
Running: 1 November – 1 February 2026

This Printmaking showcase displays the OUR TURN Print Collection alongside other local printmakers, demonstrating the variety in printmaking in Bradford and different approaches to the medium.

The Print Collection:
Honouring Bradford’s Print heritage, six prints form the Bradford Print Collection, a set of commissions that represent the vibrant printmaking sector in Bradford are on display in the Cafe throughout the OUR TURN festival.

The printmakers featured in the collection are Fizah Afzal, Laura Alice, Harriet Cash, Sarah Harris, Laura Slater and Ken Woods.

Fizah Afzal‘s print, Kashmir Bloom draws on the history of South Asian migration
and its contribution to the textile industry. The red colour palette and ‘Paisley’ pattern isfeatured on shawls made in the Kashmir region. Fizah Afzal creates linocut prints that
are inspired by floral and botanical art.

Laura Alice‘s print is inspired by Emily Bronte and her pet merlin, Nero, created through papercutting and hand-written type. Laura Alice is a printmaker who takes inspiration from the surrounding landscape and birdlife; interpreting through layers of bright colours, abstract shapes, typography and mark making.

Harriet Cash‘s print in the collection was inspired by the Bradford LGBTQ+ Archive, ‘Bradford Gay’ c1980s invites you to consider how you feel, personally and politically.  A letterpress printmaker, Harriet Cash makes playful pieces which have fun with type, and centre the printed word as a tool for connection – to ourselves, others, the past and the future.

Sarah Harris‘ print, A View to Manningham and Lister Mills, was inspired by Bradford’s many viewpoints, being the UK’s highest city. These views are often overlooked, however they speak of our city geographically, socially, and tell the story of our industrial heritage. Shipley-based Sarah Harris creates limited edition landscape screen prints of her home county of Yorkshire and beyond.

Laura Slaters‘ print Social Fabric celebrates the breadth of Bradford’s communities through the inherent presence of textile narratives, colour, pattern, texture and materials. Laura Slater is a textile designer and printmaker. Her practice is occupied with the engagement we have with pattern and its ability to connect us to objects and environments.

Ken Woods was inspired by Twill weave, Bradford Twill is a bold abstract print encoding ‘BFD’ in Morse-translated sequences of the stylised weave structure. Colours evoke moorland, soot-darkened mills, and industrial wealth. Ken Wood’s Pochoir-based practice merges digital design with traditional craft to create vibrant, geometric prints.

In addition to the OUR TURN: Print collection, on display in Plenty at The Square you can find a range of prints from Ben Holden, Lauren Marshall and Charlie Taylor.

Bradford based artist & designer Ben Holden is renowned for his bold, bright and vibrant abstract works; composing form, collage, photography, mark-making, line & colour, experimenting with mixed media; intuitively informed by the subjects he is studying. The bold aesthetic of a varied CMYK palette (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) are often used in his work linking to his print heritage, creating punchy palettes and expressive marks for dynamic work, contrasting elements to ignite emotional connections, light, joy and playfulness — which he feels we need more of in a dark world.

Lauren Marshall is a watercolour and digital artist who brings birds, houseplants, and other natural elements to life through vibrant, expressive illustrations. Inspired by the shapes, textures, and colours found in nature, her work blends joyful detail with a bright, playful palette. 

Blending her background in textile design with a variety of artistic techniques, Charlie Taylor creates eclectic, one of a kind designs for both fashion and the home. Her work bursts with bold colours and striking motifs, inspired not only by her worldwide travels, from the tiles of Morocco to the tables of Italy and beyond but also by the beauty of everyday moments, from a morning coffee to a shared meal. Celebrating both the extraordinary and the familiar, Charlie’s prints are rich with vibrant foods, cocktails, and textural patterns that capture life’s pleasures in vivid detail.

A solo exhibition by textile artist Ann Barrans in the Upstairs Gallery, inspired by ancient philosophy, myths, legends and fairy tales.

Running: 1 October – 2 November

In this body of work from Ann Barrans she poses the question: is destiny preordained or determined by the inter-connectivity of circumstance, chance, choices, and morality?

The path of life is never straightforward – both smooth and chaotic, organised and disorganised, and interconnected with others. Every action has consequences.

Weave and stitch seek to capture this interconnectivity and sometimes chaos that fate may or may not have dictated.

Ann’s practices continues to build on the importance of direct haptic interaction with yarns.

A fascinating exploration of the past, present and future of Bradford’s radical art scene.

Opening Night : Fri 10th October | 6pm – 9pm | South Square
Last date to view : Sun 1st February

South Square presents ‘OUR TURN: Our Past, Present and Future’. This exhibition explores the past of South Square and the history of the arts industry in Bradford, and how grassroots, DIY arts organisations led to the opening of the centre. 

It looks into our present – why and how we are organising OUR TURN: Bradford’s first Visual Arts Festival. And we look to the future, showing artworks of emerging Bradford based artists. 

This exhibition is a way for us to reflect on where we have come from, who inspired and helped grow the arts industry in Bradford, how the grass roots visual arts industry grew in Thornton, how that led to the opening of South Square, how we’ve grown as a centre and what we achieve today, and we look to the future, championing the next generation of artists and hopefully inspiring them to continue to develop the local arts scene. 

Artists featured include, Eve Wright, Kennedy Drake, Martha Madden and Zoe Maxwell

The exhibition will also feature new work from a current art student from Bradford College. They will respond to the exhibition, take inspiration from the artwork and the history, and create a new piece that will join the exhibition in January.

This exhibition is part of OUR TURN – OUR TURN expects to be bold, experimental and authentically Bradford. 

OUR TURN takes place between 26th September – 28th January 2026 in venues and unusual spaces across the city. This festival will enable artists to be more ambitious, provide training for a new generation of culture makers and inspire a range of people to be excited by art which is ‘Made IN Bradford’. The festival will celebrate Bradford’s rich counter cultural scene and create an accessible platform which will reach new art goers in Bradford, underserved communities and loyal arts audiences.

The South Square team aims to include in this festival a series of events, commissions, learning opportunities, exhibitions, workshops and more, all across the Bradford district. By working closely with artists in and from Bradford, OUR TURN will be shaped and led by the artists themselves.

Photography exhibition by Nathan McGill
In the Community Room

Running: 18th October – 9th November
Closing event: Friday 7th Nov 5pm – 7pm

Becoming Bradford: Activists of Our Time celebrates Bradford’s rich activist heritage and
spotlights those shaping the fabric of the city today. Through intimate analogue portraits and oral histories, ten activists share their personal stories of activism.

By shining a light on individuals working at the grassroots – visible and invisible, loud and
quiet, celebrated and overlooked – Becoming Bradford redefines the idea of activism,
showing it in everyday actions, community initiatives, and movements led by those who call
Bradford home.

This exhibition is both tribute and magnifying glass – preserving contemporary stories as part of our shared heritage, while asking us to look closer at the inequities that persist. Becoming Bradford is not only about who we are, but who we must still become.

Nathan McGill (b.2000) is an emerging photographer born and bred in Bradford. McGill is
interested in the relationships between people and place, and his participatory art practice
seeks to collaborate with communities by engaging them with the creation of artwork.
McGill was the Recipient of the 2024 Royal Photographic Society Eamonn McCabe Bursary, which recognises talented photographers under 25.

The closing event on the 7th November will tie-in with an opening exhibition in The Gallery Upstairs at South Square, a solo exhibition by artist John Murphy.

Plenty at the Square
Running: 1 November – 1 February 2026

This Printmaking showcase displays the OUR TURN Print Collection alongside other local printmakers, demonstrating the variety in printmaking in Bradford and different approaches to the medium.

The Print Collection:
Honouring Bradford’s Print heritage, six prints form the Bradford Print Collection, a set of commissions that represent the vibrant printmaking sector in Bradford are on display in the Cafe throughout the OUR TURN festival.

The printmakers featured in the collection are Fizah Afzal, Laura Alice, Harriet Cash, Sarah Harris, Laura Slater and Ken Woods.

Fizah Afzal‘s print, Kashmir Bloom draws on the history of South Asian migration
and its contribution to the textile industry. The red colour palette and ‘Paisley’ pattern isfeatured on shawls made in the Kashmir region. Fizah Afzal creates linocut prints that
are inspired by floral and botanical art.

Laura Alice‘s print is inspired by Emily Bronte and her pet merlin, Nero, created through papercutting and hand-written type. Laura Alice is a printmaker who takes inspiration from the surrounding landscape and birdlife; interpreting through layers of bright colours, abstract shapes, typography and mark making.

Harriet Cash‘s print in the collection was inspired by the Bradford LGBTQ+ Archive, ‘Bradford Gay’ c1980s invites you to consider how you feel, personally and politically.  A letterpress printmaker, Harriet Cash makes playful pieces which have fun with type, and centre the printed word as a tool for connection – to ourselves, others, the past and the future.

Sarah Harris‘ print, A View to Manningham and Lister Mills, was inspired by Bradford’s many viewpoints, being the UK’s highest city. These views are often overlooked, however they speak of our city geographically, socially, and tell the story of our industrial heritage. Shipley-based Sarah Harris creates limited edition landscape screen prints of her home county of Yorkshire and beyond.

Laura Slaters‘ print Social Fabric celebrates the breadth of Bradford’s communities through the inherent presence of textile narratives, colour, pattern, texture and materials. Laura Slater is a textile designer and printmaker. Her practice is occupied with the engagement we have with pattern and its ability to connect us to objects and environments.

Ken Woods was inspired by Twill weave, Bradford Twill is a bold abstract print encoding ‘BFD’ in Morse-translated sequences of the stylised weave structure. Colours evoke moorland, soot-darkened mills, and industrial wealth. Ken Wood’s Pochoir-based practice merges digital design with traditional craft to create vibrant, geometric prints.

In addition to the OUR TURN: Print collection, on display in Plenty at The Square you can find a range of prints from Ben Holden, Lauren Marshall and Charlie Taylor.

Bradford based artist & designer Ben Holden is renowned for his bold, bright and vibrant abstract works; composing form, collage, photography, mark-making, line & colour, experimenting with mixed media; intuitively informed by the subjects he is studying. The bold aesthetic of a varied CMYK palette (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) are often used in his work linking to his print heritage, creating punchy palettes and expressive marks for dynamic work, contrasting elements to ignite emotional connections, light, joy and playfulness — which he feels we need more of in a dark world.

Lauren Marshall is a watercolour and digital artist who brings birds, houseplants, and other natural elements to life through vibrant, expressive illustrations. Inspired by the shapes, textures, and colours found in nature, her work blends joyful detail with a bright, playful palette. 

Blending her background in textile design with a variety of artistic techniques, Charlie Taylor creates eclectic, one of a kind designs for both fashion and the home. Her work bursts with bold colours and striking motifs, inspired not only by her worldwide travels, from the tiles of Morocco to the tables of Italy and beyond but also by the beauty of everyday moments, from a morning coffee to a shared meal. Celebrating both the extraordinary and the familiar, Charlie’s prints are rich with vibrant foods, cocktails, and textural patterns that capture life’s pleasures in vivid detail.

New Work 25
The Gallery Upstairs

A solo exhibition by John Murphy

Opening: 7 November 5 – 7pm
Running: 8 November – 30 November

The show features work produced in the last year and is inspired by the urban landscape both in Bradford and other European cities John Murphy has visited recently.  The show features monotypes based on his photographs of the locations and abstracts inspired by the environment of these places.

The opening, which will coincide with the closing event of “a portrait of local Bradford Activists”  by photographer Nathan McGill, is on 7th November from 5-7pm

Saturday 8 November 2025

1:00pm – 3:00pm  

Art Trading Card Social invites audiences to create and exchange miniature works of art. 

Leonie Briggs’ Art Trading Card Social invites audiences to create and exchange miniature works of art. Playful yet reflective, the project turns making into an act of connection, where every traded card carries a fragment of its maker’s imagination—celebrating shared creativity through small, tactile gestures.
About the Artist

Leonie Briggs is a West Yorkshire multimedia artist working across acrylic painting, sculpture, and digital media. Her character-driven practice blends storytelling with reflections on nature, folklore, and neurodivergent experience. Alongside her studio work, Leonie co-leads community art projects and workshops, creating inclusive spaces for connection and creativity.

This is a drop-in event, free, and suitable for all ages.

Brontë Babies 🍼
Tuesday 11th November
0 – walking age welcome
10am – 11am

Join us for Brontë Babies at South Square Centre in Thornton with facilitator Olivia Corbin – Phillip!

Each sessions draws inspiration from the Brontë Parsonage’s collection. Brontë Babies is for babies and their carers, featuring sensory play, song, and an activity.

0 – walking age welcome in this session, we have another session running for walkers to 4yrs.

Your ticket includes a place for one adult and one child. Coffee/tea and cake will be provided.

To book, follow link below 🍼 limited spaces available!

click here to book on now, limited spaces available!

Brontë Babies 🍼
Tuesday 11th November
Walkers – 4 years welcome
11:15 am – 12:15 pm

Join us for Brontë Babies at South Square Centre in Thornton with facilitator Olivia Corbin – Phillip!

Each sessions draws inspiration from the Brontë Parsonage’s collection. Brontë Babies is for babies and their carers, featuring sensory play, song, and an activity.

Walkers – 4 years olds welcome in this session, we have another session running for ages 0 – walking.

Your ticket includes a place for one adult and one child. Coffee/tea and cake will be provided.

To book, follow link below 🍼 limited spaces available!

Click here to book on now, limited spaces available!

Thursday 13th November
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Ever wanted to make a piece of fused glass?  Well come along to this workshop and create a beautiful, unique wreath.

The workshop is 1.5 hours long.  You will be provided with a clear glass wreath plus frit (crushed glass) and shaped glass pieces in the shape of Christmas items such as flowers, snowmen, holly, ivy, even gingerbread men!   You can then arrange these glass items to make a beautiful 9cm wreath. 

This event will be run by Claire Myers of Cherry Tree Glass Studio who is an experienced fused glass artist and will guide you through the process.

Once finished, the completed wreaths will be taken away to be fired in the kiln and returned to South Square for collection about a week later.

For more information and to book you spot via Eventbrite please click here

Exhibition of work by NEET, celebrating the beauty of making, for the sheer joy of it
In the Community Room

Running: 14th November – 1st February 2026
Opening event: Friday 14th November 5 – 7pm

‘In Full Colour’ celebrates the joyful, deeply human creativity of the NEET artists who make art with heart, freedom, & spontaneity.

Through vibrant drawings, 3D makings & playful explorations inspired by fruit, vegetables & everyday life. The exhibition showcases over 30 works that capture the beauty of making for the sheer joy of it.

This is art that delights in the moment. It’s bold, heartfelt, & wonderfully unfiltered. NEET & South Square invite you to come & experience the colour, joy, and pure expression of these talented & playful artists.

Join us for this Winter celebration and get into the festive spirit with a whole day of fun activities for all the family!

Thornton Winter Warmer is a community collaboration by South Square Centre, Creative Communities, Thornton Community Centre and Sapgate Gardens 

We have created the perfect day full of events and workshops for you to take part in, all free! They’ll be craft workshops, choirs, light up sculptures, mulled wine, free food, live painting, puppet shows and more! 

Join us for a festive get together and join in the fun!

South Square: 11:00am – 2:30pm

Join us for a mix of workshops, face painting, and choir performances – all free!

We’ll be hosting a Decoration Making workshop, where you can learn how to emboss aluminium sheets to design and make your own decorations. You can also join us for a puppet making workshop, create your own shadow puppet art to take to the community centre in the evening, to watch the Shadow Puppet Show. You may also wish to make your own lantern, where you can create your own glowing lantern to carry in our lively light and percussions parade!

We’re also hosting Elf Yourself face painting: Become your own Elf! We’re offering free face painting where little ones can become a little elf. Mulled wine and mince pies (and soft drinks) will be on sale from our pop up bar too.

Flock – Thornton Viaduct and The Junction Lodge: 3:00pm – 4:30pm

Join Thornton Crown Communities for the launch of Flock, a new sculpture from Nelson + Woodward, inspired by their work with young people and Thornton’s rich history. Featuring a series of placards by young people shouting about the powers they hold. They’ll be live painting, a DJ, and free food for all!

Lantern Parade: 4.30pm – 5.15pm

Join us as we prepare to parade from Thornton Viaduct through the village to Sapgate Gardens and the Community Centre. On the way look out for the Bronte family in their birthplace. At Sapgate explore the gardens at dusk. A shadowy world, illuminated and hopeful, waiting to welcome the parade with some new arrivals and maybe a carol or two! 

Thornton Community Centre: 5:30pm onwards

Thornton Shadow Play: A grassroots story of half a field in Thornton over the last 320 million years. Bring your shadow Puppet and be prepared to groan at terrible puns tolerate some shonky animation and cheer an anachronistic dinosaur before becoming part of the performance. Suitable for all ages.

A fascinating exploration of the past, present and future of Bradford’s radical art scene.

Opening Night : Fri 10th October | 6pm – 9pm | South Square
Last date to view : Sun 1st February

South Square presents ‘OUR TURN: Our Past, Present and Future’. This exhibition explores the past of South Square and the history of the arts industry in Bradford, and how grassroots, DIY arts organisations led to the opening of the centre. 

It looks into our present – why and how we are organising OUR TURN: Bradford’s first Visual Arts Festival. And we look to the future, showing artworks of emerging Bradford based artists. 

This exhibition is a way for us to reflect on where we have come from, who inspired and helped grow the arts industry in Bradford, how the grass roots visual arts industry grew in Thornton, how that led to the opening of South Square, how we’ve grown as a centre and what we achieve today, and we look to the future, championing the next generation of artists and hopefully inspiring them to continue to develop the local arts scene. 

Artists featured include, Eve Wright, Kennedy Drake, Martha Madden and Zoe Maxwell

The exhibition will also feature new work from a current art student from Bradford College. They will respond to the exhibition, take inspiration from the artwork and the history, and create a new piece that will join the exhibition in January.

This exhibition is part of OUR TURN – OUR TURN expects to be bold, experimental and authentically Bradford. 

OUR TURN takes place between 26th September – 28th January 2026 in venues and unusual spaces across the city. This festival will enable artists to be more ambitious, provide training for a new generation of culture makers and inspire a range of people to be excited by art which is ‘Made IN Bradford’. The festival will celebrate Bradford’s rich counter cultural scene and create an accessible platform which will reach new art goers in Bradford, underserved communities and loyal arts audiences.

The South Square team aims to include in this festival a series of events, commissions, learning opportunities, exhibitions, workshops and more, all across the Bradford district. By working closely with artists in and from Bradford, OUR TURN will be shaped and led by the artists themselves.

Plenty at the Square
Running: 1 November – 1 February 2026

This Printmaking showcase displays the OUR TURN Print Collection alongside other local printmakers, demonstrating the variety in printmaking in Bradford and different approaches to the medium.

The Print Collection:
Honouring Bradford’s Print heritage, six prints form the Bradford Print Collection, a set of commissions that represent the vibrant printmaking sector in Bradford are on display in the Cafe throughout the OUR TURN festival.

The printmakers featured in the collection are Fizah Afzal, Laura Alice, Harriet Cash, Sarah Harris, Laura Slater and Ken Woods.

Fizah Afzal‘s print, Kashmir Bloom draws on the history of South Asian migration
and its contribution to the textile industry. The red colour palette and ‘Paisley’ pattern isfeatured on shawls made in the Kashmir region. Fizah Afzal creates linocut prints that
are inspired by floral and botanical art.

Laura Alice‘s print is inspired by Emily Bronte and her pet merlin, Nero, created through papercutting and hand-written type. Laura Alice is a printmaker who takes inspiration from the surrounding landscape and birdlife; interpreting through layers of bright colours, abstract shapes, typography and mark making.

Harriet Cash‘s print in the collection was inspired by the Bradford LGBTQ+ Archive, ‘Bradford Gay’ c1980s invites you to consider how you feel, personally and politically.  A letterpress printmaker, Harriet Cash makes playful pieces which have fun with type, and centre the printed word as a tool for connection – to ourselves, others, the past and the future.

Sarah Harris‘ print, A View to Manningham and Lister Mills, was inspired by Bradford’s many viewpoints, being the UK’s highest city. These views are often overlooked, however they speak of our city geographically, socially, and tell the story of our industrial heritage. Shipley-based Sarah Harris creates limited edition landscape screen prints of her home county of Yorkshire and beyond.

Laura Slaters‘ print Social Fabric celebrates the breadth of Bradford’s communities through the inherent presence of textile narratives, colour, pattern, texture and materials. Laura Slater is a textile designer and printmaker. Her practice is occupied with the engagement we have with pattern and its ability to connect us to objects and environments.

Ken Woods was inspired by Twill weave, Bradford Twill is a bold abstract print encoding ‘BFD’ in Morse-translated sequences of the stylised weave structure. Colours evoke moorland, soot-darkened mills, and industrial wealth. Ken Wood’s Pochoir-based practice merges digital design with traditional craft to create vibrant, geometric prints.

In addition to the OUR TURN: Print collection, on display in Plenty at The Square you can find a range of prints from Ben Holden, Lauren Marshall and Charlie Taylor.

Bradford based artist & designer Ben Holden is renowned for his bold, bright and vibrant abstract works; composing form, collage, photography, mark-making, line & colour, experimenting with mixed media; intuitively informed by the subjects he is studying. The bold aesthetic of a varied CMYK palette (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) are often used in his work linking to his print heritage, creating punchy palettes and expressive marks for dynamic work, contrasting elements to ignite emotional connections, light, joy and playfulness — which he feels we need more of in a dark world.

Lauren Marshall is a watercolour and digital artist who brings birds, houseplants, and other natural elements to life through vibrant, expressive illustrations. Inspired by the shapes, textures, and colours found in nature, her work blends joyful detail with a bright, playful palette. 

Blending her background in textile design with a variety of artistic techniques, Charlie Taylor creates eclectic, one of a kind designs for both fashion and the home. Her work bursts with bold colours and striking motifs, inspired not only by her worldwide travels, from the tiles of Morocco to the tables of Italy and beyond but also by the beauty of everyday moments, from a morning coffee to a shared meal. Celebrating both the extraordinary and the familiar, Charlie’s prints are rich with vibrant foods, cocktails, and textural patterns that capture life’s pleasures in vivid detail.

Exhibition of work by NEET, celebrating the beauty of making, for the sheer joy of it
In the Community Room

Running: 14th November – 1st February 2026
Opening event: Friday 14th November 5 – 7pm

‘In Full Colour’ celebrates the joyful, deeply human creativity of the NEET artists who make art with heart, freedom, & spontaneity.

Through vibrant drawings, 3D makings & playful explorations inspired by fruit, vegetables & everyday life. The exhibition showcases over 30 works that capture the beauty of making for the sheer joy of it.

This is art that delights in the moment. It’s bold, heartfelt, & wonderfully unfiltered. NEET & South Square invite you to come & experience the colour, joy, and pure expression of these talented & playful artists.

Brontë Babies 🍼
Tuesday 9th December
0 – walking age welcome
10am – 11am

Join us for Brontë Babies at South Square Centre in Thornton with facilitator Olivia Corbin – Phillip!

Each sessions draws inspiration from the Brontë Parsonage’s collection. Brontë Babies is for babies and their carers, featuring sensory play, song, and an activity.

0 – walking age welcome in this session, we have another session running for walkers to 4yrs.

Your ticket includes a place for one adult and one child. Coffee/tea and cake will be provided.

To book, follow link below 🍼 limited spaces available!

click here to book on now, limited spaces available!

Brontë Babies 🍼
Tuesday 9th December
Walkers – 4 years welcome
11:15 am – 12:15 pm

Join us for Brontë Babies at South Square Centre in Thornton with facilitator Olivia Corbin – Phillip!

Each sessions draws inspiration from the Brontë Parsonage’s collection. Brontë Babies is for babies and their carers, featuring sensory play, song, and an activity.

Walkers – 4 years olds welcome in this session, we have another session running for ages 0 – walking.

Your ticket includes a place for one adult and one child. Coffee/tea and cake will be provided.

To book, follow link below 🍼 limited spaces available!

Click here to book on now, limited spaces available!

A fascinating exploration of the past, present and future of Bradford’s radical art scene.

Opening Night : Fri 10th October | 6pm – 9pm | South Square
Last date to view : Sun 1st February

South Square presents ‘OUR TURN: Our Past, Present and Future’. This exhibition explores the past of South Square and the history of the arts industry in Bradford, and how grassroots, DIY arts organisations led to the opening of the centre. 

It looks into our present – why and how we are organising OUR TURN: Bradford’s first Visual Arts Festival. And we look to the future, showing artworks of emerging Bradford based artists. 

This exhibition is a way for us to reflect on where we have come from, who inspired and helped grow the arts industry in Bradford, how the grass roots visual arts industry grew in Thornton, how that led to the opening of South Square, how we’ve grown as a centre and what we achieve today, and we look to the future, championing the next generation of artists and hopefully inspiring them to continue to develop the local arts scene. 

Artists featured include, Eve Wright, Kennedy Drake, Martha Madden and Zoe Maxwell

The exhibition will also feature new work from a current art student from Bradford College. They will respond to the exhibition, take inspiration from the artwork and the history, and create a new piece that will join the exhibition in January.

This exhibition is part of OUR TURN – OUR TURN expects to be bold, experimental and authentically Bradford. 

OUR TURN takes place between 26th September – 28th January 2026 in venues and unusual spaces across the city. This festival will enable artists to be more ambitious, provide training for a new generation of culture makers and inspire a range of people to be excited by art which is ‘Made IN Bradford’. The festival will celebrate Bradford’s rich counter cultural scene and create an accessible platform which will reach new art goers in Bradford, underserved communities and loyal arts audiences.

The South Square team aims to include in this festival a series of events, commissions, learning opportunities, exhibitions, workshops and more, all across the Bradford district. By working closely with artists in and from Bradford, OUR TURN will be shaped and led by the artists themselves.

Plenty at the Square
Running: 1 November – 1 February 2026

This Printmaking showcase displays the OUR TURN Print Collection alongside other local printmakers, demonstrating the variety in printmaking in Bradford and different approaches to the medium.

The Print Collection:
Honouring Bradford’s Print heritage, six prints form the Bradford Print Collection, a set of commissions that represent the vibrant printmaking sector in Bradford are on display in the Cafe throughout the OUR TURN festival.

The printmakers featured in the collection are Fizah Afzal, Laura Alice, Harriet Cash, Sarah Harris, Laura Slater and Ken Woods.

Fizah Afzal‘s print, Kashmir Bloom draws on the history of South Asian migration
and its contribution to the textile industry. The red colour palette and ‘Paisley’ pattern isfeatured on shawls made in the Kashmir region. Fizah Afzal creates linocut prints that
are inspired by floral and botanical art.

Laura Alice‘s print is inspired by Emily Bronte and her pet merlin, Nero, created through papercutting and hand-written type. Laura Alice is a printmaker who takes inspiration from the surrounding landscape and birdlife; interpreting through layers of bright colours, abstract shapes, typography and mark making.

Harriet Cash‘s print in the collection was inspired by the Bradford LGBTQ+ Archive, ‘Bradford Gay’ c1980s invites you to consider how you feel, personally and politically.  A letterpress printmaker, Harriet Cash makes playful pieces which have fun with type, and centre the printed word as a tool for connection – to ourselves, others, the past and the future.

Sarah Harris‘ print, A View to Manningham and Lister Mills, was inspired by Bradford’s many viewpoints, being the UK’s highest city. These views are often overlooked, however they speak of our city geographically, socially, and tell the story of our industrial heritage. Shipley-based Sarah Harris creates limited edition landscape screen prints of her home county of Yorkshire and beyond.

Laura Slaters‘ print Social Fabric celebrates the breadth of Bradford’s communities through the inherent presence of textile narratives, colour, pattern, texture and materials. Laura Slater is a textile designer and printmaker. Her practice is occupied with the engagement we have with pattern and its ability to connect us to objects and environments.

Ken Woods was inspired by Twill weave, Bradford Twill is a bold abstract print encoding ‘BFD’ in Morse-translated sequences of the stylised weave structure. Colours evoke moorland, soot-darkened mills, and industrial wealth. Ken Wood’s Pochoir-based practice merges digital design with traditional craft to create vibrant, geometric prints.

In addition to the OUR TURN: Print collection, on display in Plenty at The Square you can find a range of prints from Ben Holden, Lauren Marshall and Charlie Taylor.

Bradford based artist & designer Ben Holden is renowned for his bold, bright and vibrant abstract works; composing form, collage, photography, mark-making, line & colour, experimenting with mixed media; intuitively informed by the subjects he is studying. The bold aesthetic of a varied CMYK palette (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) are often used in his work linking to his print heritage, creating punchy palettes and expressive marks for dynamic work, contrasting elements to ignite emotional connections, light, joy and playfulness — which he feels we need more of in a dark world.

Lauren Marshall is a watercolour and digital artist who brings birds, houseplants, and other natural elements to life through vibrant, expressive illustrations. Inspired by the shapes, textures, and colours found in nature, her work blends joyful detail with a bright, playful palette. 

Blending her background in textile design with a variety of artistic techniques, Charlie Taylor creates eclectic, one of a kind designs for both fashion and the home. Her work bursts with bold colours and striking motifs, inspired not only by her worldwide travels, from the tiles of Morocco to the tables of Italy and beyond but also by the beauty of everyday moments, from a morning coffee to a shared meal. Celebrating both the extraordinary and the familiar, Charlie’s prints are rich with vibrant foods, cocktails, and textural patterns that capture life’s pleasures in vivid detail.

Exhibition of work by NEET, celebrating the beauty of making, for the sheer joy of it
In the Community Room

Running: 14th November – 1st February 2026
Opening event: Friday 14th November 5 – 7pm

‘In Full Colour’ celebrates the joyful, deeply human creativity of the NEET artists who make art with heart, freedom, & spontaneity.

Through vibrant drawings, 3D makings & playful explorations inspired by fruit, vegetables & everyday life. The exhibition showcases over 30 works that capture the beauty of making for the sheer joy of it.

This is art that delights in the moment. It’s bold, heartfelt, & wonderfully unfiltered. NEET & South Square invite you to come & experience the colour, joy, and pure expression of these talented & playful artists.

A fascinating exploration of the past, present and future of Bradford’s radical art scene.

Opening Night : Fri 10th October | 6pm – 9pm | South Square
Last date to view : Sun 1st February

South Square presents ‘OUR TURN: Our Past, Present and Future’. This exhibition explores the past of South Square and the history of the arts industry in Bradford, and how grassroots, DIY arts organisations led to the opening of the centre. 

It looks into our present – why and how we are organising OUR TURN: Bradford’s first Visual Arts Festival. And we look to the future, showing artworks of emerging Bradford based artists. 

This exhibition is a way for us to reflect on where we have come from, who inspired and helped grow the arts industry in Bradford, how the grass roots visual arts industry grew in Thornton, how that led to the opening of South Square, how we’ve grown as a centre and what we achieve today, and we look to the future, championing the next generation of artists and hopefully inspiring them to continue to develop the local arts scene. 

Artists featured include, Eve Wright, Kennedy Drake, Martha Madden and Zoe Maxwell

The exhibition will also feature new work from a current art student from Bradford College. They will respond to the exhibition, take inspiration from the artwork and the history, and create a new piece that will join the exhibition in January.

This exhibition is part of OUR TURN – OUR TURN expects to be bold, experimental and authentically Bradford. 

OUR TURN takes place between 26th September – 28th January 2026 in venues and unusual spaces across the city. This festival will enable artists to be more ambitious, provide training for a new generation of culture makers and inspire a range of people to be excited by art which is ‘Made IN Bradford’. The festival will celebrate Bradford’s rich counter cultural scene and create an accessible platform which will reach new art goers in Bradford, underserved communities and loyal arts audiences.

The South Square team aims to include in this festival a series of events, commissions, learning opportunities, exhibitions, workshops and more, all across the Bradford district. By working closely with artists in and from Bradford, OUR TURN will be shaped and led by the artists themselves.

Plenty at the Square
Running: 1 November – 1 February 2026

This Printmaking showcase displays the OUR TURN Print Collection alongside other local printmakers, demonstrating the variety in printmaking in Bradford and different approaches to the medium.

The Print Collection:
Honouring Bradford’s Print heritage, six prints form the Bradford Print Collection, a set of commissions that represent the vibrant printmaking sector in Bradford are on display in the Cafe throughout the OUR TURN festival.

The printmakers featured in the collection are Fizah Afzal, Laura Alice, Harriet Cash, Sarah Harris, Laura Slater and Ken Woods.

Fizah Afzal‘s print, Kashmir Bloom draws on the history of South Asian migration
and its contribution to the textile industry. The red colour palette and ‘Paisley’ pattern isfeatured on shawls made in the Kashmir region. Fizah Afzal creates linocut prints that
are inspired by floral and botanical art.

Laura Alice‘s print is inspired by Emily Bronte and her pet merlin, Nero, created through papercutting and hand-written type. Laura Alice is a printmaker who takes inspiration from the surrounding landscape and birdlife; interpreting through layers of bright colours, abstract shapes, typography and mark making.

Harriet Cash‘s print in the collection was inspired by the Bradford LGBTQ+ Archive, ‘Bradford Gay’ c1980s invites you to consider how you feel, personally and politically.  A letterpress printmaker, Harriet Cash makes playful pieces which have fun with type, and centre the printed word as a tool for connection – to ourselves, others, the past and the future.

Sarah Harris‘ print, A View to Manningham and Lister Mills, was inspired by Bradford’s many viewpoints, being the UK’s highest city. These views are often overlooked, however they speak of our city geographically, socially, and tell the story of our industrial heritage. Shipley-based Sarah Harris creates limited edition landscape screen prints of her home county of Yorkshire and beyond.

Laura Slaters‘ print Social Fabric celebrates the breadth of Bradford’s communities through the inherent presence of textile narratives, colour, pattern, texture and materials. Laura Slater is a textile designer and printmaker. Her practice is occupied with the engagement we have with pattern and its ability to connect us to objects and environments.

Ken Woods was inspired by Twill weave, Bradford Twill is a bold abstract print encoding ‘BFD’ in Morse-translated sequences of the stylised weave structure. Colours evoke moorland, soot-darkened mills, and industrial wealth. Ken Wood’s Pochoir-based practice merges digital design with traditional craft to create vibrant, geometric prints.

In addition to the OUR TURN: Print collection, on display in Plenty at The Square you can find a range of prints from Ben Holden, Lauren Marshall and Charlie Taylor.

Bradford based artist & designer Ben Holden is renowned for his bold, bright and vibrant abstract works; composing form, collage, photography, mark-making, line & colour, experimenting with mixed media; intuitively informed by the subjects he is studying. The bold aesthetic of a varied CMYK palette (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) are often used in his work linking to his print heritage, creating punchy palettes and expressive marks for dynamic work, contrasting elements to ignite emotional connections, light, joy and playfulness — which he feels we need more of in a dark world.

Lauren Marshall is a watercolour and digital artist who brings birds, houseplants, and other natural elements to life through vibrant, expressive illustrations. Inspired by the shapes, textures, and colours found in nature, her work blends joyful detail with a bright, playful palette. 

Blending her background in textile design with a variety of artistic techniques, Charlie Taylor creates eclectic, one of a kind designs for both fashion and the home. Her work bursts with bold colours and striking motifs, inspired not only by her worldwide travels, from the tiles of Morocco to the tables of Italy and beyond but also by the beauty of everyday moments, from a morning coffee to a shared meal. Celebrating both the extraordinary and the familiar, Charlie’s prints are rich with vibrant foods, cocktails, and textural patterns that capture life’s pleasures in vivid detail.

Exhibition of work by NEET, celebrating the beauty of making, for the sheer joy of it
In the Community Room

Running: 14th November – 1st February 2026
Opening event: Friday 14th November 5 – 7pm

‘In Full Colour’ celebrates the joyful, deeply human creativity of the NEET artists who make art with heart, freedom, & spontaneity.

Through vibrant drawings, 3D makings & playful explorations inspired by fruit, vegetables & everyday life. The exhibition showcases over 30 works that capture the beauty of making for the sheer joy of it.

This is art that delights in the moment. It’s bold, heartfelt, & wonderfully unfiltered. NEET & South Square invite you to come & experience the colour, joy, and pure expression of these talented & playful artists.