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Bradford 2025: Northern Soul cinema season – Bhaji on the Beach; Ramadan Festival & Conference; ‘Fighting to be heard’

Bradford 2025: Northern Soul cinema season – Bhaji on the Beach; Ramadan Festival & Conference; ‘Fighting to be heard’

Films

LATEST: Northern Soul programme continues with the screening of the iconic Gurinder Chadha film, ‘Bhaji on the Beach’ (1993) and what happens when a bunch of pensioners from London go on a trip up north, to Blackpool, to see the lights. Other films include ‘Under the Skin’, ‘Wuthering Heights’, ‘Northern Soul’, and ‘Typist Artist Pirate King’, ending this programme at Pictureville Cinema at the National Science and Media Museum. The Northern Soul programme began last night (January 30) with the screening of ‘A Taste of Honey’ (Tony Richardson 1961) and a post screening discussion with celebrated West Yorkshire writer-director Clio Barnard (‘Ali and Ava’), who is also the main curator of this strand with screenings all at Pictureville at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford.
See here for more on Northern Soul (Bradford 2025): https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/cinema/northern-soul-season

Culture
Ramadan Festival and Conference

Courtesy Bradford 2025 ©AcaciaDiana

UK City of Culture teams up with the Ramadan Tent Project and its Ramadan Festival which opens with a one-day conference at St George’s Hall in the city.
A two month celebration of Connection through art, culture and creative events in the city and created to engage audiences – whatever their background.
Shanaz Gulzar, creative director Bradford 2025 Uk city of Culture said: Through initiatives like the Welcome Ramadan Conference, which will kick off the Ramadan Festival 2025, we are creating spaces for sharing experiences and building meaningful relationships.”
She said the festival was showcasing ‘connection’ this year and it fitted in with Bradford 2025 is all about, it was she commented, about “bringing communities together in the spirit of unity and cultural exchange . Together we are fostering an environment where every voice is heard and every tradition is honoured.”
Omar Salha, founder and chief executive of the Ramadan Tent Project stated: “We are excited to welcome people of all father and none, with a focus under this year’s Ramadan Festival theme of ‘Connection’.
Welcome Ramadan Conference, St George’s Hall, Bradford BD1 1JT – Saturday, February 15
Ramadan Festival 2025 – see here – https://www.ramadantentproject.com/ramadan-festival-2025/#some_place

Fighting to Be Heard – a new free exhibition open now until April 27
Art, Culture, Faith, Boxing

Indian Qur’an from 16th Century – Courtesy of Bradford 2025 ©DavidLindsay

Rarely seen Qur’ans from the British Library exhibited in the north for the first time in many case. Several go back to the 9th century.
New artworks too inspired by calligraphy and typography
Displays of work by artists Anwar Jalal Shemza, Shahzia Sikander and Peter Sanders.
Exhibition is co-curated by World Champion boxer Tasif Khan, members of his boxing academy and calligrapher Razwan Ul-Haq.
Exhibitions explores connections between boxing and calligraphy through the lens of British South Asian Muslim men from Bradford today.
Among the items a 14th century Öljaitü Qur’an from Iran and named after the ruler, Mohamm-e-Khodabaneh – who was also known as Öljaitü (which means blessed in Mongolian and is the origin of these rulers). There are a number of events too with this exhibition check here to see what’s coming up…
Fighting to be heard – Cartwright Hall Gallery, Lister Park, Bradford BD9 4NS
https://www.visitbradford.com/whats-on/fighting-to-be-heard-british-library-p2224831

For more of the Bradford 2025 programme see – https://bradford2025.co.uk/whats-on

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Written by Asian Culture Vulture