Cartwright Hall Art Gallery

Over het museum

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery has welcomed visitors since 1904 and stands in the middle of Lister Park, about a mile and a half from Bradford city centre. Bradford's first art museum opened in Kirkgate in 1879, where annual selling exhibitions helped to build up a permanent collection for the city. When the collection outgrew it, Samuel Cunliffe Lister gave 40,000 pounds towards a purpose-built civic art gallery in the park. The building, which people sometimes mistake for an old house, was always an art gallery and nobody ever lived in it.

The collection brings together Victorian, modern and contemporary art, including a Pre-Raphaelite collection. Bradford was one of the first local authority museum services in the UK to collect work by South Asian and Black artists actively, and this nationally important collection is shown alongside works from across the centuries. The gallery also has a gallery devoted to David Hockney, whose story began in Bradford; it is due to reopen in October 2026.

Changing exhibitions, family activities and events are held through the year. The original 1904 refreshment room is now a café, and Lister Park outside, with its gardens, boating lake and play areas, is one of Bradford's most loved parks.

Hoogtepunten

• David Hockney Gallery
• Pre-Raphaelite collection
• Pop art and large-scale paintings from the 18th century onwards
• Nationally important collection of South Asian and Black artists
• Refreshment Room café in the original 1904 room
• Lister Park with gardens, boating lake and play areas

Vaste collectie

• David Hockney Gallery – A gallery devoted to the work of David Hockney, whose story began in Bradford, reopening in October 2026.

Opgericht

1904

Beheerder

Bradford District Museums and Galleries (City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council)

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

De toegang is gratis.

Admission is free. A donation of 3 pounds per person is suggested (pay as you feel).

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The front entrance is up a flight of stairs, but there is a step-free entrance at the back of the building: ring the doorbell and a member of staff lets visitors in, and a lift serves both floors and all galleries. Limited disabled parking is behind the building; visitors turn into the park from North Park Road and call 01274 431212 at the barrier to have it opened. An accessible toilet with baby changing is on the ground floor and in the café. An induction loop is at the reception desk. Benches and portable folding chairs are provided in the galleries, and headphones for quieter visits can be borrowed from reception. Light levels vary between galleries. Assistance dogs are welcome. The nearest Changing Places toilet is at Bradford Royal Infirmary, about a mile away.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Verschoonruimte

The gallery runs family activities and events, including free Museums for Play and Growth sessions for children aged 0 to 5 on the second Friday of the month. The café offers child-sized tables, activity sheets, buggy parking and highchairs. Lister Park outside has family-friendly play areas.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel
• Kluisjes
• Wifi

The Refreshment Room café, in the original 1904 refreshment room, serves coffee, cakes and light snacks with vegan and gluten-free options. It is accredited as a Kids in Museums family friendly café and has free Wi-Fi, highchairs, bottle warmers and a children's menu; dogs are welcome. The gallery shop sells souvenirs, exhibition merchandise, cards, jewellery and art materials, and free lockers are near the reception desk.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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