January saw the eye-catching launch of Bradford City of Culture 2025, with thousands of people braving the freezing cold weather to enjoy its launch, and one firm that has backed the Bradford City of Culture from the start is TL Dallas.
Independent insurance broker and risk management firm, TL Dallas was established in Bradford in 1919, and the family and employee-owned firm is headquartered in the city at Low Moor, with 14 other offices across the UK.
Managing director, Polly Staveley who is the great-granddaughter of the firm’s founder, Thomas Lessels Dallas OBE, said: “Since my great-grandfather established our business 106 years ago in Bradford, we have become an integral part of both the city’s business community, and the wider community. As well as supporting lots of local charities, including MIND in Bradford, we knew we had to get behind these efforts to promote the wonderful cultural assets that our city offers.
“As a City of Culture 2025 supporter, we’ve provided a significant financial investment as part of our commitment to Bradford and its cultural ambitions, and it was really exciting to see the year-long programme of events that are planned for 2025 launch this month. It’s important that people here in Yorkshire and beyond can see all that our city has to offer, and we feel it’s the duty of businesses like ours to support these efforts.”
The spectacular open-air launch event, called RISE was created by director Kirsty Housley, and saw aerial performers fly across City Park, as well as local magician Steven Frayne (formerly known as Dynamo), and 10-year-old rapper Cruzy T performing.
Group director at TL Dallas, Mike Martin, said: “The cold weather didn’t stop us attending the opening show, which featured stunning performances from musicians, dancers and poets across two stages, with projected visuals and slogans representing the themes of pride, unity, diversity and overcoming adversity. It was all very impressive, and the projections that recreated Steven Frayne’s childhood home, with a young actor playing him as a child, before the real magician wowed the audience with his magic, was a very inspirational piece of storytelling.”
As well as TL Dallas’ commitment to supporting the Bradford City of Culture 2025, the firm is also a long-standing sponsor of Bradford City AFC. Mike added: “We’ve sponsored the city’s football team for 23 years, and our iconic partnership has seen our name become synonymous with the south stand at Valley Parade – TL Dallas Community Stand opens at Bradford City
“Our most recent three-year agreement with the club has seen the stand renamed the TL Dallas Community stand. The stand houses fans from schools, local community groups and junior clubs as part of the Bradford Community Foundation’s community ticket scheme. This all means that our support gives local organisations the chance to watch the Bantams at a reduced cost, making it more accessible and inclusive to our local community.”
The City of Culture title is awarded every four years and was designed to help the winning city increase visitor numbers as well as boosting the local economy and city’s reputation. A total of £15m of Government funding has been provided to Bradford to support the arts, some of which is supporting the refurbishment of the National Science and Media Museum.
For more details visit: www.bradford2025.co.uk