Armed with mobile phones, ordinary Bradford residents are capturing the streets, stories and communities that rarely make the headlines.

Bradford has no shortage of stories. But how often do the people who live here get to tell them?

A new photography exhibition is ultimately turning the lens on the city itself, handing residents the opportunity to capture Bradford as they know it – through their own experiences, memories and everyday encounters.

And there’s no need for expensive cameras or professional photography skills.

‘A City in Frames: Bradford’, opens at Darley Street Market on 6 November, showcases photographs and personal stories created by local people through free mobile photography workshops, guided walks and creative storytelling sessions.

Running until 20 November, the exhibition celebrates the city’s neighbourhoods, cultural heritage and everyday life through the eyes of those who call Bradford home.

The Bradford you don’t always see

Behind every photograph is a personal perspective – a familiar street, a meaningful place or an ordinary moment that tells a bigger story.

It’s an approach that places residents, rather than professional photographers, at the heart of the exhibition.

Organised by Odyssey Media House CIC with support from Arts Council England, the project is built around a simple theme: “Every Street Holds a Memory. Every City Has a Story.”

Oluwadamilola Adetomiwa, founder and executive director of Odyssey Media House CIC and project producer, said: “A City in Frames is about giving people the opportunity to tell their own stories and see their communities differently.

“Every photograph represents a perspective, a memory or an experience that deserves to be celebrated.

“We hope this exhibition inspires more people to explore their creativity and recognise the beauty in everyday Bradford.”

When photography becomes a connection

Beyond the images, the project explores how creativity can bring communities together.

Working alongside Move Right Bradford, a community-led initiative by OAK Initiative UK CIC, they’re delivering a 12-month health and wellbeing programme; the exhibition connects photography and storytelling with efforts to reduce isolation, improve wellbeing and encourage cultural participation.

Exhibition team members Tobi Olorunmakomi and Mojola Oni outlined their vision: “We want visitors to experience more than photographs on display.

“Our vision is to create an exhibition that connects people with the stories behind the images and celebrates the creativity, identity and diversity of Bradford’s communities.”

The opening event will feature participant storytelling, expert talks and the premiere of a short documentary charting the project’s journey.

And Bradford is only the beginning – organisers hope the exhibition will become the first chapter in a growing photographic portrait of cities across the UK.

For now, the spotlight belongs to Bradford – not through the eyes of outsiders, but through the photographs and memories of its own residents.

A City in Frames: Bradford runs from 6–20 November 2026 at Darley Street Market, Bradford.