Bradford 2025 Winter update – our visit to Bradford Arts Centre, interview references and final exhibitions continued (page 2)
Continued…
WHEN the bird went up to Bradford to be shown around and interview senior staff it was before Bradford Arts Centre was actually open to the public on October 6.
Now it is – more people in Bradford and the surrounding space are aware it exists and it is accessible to the public. The moniker for the centre, today, is Hiya, Love!
The building used to be known as St Peter’s House and is in the heart of the city and close to the railway station – for those organisations and artists who used Kala Sangam to perform – the contrast must be acute.
There is good disabled access and the building when we were there was very warm and welcoming – it is also fully air-conditioned which was a problem in the summer especially. when there were shows in the performance space.
Down on ground level is the new Sangam Lounge, representing the legacy created and now nurtured by two doctors whose passion for dance performance and bringing people together has matured from Kala Sangam to Bradford Arts Centre.
Earlier this year there were community consultations and representations and the new name was agreed.
In the café/bar lounge area is Razwan Ul-Haq’s ‘Bradford Symphony No8’ using actual brickwork from the building itself. It is a Calligraphy work which has both an elephant and motorcar in it. There is also a new soundscape incorporating materials from the centre’s 30-year archive by the Turbynes (Rosie Freeman and Marf Keene) and final year Bradford College student Eve Wright has created a sculpture.
Amer Sarai, head of community engagement, at Bradford Arts Centre, summed up the centre’s ethos.
She has been working closely with schools, community groups and families, and encouraging diverse communities to see the building and the facilities as theirs.
“Our core philosophy is centred around trying to say ‘yes’ to people as much as we can.”
For more on her own inspiring personal story, please see our Instagram video interview (below and on the main page about Bradford Arts Centre).
Mohammed Iftikar, who is better known as just ‘Ifty’, has been with Kala Sangam, for more than 18 years, first landing up there looking after an arts project and then graduating over the years to caring for the building and helping artists put on their shows there.
On our press trip, he talked about what an improvement the new ground floor theatre was – previously the theatre was upstairs, got very hot and had limited changing facilities; now there is room and the building theatre space can be accessed from the street, when needed even.
Born and bred in the city and a third generation Asian, he enthused: “It has been a dream and a vision for many years to see our theatre space on the ground floor level.
His enthusiasm and friendly demeanour are infectious and joyous.
“My city makes me proud. I feel privileged to be managing such a building in the heart of Bradford.”
ACV also spoke to him about the transformation as someone who worked for Kala Sangam from the start (see our interview).
CEO Alex Croft also spoke to acv about how personally he had been moved by the transformation – noting how the staircase in the centre of the building was about elevation and lifting and reaching upwards.
“This is a space that will inspire, engage and entertain people – one that celebrates our company’s incredible history whilst providing the modern accessible venue that Bradford deserves.”
In that opening week, Jaivant Patel’s ambitious and original ‘Astitva’ (Existence) about his own development as a dancer and gay man, was the premiere show when the building opened on October 9.
Since 2016, his production outfit, Jaivant Patel Company (JPco) has performed at the venue, Kala Sangam, as it was then.
Following ‘Astitva’ at Bradford Arts Centre was actor and local Bradfordian Natalie Davies (‘Full English’) ‘Bring It Back’. It is a dance theatre show with a DJ and covers the city’s rich musical history from Northern Soul, brass, choirs to bhangra and harks back to a time when the club scene was varied as it was dynamic.
Over at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery and Lister Park, the new Turner Prize Exhibition has been open since the Autumn. Showcasing the work of the four nominated artists: Nnena Kalu, Rene Matić, Mohammed Sami and Zadie Xa. It is a free show and the gallery is set in the luscious grounds of Lister Park which interestingly has a Mughal Garden.
More overtly, part of Bradford 2025, the winner of this year’s Turner Prize (the most coveted by Britain’s practising visual artistic community), will be revealed at Bradford Grammar School, just opposite the gallery. While there isn’t any South Asian heritage artist shortlisted this year – after Jasleen Kaur’s win last year, there is work on display from one of the country’s most famous visual artists – Sir Anish Kapoor – artwork is the foyer as you enter. Kapoor’s ‘Turning the World Inside Out‘ (1995) is exhibited. Kapoor won the Turner Prize in 1991 and has never looked back.
Bradford Grammar School is the alma mater of David Hockney, probably the country’s most famous living artist. A new exhibition of his computer generated images can be seen at Salts Mill (see link below and page 1).
This vast space and site – a world heritage monument – also housed Ann Hamilton’s ‘We speak’. It ended earlier this month.
The well-known American artist produced a show which recognised the building’s textile heritage and our video references her inspiration.
Situated over the vast space on the fourth floor of what was once one of Europe’s largest open rooms, it recognised the textile industry and was inspired by ‘feves’ – like tiny figurines, she found in a local shop.
Listing
David Hockney, ‘Flowers for 2025 And Some Bigger Pictures’ until January 4 2026 (free entry)
https://www.saltsmill.org.uk/#arrival
Turner Prize Exhibition until February 22 – winner announced December 9 – Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Lister Park, BD9 4NS
Previously
Bradford Arts Centre interviews – https://www.instagram.com/p/DPrY5lQgtst
Turner Prize Exhibition and Salts Mill (Bradford 2025) https://www.instagram.com/p/DO_sKpcAp04
