We were honoured to be invited to organise David Hockney’s 80th birthday celebrations in his home town of Bradford, and boy was it a party!

David’s been voted ‘Britain’s greatest living artist’, and to mark his big birthday Bradford Council created a new permanent gallery in the city.

The birthday celebrations and gallery opening took place in Lister Park on Sunday 9th July 2017. There was a cavalcade of art, music, food, drink and balloons for all. There was even a life size cake of Le Plongeur and a Hockney’s 80th ale brewed by Bradford Brewery

Audiences enjoyed iPad drawing with Fabric Lenny, and exploring People in the Landscape – a new work of art made in collaboration with older citizens based at Francis House sheltered accommodation. There was sketching, dancing, balloon modelling and celebrating at our Hocknification Station. Our friends from Handmade Parade brought their brilliance with parade of sausage dogs, swimmers and a huge puppet of the great man himself.

A huge thanks to Bradford Museums and Galleries, and Arts Council England for funding this event and helping everyone celebrate our David.