Built in 1904, Cartwright Hall Art Gallery is set to provide a suitably grand setting for local artists' work. Courtesy Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

Budding artists in Bradford are to be given the opportunity to see their work on show at the magnificent Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, as part of an initiative by the local council.

Aimed at encouraging local talent, Bradford Metropolitan District Council is set to launch its Home Grown Talent scheme to promote the work of both amateur and professional artists in the area.

"The council's museums and galleries have always supported local artists and the Home Grown Talent initiative gives us a chance to highlight the talents of many more," said Executive Member for Regeneration, Cllr Simon Cooke.

"The district is full of artistic talent and we want to help this grow and develop by working with as many different creative groups as possible."

Local artists' work will join the gallery's outstanding collection of Victorian paintings. Courtesy Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

Home Grown Talent will be co-ordinated by the council’s museums and galleries service and will see a range of exhibitions go on show in the vast baroque style Cartwright Hall Art Gallery.

To mark the launch, creative groups and societies across the district are being invited to bid for an exhibition at the gallery which would run from May to July next year.

The council has run a community exhibition every year since 1930, which in recent years has involved three Bradford art clubs - Bradford Arts Club, Bradford Art Lovers Association and Shipley Art Club.

This will be the first year that the exhibition has been opened up to all creative groups in the district.

Eligible groups include photographic clubs, model engineering societies, fabric craft groups, community arts groups and studio groups.

Courtesy Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

"We appreciate the help provided over many years by Bradford's established art clubs," added Cllr Cooke, "and we are sure they will be as excited as we are by the new opportunities offered to the district's artists under the Home Grown Talent initiative."

A series of Home Grown Talent exhibitions to take place at Cartwright Hall over the next year has already been planned.

The shows are an eclectic mix and include a collection of art and artefacts linked to cult Bradford band, New Model Army; and Hibrida, a joint exhibition by Bradford and Ilkley Community College and Brno in the Czech Republic, showcasing developments in contemporary printmaking.

Other displays will include an exhibition of work by Keighley-based media artist Shanaz Gulzar and the Bradford Open Exhibition, selected by a jury from submissions by artists, designers and craftspeople living or working in the district.

This will be followed by the Young Open Exhibition, which will showcase the creativity of young people in the district.