National Portrait Gallery (UK)

Journeys with Mai: Bradford

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.