Yorkshire Craft Centre, Bradford College

This £4 million development, made possible through an Arts Council of England Lottery Award and the European Regional Development Fund, forms a learning centre.  It also provides access to facilities for all levels of skill as well as studios and resources for crafts people.

Jewellery, glass, bronze casting, textiles, wood, ceramic and plaster facilities are all included.  As well as a purpose built drawing studio, fellows' studio and design studio. Adjacent to the Craft Centre is the beautifully refurbished Bradford Gallery, which still retains the charm of its origins as a dyehouse.

The Gallery organises a regular programme of exciting exhibitions across the whole range of art, craft and design activity, including regular selling shows of work produced in the Craft Centre and the Bradford School of Arts & Media, as well as work from artists working nationally and internationally.  Our annual show of stunning and affordable contemporary gifts made by the top designers/makers  for Christmas, BeDazzled,is now established as a highlight of the festive season.

The Bradford Textile Archive, containing some of the most inspiring fabric and design samples to be found in Europe, completes the provision. Within the extensive collection there are rare original samples of dress fabrics designed by Salvador Dali, seventeen sample books of French velvets dating from 1860 to 1906, and an exquisite selection of the textiles of India dating from 1868. These were donated to Bradford by the secretary of State for India. This Indian collection was used as design inspiration by the costume designer of the 1995 BBC adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.