All links to further details, or other websites are in green, and normally underlined.
Previews / Openings, and the first and last days of all exhibitions will also be shown in the Diary of Events. Details of the exhibitions are shown on this page.
Please report any errors or omissions to aaboutthornton@gmail.com or you can comment on the associated Facebook page.
Current arts related exhibitions
The Brontë Birthplace
72 – 74 Market Street, Thornton, Bradford, BD13 3HF
24 January to 29 March 2026 Artist in Residence: Garett Wilde
There are two galleries in Thornton devoted to all forms of art, South Square which is run by a registered charity, the Thornton and Allerton Community Association, plus Fountain Street Arts Project.
Fountain Street Project
March to April Another World Is Possible Art and Connection in uncertain times. Launch event Friday 27 February 5pm to 9pm (Music, Drinks and Workshop). Sunday Social, 29 March, 2pm to 4.30pm with music from Cactusville
2 Fountain Street, Thornton, BD13 3EW
Ring o’ Bells
South Square
Following a period of dereliction, in 1982, Thornton and Allerton Community Association Ltd was formed and pioneered the building’s restoration in partnership with Bradford Metropolitan District Council, the West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council, and the Manpower Services Commission. The terraced housing was transformed by knocking through the cottages to form bigger rooms for galleries and community spaces. The centre opened in 1982 as South Square Centre, and was formally opened in 1984 by the Lord Mayor, Olive Messer.
South Square is based within a Grade II listed building originally built as a courtyard of workers’ cottages in 1832 in Thornton,
South Square has a Facebook page. Included in the Square are artists’ studios and workshops, Thornton Antiquarian Society’s Archive, a vegetarian and vegan cafe called Plenty at the Square, and a small public house, The Watchmaker, named after Harry Naylor, watchmaker, who had his workshop where the public house is. He served as an Armourer during the 1st World War, serving in France until 25 March 1919, and died in 1920, his death 100% attributable to his war service His details are shown in the WW1 biographies here.
South Square Exhibitions
Opening hours of South Square galleries: Tues – Sat 10.30am – 3pm, Sun 12pm – 3pm, Mondays closed.
13 January – 28 February 2026 Artist duo, Latterhand, turn gallery into art lab for this evolving exhibition. South Square writes: “Join artists and musicians, Phil Moody and Ian Tothill (also known as Latterhand), for a dynamic, interactive and evolving exhibition. Latterhand have devised a new audio-visual work ‘Pathways’ which explores the ways in which we make and use paths for different purposes. The work will be installed in the Gallery Upstairs alongside artworks created by the duo over the course of their residency. Expect soundscapes with field recordings, violin and piano, films of urban and rural paths and much more. You’ll have the rare opportunity to see works in progress and materials are provided for you to make your own responses to the work – taking this show down new and exciting paths.”
6 February to 14 April 2026 Sowing Connections: A co-created community exhibition celebrating the work of the Rasi // Twine Women’s Group in Bradford.
19 and 21 February 10.30am to 1pm Children’s Craft Club: “Join us for a free craft morning, a time to build, make and create!”
Friday 6 March to Sunday 29 March 2026 Artist Jennie Crawford presents her solo exhibition, Home Ground. I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made, Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee, And live alone in the bee-loud glade… (The Lake Isle of Innisfree, W.B Yeats 1888) Proceeds from any sales will go to Cancer Research UK
14 March, 10.30am to 3pm Embroidery Workshop: Learn embroidery techniques in this workshop led by Rosie McAndrews. In the Community Room at South Square. Must be booked
14 March, 1pm to 2pm Curator’s Talk for the exhibition Sowing Connections, as part of the National Lottery Open Week. Join Domino Panton-Oakley, the Programme and Gallery Manager of South Square, on a tour of Sowing Connections, a co-created community exhibition celebrating the work of the Rasi // Twine Women’s Group in Bradford.
Opening hours of Plenty at the Square: Tues – Sun: 9.30am – 3.30pm. Closed Mondays
6 February to 29 March 2026 Meetings with Remarkable Places by Murniah Skinner
6 March 2026 The Art of Eating: Paintings by Murniah Skinner, art talk and a 4-course dinner
Join artist Murniah Skinner and Plenty at the Square in this Food and Art event where paintings inspire a set menu. £55, must be booked.
See also Friends of the Square and Best Friends of the Square,
Normal opening hours of The Watchmaker: Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4pm to 9pm, Fridays from 4pm to 10pm, Saturdays from 3pm to 10pm, and Sundays from 3pm to 8pm
(last updated 7 February 2026)
All About Thornton 