Kala Sangam in Little Germany is in the process of a major refurbishment to create a more accessible arts and performance space for the city.
The new artists have been commissioned thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and will be inspired by the heritage and history of both Kala Sangam and St Peter’s House.
Bradford-based Visual Artist Razwan Al-Huq has been working with Kala Sangam staff to develop a new piece of calligraphy that will use tinctures made from the very bricks of the building itself.
Turbynes (Rosie Freeman and Marf Keane) are developing a new soundscape that incorporates materials from Kala Sangam’s 30-year archive and reflections on the life of St Peter’s House, the building that eventually became home to Kala Sangam.
The third commission will see Kala Sangam partnering with Bradford College to award a first professional commission to a final year student on their Level 6 BA (Hons) Art and Design course. After initial shortlisting, three candidates will be selected to develop their concept before pitching to a panel led by secondary school students from Carlton Bolling Academy’s Arts Council.
St Peter’s House, which served as Bradford’s General Post Office until the 1960s, has been home to Kala Sangam since 2008.
The building is currently undergoing major works to create a new theatre space, five new rehearsal studios and a home for BCB Radio.
The redevelopment will also address significant access issues, with two new lifts and an easy to find main entrance and foyer. It will reopen, as Bradford Arts Centre, in Summer 2025 as a milestone event in the City of Culture programme.
Alex Croft, Creative Director of Kala Sangam said: “As we look forward to an exciting future, I’m glad that the rich pasts of both Kala Sangam and our beautiful Grade II listed building are going to be so prominently on display throughout the building.”
Rosie Freeman said: “As Bradford’s General Post Office and as a multi-cultural arts centre, St Peter’s House has long been a site of communication and process. We’re inspired to develop work which explores the personal, local and global stories which have and continue to flow through the building.”
Mr Al-Huq said: “I feel very privileged and excited to be able to create a piece of Art for the new centre; I’ve already done quite a bit of work on it and have been fortunate enough to meet staff of Kala Sangam for an Arabic Workshop which we all enjoyed.”