We’re thrilled to share that Tricia Arthur-Stubbs, founder of Swirl Education and producer of BRAVE Festival, has been selected for the Nairobi Producer Exchange as part of the Bridges Fellowship programme.
Bradford Producing Hub is proud to announce that Bradford-based artist and cultural producer, Tricia Arthur‑Stubbs, has been selected as one of just ten international fellows for the inaugural Bridges Fellowship – a prestigious new programme championing international African and African Diaspora producers.
Tricia’s selection places Bradford at the heart of a new international creative network. Representing the UK, Tricia joins a cohort of artists from countries including Kenya, Benin, Egypt, Sudan, South Africa, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
The Bridges Fellowship programme is led by Kenyan producer Karishma Bhagani in partnership with Producer Hub (USA) and Georgetown University’s Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics, and supported by the Mellon Foundation, The British Council and Stanford University. International partners include The LAM Sisterhood (Kenya), National Arts Festival (South Africa), Tebere Arts Foundation (Uganda), Jukwaa Arts Productions / Wimbi La Sanaa (Kenya), and ArtsEmerson (United States).
In addition to her place on the training programme, Tricia has been paired with fellowship participant Wanjiru ‘Ciru’ Njoroge (Kenya) for an exciting residency placement opportunity which will see both artists spending a week in Nairobi and Bradford in November 2025. The placements are hosted by Bradford Producing Hub with support from Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, through funding from the British Council.
As Bradford builds momentum as we pass the midpoint of its City of Culture year, this collaboration signals a major step forward in the District’s international cultural networks. Tricia’s appointment as a Bridges Fellow is a testament to the city’s growing reputation as a northern powerhouse for creative talent and ambition.
Tricia is an experienced dance practitioner and community producer whose creative practice celebrates the richness of African and Caribbean cultures through joyful, inclusive performance. She has been leading dance workshops for over 18 years and is the driving force behind BRAVE Festival (Black Roots and Voices Expressed) – a growing arts festival in Bradford that champions art forms rooted in Black culture, and which returns to Bradford on the 18 – 19 October 2025. Tricia is also the Black Arts Network Lead for the Bradford Cultural Voice Forum.
“I feel so honoured to represent Bradford and the UK in this important new fellowship. My practice is rooted in the power of Black-led arts, community-driven festivals and dance. Being part of this international cohort will give me an incredible opportunity to immerse myself in Nairobi’s cultural scene. It also offers me the chance to deepen my work while building powerful connections across the African diaspora.”
Raised in Bradford, Tricia’s heritage from Trinidad and Tobago informs her creative focus on Caribbean Carnival Dance (Soca). Her work spans schools, communities, and large-scale events, grounded in the belief that dance should be fun, accessible, and a powerful tool for positive change.
Bradford Producing Hub, which supports artists, creative freelancers and microbusinesses through funding, mentoring, training and development, has enabled Tricia and Ciru’s placements. The organisation’s involvement in the Bridges Fellowship reflects its commitment to expanding international opportunities for Bradford-based creatives.
“We’re thrilled that Tricia’s work is being recognised on a global stage. This is exactly the kind of opportunity we want to make possible: one that grows local leadership and connects Bradford artists with international peers, in the spirit of collaboration and creativity. We can’t wait to welcome Ciru to Bradford and to support continued opportunities for black-led arts”
This exchange will see Tricia collaborate with fellow producers from Kenya and across the African continent, expanding her knowledge and network through workshops, cultural activities, and making new international connections with producers working across theatre, dance, festivals, film and multidisciplinary practices.
"I am thrilled that Tricia will be joining our Bridges Fellowship programme and engaging in meaningful exchange with creative producers from across the African continent. This is exactly the kind of cultural and social network we need to foster, to strengthen connections between Africa and the African diaspora. Tricia's insights and wealth of experience will be extremely valuable to the cohort. I look forward to seeing how the producing fellows engage in meaningful discussions around the challenges and joys of producing African work across the continent and in the global playing field."
The Bridges Fellowship
Led by Kenyan Producer Karishma Bhagani in collaboration with Producer Hub and Georgetown University’s Laboratory for Global Performance & Politics, this 2-year fellowship program is centred around training African producers, using a uniquely crafted African and Afro-diasporic pedagogy, focused on humanising producing in cultural infrastructure building.
producerhub.org/bridges
Bradford Producing Hub
Bradford Producing Hub (BPH) is a charity and arts development organisation on a mission to create a fairer, more representative arts ecology in Bradford. They support artists, creative freelancers and micro-organisations across the district through funding, training and development, mentoring and care.
In 2023, they were appointed Cultural Capacity Partner for Bradford 2025 to help the sector’s continued development before, during and after our UK City of Culture year.
bdproducinghub.co.uk
Tricia Arthur‑Stubbs
Tricia is an experienced dance practitioner and community producer whose creative practice celebrates the richness of African and Caribbean cultures through joyful, inclusive performance. She has been leading dance workshops for over 18 years and is the driving force behind BRAVE Festival (Black Roots and Voices Expressed) and the Black Arts Network Lead for the Bradford Cultural Voice Forum.
swirleducation.co.uk
British Council
This exchange is supported by the British Council’s UK/Kenya Season 2025, which celebrates creativity and innovation through arts, culture, heritage and education. With a thematic focus on innovation, the UK/Kenya Season 2025 will open up new opportunities for connection, exchange, and collaboration. Running from May to November 2025 in Kenya and the UK, and a few events in Italy, the Season will feature public events spanning architecture, design, fashion, literature, music, visual arts, performing arts, and film.
british-council.shorthandstories.com
Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture
Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture is delivered by Bradford Culture Company, a charity supported by public investment from HM Government, Bradford Metropolitan District Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and through National Lottery funding from Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The National Lottery Community Fund, Spirit of 2012, British Film Institute and a number of trusts, foundations and corporate sponsors.
Bradford 2025 is supporting the British Council’s UK/Kenya Season 2025 with Blankets & Wine Bradford, which sees Kenya come to Manningham to celebrate African music and culture across two stages in Lister Park on Saturday 6 September 2025.
bradford2025.co.uk/event/blankets-wine-bradford
This programme is generously supported by:
