Cartwright Hall

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Cartwright Hall

Cartwright Hall is the civic art gallery in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, situated about a mile from the city centre in the Manningham district.

The gallery was opened in 1904 with a collection of Victorian and Edwardian works donated by Samuel Lister. It is named after Edmund Cartwright.

Cartwright Hall stands in Lister Park and enjoys scenic views of the city. Cartwright Hall has been held to represent "Bradford Baroque", a style of architecture typical of Bradford. However, it was designed by the same architects as Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, also in the Baroque style: perhaps the architecture of both buildings is best seen in a national context.

The purpose-built gallery is home to a notable collection of permanent works, from Old Masters to 20th Century British painters and sculptors. Cartwright Hall also houses contemporary exhibitions by local, national and international artists, historical exhibitions, craft and media arts, and a biennial open exhibition. Recent acquisitions include contemporary South Asian Art - Islamic calligraphy, illustrated textiles in the phulkari style and items of contemporary Sikh art, including a portrait of Guru Nanak).

In 1983 Cartwright Hall was briefy used as part of the musical number 'every sperm is sacred' in the Monty Python movie, The Meaning of Life.