Bradford communities bring magical wildlife exhibition to life
Artwork created by local schoolchildren and community groups will feature in a magical immersive exhibition in our Main Gallery, inviting visitors to discover the hidden world of Bradford’s urban wildlife.
Opening on Friday 6 November, Vespertine Garden will transform our gallery into a glowing twilight landscape filled with UV-lit sculptural plants and creatures, accompanied by an original soundscape inspired by the local environment.
Exhibition details
Opening night: Friday 6 November, 4 – 9pm
To ensure everyone can experience the installation comfortably, entry to the exhibition will be through timed slots. Book your free place.
Two additional exhibitions will also launch that evening. In The Gallery Upstairs visitors can enjoy Unfurling by Bev Morton, while onsite café Plenty at the Square will host an exhibition of work by artist Seanna Doonan.
Plenty at the Square, onsite bar, The Watchmaker, and a pop-up cocktail bar will be open for refreshments.
Exhibition: 7 November – 28 February 2027
Drop in during gallery opening hours.
Curators Talk: Friday 13 November, 1 – 2pm
Join South Square’s Programme and Gallery Manager, Domino Panton-Oakley, for a special curator’s talk exploring the ideas, decisions, processes and challenges behind Vespertine Garden. Book your free place.
About Vespertine Garden
This ambitious exhibition explores the wildlife that emerges at dusk, from bats and moths to hedgehogs and foxes, and the importance of protecting the ecosystems we share.
At the heart of the project is a collaboration between Bradford-based community groups and over 1,000 children from three local primary schools, who have been working alongside professional artists to help bring the exhibition to life.
Over the past month, artists Amy and Emma-Jo Bairstow have visited primary schools and groups across Bradford, leading creative workshops inspired by local wildlife, biodiversity and the natural environment.
Participants have been encouraged to look more closely at the creatures and habitats on their doorsteps, creating colourful artwork that will feature directly in the finished installation. The installation incorporates recycled materials, including paper and cardboard, reflecting the project’s environmental themes.
Ryan Hughes, Director at South Square Centre said:
“Vespertine Garden reflects our commitment to making contemporary visual arts accessible to local communities and creating opportunities for people to work alongside professional artists on ambitious creative projects.
What’s been particularly special about this project is seeing children and young people become part of the creative process. Through the workshops, they’ve been exploring the wildlife that lives alongside us, thinking about how we can protect it and using their imaginations to help bring this exhibition to life.
This is the first exhibition I’m overseeing as Director and I’m so excited to share the finished installation with our community. We hope it will be a magical experience for visitors of all ages, but also one that encourages people to look a little more closely at the natural world around them and think about how we can care for it.”
About the artists
Vespertine Garden brings together artists Amy and Emma-Jo Bairstow, sound artist Fran Bundey and filmmaker Matt Radcliffe to create an immersive experience combining sculpture, light, video and sound.
With thanks to…
Vespertine Garden has been funded by Arts Council England and Bradford Culture Company and was inspired by Neon Garden, presented by Art Works at Barnsley Civic Centre.
