VENUES across the Bradford District - including Ilkley - will get a share of £3 million to create a series of cultural venues in time for 2025.

Grants of between £4,900 and £315,000 will be handed out to 21 organisations in the Bradford District as part of preparations for the City of Culture year.

Some will see venues create new theatre or gallery space, while others will boost existing spaces making them more accessible to prepare for an influx of visitors.

With venues from Bradford city centre to Ilkley and Silsden receiving cash, one of the bosses of the City of Culture trust said the grants show that 2025 will involve the whole District.

Groups were invited to bid for a share of the City of Culture £3m Cultural Capital Fund earlier this year.

By the time the application period was closed over 80 groups had made bids to improve their spaces and venues – with the total ask coming to over £15m.

The successful bidders have now been announced, and include Ilkley Playhouse.

The venue will receive £10,000 and will use funds to modernise their main passenger lift which provides access to the venue from street level to the Box Office and coffee bar, and above to the main Wharfeside Theatre. The lift modernisation project will support the venue in maintaining access for all to the venue.

Dick Hebbert, Chair of Trustees of Ilkley Playhouse said: “Bradford City of Culture 2025 is a wonderful opportunity for the District to showcase it's vibrant arts and culture scene. Ilkley Playhouse is delighted to be awarded this grant and, more importantly, to have a place in Bradford as it takes on its role as Britain's culture capital.”

The panel that decided on the successful bids included representatives from the 2025 Trust, Bradford Council and the Arts Council.

Other organisations to be awarded funding have been announced, although the full amounts of those grants and details of the projects they will fund have not yet been. These include Silsden Town Hall.

Dan Bates, Executive Director at Bradford 2025, said “The Cultural Capital Fund is a great example of our ambition to increase investment in the cultural infrastructure within the Bradford district, giving residents and visitors alike greater opportunity to experience the arts, culture and creativity during 2025 and beyond.

“There was an overwhelming response to the grant fund, with applications far exceeding the funding available, highlighting how determined venues are to improve their facilities ahead of Bradford 2025.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the projects begin in the coming months, demonstrating a key milestone in our preparations for Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture.”