As one of the thousands braving the freezing cold to watch the brilliant launch event for the city of culture, I support Lanre Bakare’s celebration of Bradford’s radical history (We don’t have the swagger of Manchester or the sheen of Leeds, but Bradford has a radical culture all its own, 14 January). Mention should also be made of the 1 in 12 club that has provided gigs for local bands and meeting spaces since the 1980s, and the Bradford Resource Centre, a central base of support for trade unions and community and voluntary groups for more than 30 years until Tory cuts led to its closure.
But many of the claims for economic benefits should be treated with caution. The competitive bidding for city of culture cost participating local authorities millions of pounds, and potentially millions more will be allocated to external consultants. An economic evaluation contract has already been given to a firm based in Liverpool.
Too often, cultural events are baggaged with transformational language that cannot mask deep and underlying economic problems – in Bradford’s case some of the worst deprivation levels in the country and a local authority that is effectively bankrupt, with real threats of further cuts to its library and museum services.
Let’s celebrate the radical cultural legacy and wonderful creativity of Bradfordians, particularly the younger generations so well represented in the city of culture events, but reject economic boosterism that does more harm than good.
Steven Schofield
Bradford
