Journeys with Mai: Bradford

Why It Matters

The project shows how authentic, youth‑led art can bridge historical trauma and contemporary identity, urging cultural institutions to invest in inclusive programming that expands access beyond traditional academic settings.

Key Takeaways

• Youth in Bradford collaborate on art reflecting colonial histories
• National Portrait Gallery seeks authentic responses from diverse communities
• Participants confront isolation, grief, and identity through creative expression
• Lack of access to galleries fuels feelings of exclusion among youth
• Funding and outreach needed to integrate arts beyond school settings

Summary

The video documents “Journeys with Mai: Bradford,” a collaborative initiative between the National Portrait Gallery and local youth groups in Bradford, aimed at interrogating representation, colonial legacies, and personal identity through portraiture and performance.

Host Mai reflects on her reaction to the portrait of May, noting its dignified yet sorrowful expression, and uses it as a springboard to explore her own feelings of isolation and grief. The project pairs two Bradford youth cohorts—one from the Commonwealth Theatre Company and another from a youth panel—to co‑create events, poetry, and theatre that confront migration, racism, and heritage.

“I felt connected… never been to an art gallery before,” Mai says, highlighting the transformative power of authentic artistic engagement. Participants also stress the need for funding and outreach, arguing that schools alone cannot nurture creative potential.

By centering young, diverse voices, the initiative demonstrates how inclusive arts programming can heal historical wounds, foster community cohesion, and challenge institutional barriers, offering a model for cultural institutions seeking broader relevance.

Original Description

This film by Elijah Grant tells the story of Bradford’s participation in the Journeys with Mai project.

Journeys with Mai is a partnership project between the National Portrait Gallery, London; Bradford District Museums and Galleries; The Fitzwilliam Museum, in collaboration with the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge; and The Box, Plymouth. The partnership aims to build a legacy for Sir Joshua Reynolds’ masterpiece Portrait of Mai, and initiate conversations with Pacific Island communities while providing opportunities for diverse voices to engage with the portrait’s complex themes.

Learn more about 'Journeys with Mai': https://www.npg.org.uk/beyond/journey...