The Big Thing is a multi-day event bringing together the immersive arts community across the UK to connect, collaborate and get inspired. The programme will include a dynamic variety of session formats i.e. talks, panel discussions, workshops, performances and social events. 

Throughout the event you’ll be able to meet other creatives, artists, alongside academic researchers, journalists and representatives from venues such as galleries and theatres, arts organisations, agencies and community groups. The programme has been designed to accommodate a varied level of familiarity with immersive arts, from those exploring the artform for the first time, to those with more experience.

The Big Thing will take place between Monday 9 and Wednesday 11 June 2025.

The main activity will take place on the 10 and 11 June, with a warm-up event on the evening of 9 June.

9 June – Connect
18:00 to 21:00

A warm-up evening of socialising and music

10 June – Inspire
11:00 to 18:00 – Keynotes, talks, panels and social events

18:00 to 00:00 – Food and drink social, live music and dancing

11 June – Evolve

10:00 to 17:00 – Debates, round tables, workshops, talks and social events

17:00 to 20:00 – Closing remarks, food and drink social

The full schedule including details on what to expect for each session will be live on 24 April.

Passes can be purchased directly from our ticket page on: EVENTIVE

In order to purchase a pass you will be required to register for an Eventive account. This account will allow you to save a schedule and book on to limited capacity sessions. 

There are two ticket tiers on offer to minimise financial barriers to attending, The Full Pass and Reduced Rate Pass. Both passes give equal access to all sessions and workshops. The Big Thing is a non-profit event, all income raised through pass sales will go directly back into the cost of the event and supporting others to attend.

The Full Pass

is for individuals and organisations who have the means to pay the standard rate, helping to sustain The Big Thing and keep it accessible.

Regular: £140

Early Bird: £100

(Early bird sale ends Friday 21st April)

The Reduced Rate Pass

is for individuals on a lower income who might not otherwise be able to attend.

Regular: £60

Early Bird: £50

(Early bird sale ends Friday 21st April)

Unfortunately, to keep The Big Thing as affordable as possible, we are unable to offer refunds. 

You may transfer a pass you have purchased through your Eventive account:

1. To do so please follow the instructions below:

• Log in to your Eventive account
• Click on My Passes from the menu
• Click the ‘Manage’ button next to the pass you’d like to transfer, then click Transfer pass
• Enter the recipient’s email address and click Submit

The recipient will receive an email containing a link allowing them to either add the pass to their existing Eventive account or to create a new account if they don’t already have one.

Once the recipient has accepted the pass via email, the pass will have transferred successfully.

Your delegate pass includes a dinner buffet on 10 June. For lunches and hot drinks, food trucks serving a range of dishes including vegan and vegetarian options will be positioned in the square between the Great Victoria Hotel and the Law courts, along with picnic bench seating

When purchasing your pass, please complete the form noting down any dietary requirements so we can cater for you. Food menus will list allergens.

For more information on where to eat and drink when in Bradford you can find more information on the Bradford 2025 website.

There will be receptions and social events during The Big Thing at which both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be served or available to purchase.

A limited number of bursaries will be available to support artists to attend The Big Thing for whom the cost of travel, accommodation and a pass is a barrier to attending.

Find our more and apply here.

Two railway stations are close to the main venues: Bradford Interchange (6 minute walk to St. George’s Hall) and Bradford Forster Square (10 minute walk to St George’s Hall) and both connect to many locations including Cardiff, Edinburgh and London.

Information about Bradford Interchange is available on the National Rail website. There are photographs and more information about its accessibility on AccessAble.

Information about Bradford Forster Square station is available on the National Rail website. There are photographs and more information about its accessibility on AccessAble.

Bradford operates a Clean Air Zone, so if you are driving into the city centre, you can check if you need to pay on the Bradford Council website. 

Disabled parking close to both St George’s Hall and The Great Victoria Hotel for Blue Badge holders is available opposite the front doors to the Hotel on Drake Street (shown in the picture below).

A map of Bradford city centre that shows where further disabled parking is located, is available via the Bradford Council website.

Drop-offs to St George’s Hall can be made on Drake Street, at the end of the long ramp in front of the venue.

A list of Council car parks are available on Bradford Council website. The closest car parks to the core venues are the Law Courts Car Park on Vicar Lane (4 minute walk to St George’s Hall) or The Broadway Car Park on Hall Ings (2 minute walk to St George’s Hall).

There are 3 regional airports with access to Bradford: 

• Leeds Bradford (LBA) Airport, which is 6.5 miles from the city and connection is by bus and takes around 1 hour. Tickets can be booked via https://flyerbytransdev.palisis.com
• Manchester (MAN) is 36.8 miles and can be reached by multiple trains and takes around 2 hours. Tickets can be booked via www.nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner

Liverpool (LPL) is 55.5 miles and involves multiple trains and buses and takes just under 3 hours. Tickets can be booked via www.nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner

Coaches connect Bradford to towns and cities including London, Cardiff and Edinburgh. The Bradford Interchange Bus Station is a 6 minute walk from St George’s Hall. Tickets can be booked via the National Express website. Information about National Express’ accessibility policies and code of practice is available here.

Several local taxi firms and rideshare apps including Uber are available. 

Leap taxis have accessible vehicles and Uber Access and Assist are available in Bradford.

Riders who use motorised wheelchairs or scooters can book wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAV) through Uber if they are pre-registered. uberWAV driver-partners are certified by a third party in safely driving and assisting disabled people. Information is available here.

Bicycle parking racks are available on Vicar Lane and by the Crown Court. Both are a 4 minute walk from St George’s Hall.

The Big Thing will take place in Bradford, UK. The event will be located around Centenary Square, BD1 1SD, in the City Centre. All venues are a five to ten minute walk from one another.

The main venues for The Big Thing will be St George’s Hall on 10 June and The Great Victoria Hotel on 11 June.

St George’s Hall is a grand Nineteenth century concert venue which will host talks, panels and performances on the 10 June.

This venue has step-free access into the lobby and bar areas, and a lift to the Stalls level. There are 12 wheelchair spaces at St George’s Hall and wheelchair accessible toilets. Outside the venue, on Drake Street, there is a layby drop off point with access to the ramp to Stalls level. St George’s Hall is unable to accommodate scooters and other vehicles designed for outdoor use.

First aid trained venue staff will be available throughout the day and evacuation chairs are in place for wheelchair users.

Some information on accessibility is listed on St George’s Hall website.

The Great Victoria Hotel is a Victorian railway hotel located conveniently across the road from Bradford Interchange bus and train station. The hotel will host talks, panels, workshops, roundtables and meetings on 11 June.

The Hotel has a ramp up to its main entrance, and step-free access from Drake Street into the Velasco room. Inside the Hotel, there is step-free access to all of the rooms being used for our event and into some of the bedrooms (via a working lift). There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor. First aid trained venue staff will be available to assist guests.

The Great Victoria Hotel is listed on AccessAble and this includes photographs, information about accessing different parts of the building, accessible toilets and other information.

A former 1930s cinema with towers on its two corners, now refurbished for live performances, Bradford Live will host our evening meal and social event on 10 June for delegates to meet, learn, plan and party! On 11 June, there will be performances and interviews taking place in the venue.

Loading Bay is a new venue for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. The Basement at the venue will host an evening show and daytime workshops during The Big Thing. It is 9 minutes walk from the core venues around Centenary Square.

There are four sites for Blue Badge Parking nearby on Piccadilly and Dale Street (max. 2 hour stay). Mobility scooters can be parked in the yard. There is step-free access on the ground floor and a lift to the Basement. There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor and in the Basement. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome in the venue.

Common Space is a former youth employment centre that has been developed into a political, social and creative space. It will host networking and workshop sessions for delegates to find connections and learn. It is 11 minutes walk from the core venues around Centenary Square.

The venue has a ramp over a 3cm step at its entrance and inside it is wheelchair accessible and there is an accessible toilet. A hearing loop is due to be fitted in the venue before our event.  There will also be ear defenders and a quiet space (which can also be a prayer room). A fire marshall will be in attendance during the event.

The Museum has an IMAX cinema, galleries and exhibition spaces, and is a centre for exploring the past, present and future of media. As part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, it is hosting You:Matter, an immersive art piece by Marshmallow Laser Feast that explores our connection to the universe and each other. On 9 June, The Big Thing is collaborating with the Museum for a drinks reception at which delegates can also enjoy You:Matter.

There are three accessible parking spaces for blue badge holders outside the Museum. The entrance, inside space and lifts are wheelchair accessible. In the event of an evacuation, evacuation chairs will be used by trained staff. The Museum has a Changing Places toilet and an accessible toilet. A hearing loop is in place on floor 0. The venue welcomes guide and assistance dogs. Staff there recognise and support visitors who are part of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme

There are several hotels in the near vicinity of the event venues. The following have ringfenced a number of rooms for delegates to book these at a discounted price for stays on the nights of 9 and/or 10 June.

Leonard Hotel Bradford, 2 Thornton Road, Bradford, BD1 2DH

• 7 minutes walk from St George’s Hall and a 9 minute walk from Bradford Interchange train station.
• Double rooms with breakfast are priced from £75.
• A limited number of accessible rooms are available. (e.g. step-free access, roll-in showers, grab bars).

Please book via their website and follow these steps:

1. select ‘Leonardo Bradford Hotel’
2. add dates
3. Select room / adult
4. add promotion code: LHBRAD090625
5. Click on search

Holiday Inn Express, Vicar Lane, Bradford BD1 5LD

• 5 minutes walk from St George’s Hall and a 2 minute walk from Bradford Interchange train station.
• Double rooms with breakfast are priced from £70.
• There are no accessible rooms at this hotel.

Please book using this link to their website and follow these steps:

1. Click the white ‘View Prices’ button at the top right of the screen
2. Add Dates
3. Select Rooms and Guests
4. Please ignore the Rate Preference menu. You do not need a code, the link will automatically generate the discounted rate.
5. Click ‘View Prices’.

There are other hotels close to the core venues. These do not have ring fenced and discounted rooms for delegates, but they do have room availability as of 17 March 2025.

Premier Inn Bradford Central Hotel, Vicar Lane, Bradford, BD1 5LD

5 minutes walk from St George’s Hall and a 2 minute walk from Bradford Interchange train station.

Double rooms available and are priced from £52.

This hotel has some accessible rooms and can be contacted to discuss this by email pi.accessible@whitbread.com or phone 0333 091 9817.

Book via their website or by phone 0333 321 9237.

When booking or registering for a pass, you will be asked to write your access requests in the checkout form. We will do our best to accommodate access needs.

Please review the Access section below to understand what to expect from the organisers and from the venues, transport and accommodation options.

Please share your access needs at the point of buying, or registering, your pass so that we can best plan your support. If this is not possible, delegates should send any requests to the organisers by email or phone by Monday 12 May. These contact details are available in the confirmation email once delegates have purchased or registered their pass.

The closest Changing Places toilets (toilets that are larger than standard accessible toilets) to the core venues are below and more details of where to find them can be found here.

• Bradford City Pavilion, Godwin Street.
• The National Science and Media Museum
• The Broadway, Hall Ings
• University of Bradford, Richmond Building, K Floor

A dedicated Access Coordinator will be available at the core venues on both days of the event. Volunteers will be available to support and guide delegates between train or bus stations, venues, drop-off points, or nearby hotels. This support must be requested in advance by Monday 12 May.

Trained assistance dogs are welcome. Water will be provided for dogs. Volunteers will be able to sit with dogs for limited periods of time if required, please ask the Access Coordinator for this at the venue.

If a delegate has a dog allergy, they should let us know in the access requirements form when buying their pass. We can then take reasonable steps to ensure that person has minimal or no contact with dogs by ensuring areas of the venue remain dog free.

There will be limited printed material for the event, but alternative formats can be produced on request, including large print, audio, braille and easy read. The deadline for requesting alternative formats is Monday 12 May.

There will be scrolling presentations shown at various points throughout the event, including with video and audio which will be captioned. All presenters will be asked to audio describe images used and to summarise visual content of video material used.

There will be a Relaxed attitude to noise and movement within the event and people are free to come and go in all sessions as they wish. Lighting will be kept on low in the auditorium to allow for easy movement and sound during presentations will be kept at a comfortable level.

During evening performances there may be lighting effects and loud noise which will be indicated within the schedule item.

A rest space will be available throughout the event. This is a space to take time out from the event and there will be equipment to help you relax, including eye masks, noise cancelling headphones, blankets, fidget toys, and more. The rest space will have a variety of options to sit or lay down.

BSL interpretation will be provided for the formal speech-based events at the core venues.

A limited number of interpreters can  be available during the networking sessions, discussions and round tables.

Please let us know if you require such assistance by Monday 12 May.

Live speech to text will be provided onto the main screen being used by presenters at St George’s Hall on the 10 June.

Speech to text will be available for individual screen devices (for example, smartphones and tablets) during other talk formats on 11 June.

This will be provided by logging onto a web link provided by the captioners.

The link will be displayed prominently in each room where a presentation is taking place.

St George’s Hall has an induction loop system.

An induction loop system for talk and panel formats at The Great Victoria Hotel can be made available on request.

Please let us know if you require an induction loop in your access requirements when purchasing a pass and by Monday 12 May.