Bradford Arts Centre – previously known as Kala Sangam – will officially reopen its fully refurbished Grade II listed building on Wednesday 8 October 2025, with a bold new name, brand, and mission. Located in the heart of Bradford City Centre, the renamed centre has been reimagined to better reflect the whole city and offer a more inclusive, creative home for performance, artistic development, meetings, education and community workshops spotlighting the city’s brilliant culture and heritage.
Following years of consultation and an ambitious £7.9mn capital redevelopment, the centre features a 170-seat theatre, state-of-the-art rehearsal studios, meeting spaces, and a base for local station BCB Radio. Its innovative model provides artists with over 650 days of free rehearsal space per year, subsidised through commercial hires – making it the only venue in the North of England to do so.
A hub reimagined: facilities, artworks, and legacy
The modernised space pays homage to its roots while embracing the future. Kala Sangam was founded in 1993 and resident in the former General Post Office since 2008. The new Sangam Lounge honours the Kala Sangam legacy, and three site-specific artworks now enrich the building. This includes calligraphy by Razwan Ul-Haq using brick dust from the structure itself, a soundscape from Turbynes, and a sculpture by Bradford College student Eve Wright.
Accessibility in the old building was always a challenge, so making the new building accessible has been an important goal in the refurbishment. The new venue will have lift access to all floors, step-free entrances, and a ‘Changing Places’ facility. Longtime facilities manager Ifty (Mohammed Iftikar) said:
“It has been a dream and a vision for many years to see our theatre space on the ground level. I love my colleagues, I love the atmosphere, I love the vibe. I love coming to work every morning with a smile on my face.
“My city makes me proud – I’m a born and bred Bradford lad. We have one of the oldest Grade II listed buildings, and I feel privileged to be managing such a building in the heart of Bradford.”
Amer Sarai, head of community engagement, said:
“Through our schools and community programmes, we have been building strong relationships so that when we open, people feel they can just pop in and join in with activities, see a show or hang out. Our core philosophy is centred around trying to say ‘yes’ to people as much as we can.”
A new artistic season to open with Jaivant Patel Company’s ‘ASTITVA’
The opening performance on Thursday 9 October will be the world premiere of ‘ASTITVA’ by Jaivant Patel Company. A longtime partner of the centre, Patel explores themes of identity and queerness in Indian culture in this deeply personal dance work. He said:
“It is truly incredible to be the first company to perform on Bradford Arts Centre’s new stage and in its reopening season with ‘ASTITVA’, especially as it has been such a long-term supporter of our work.
“Bradford Arts Centre is a key player both in the regional and national landscape that allows trust and faith in the artistic vision of South Asian voices who have something to say about diverse voices sitting at the intersectionality of lived experiences in contemporary UK society.”
The autumn 2025 programme is supported by the Cultural Development Fund, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Garfield Weston Foundation, Foyle Foundation and Bradford Council. It is packed with 17 events, including six premieres, four building takeovers, five City of Culture support programmes, and performances from artists and companies like Mobius Dance, Natalie Davies, Northern Rascals, Nina Rajarani, and Akshay Sharma.
Bradford South Asian Festival will also host a full weekend takeover featuring interactive workshops and family-friendly activities like ‘Little Foodies’ and Disco Dewanney. CEO Alex Croft shared: “After eight years of work, I can’t wait to open our doors. We’ve created a space that’s welcoming, accessible, and truly reflective of Bradford’s creative spirit.”
Championing local artists and inclusive culture
Bradford Arts Centre’s programming centres on three key themes: ‘This is Bradford’, highlighting local voices; ‘South Asia Now’, spotlighting British South Asian creatives; and ‘British Diversity’, examining identity and culture in today’s UK.
The venue will also continue delivering the Kala Sangam Commission – a £10k biennial opportunity supporting Classical Indian dance, music, or theatre. Meera Patel’s ‘Attuning’, designed to be accessible to Blind and visually impaired audiences, is one such commissioned work premiering this autumn.
Through artist development, tailored support, and flexible, cost-free space, the centre has helped launch national tours and elevate local creatives. Choreographer Ella Tighe said: “Bradford Arts Centre have been pivotal in the development of my career as a choreographer. Artists need time and space to allow an idea to grow and evolve and to pursue their work, and this is what Bradford Arts Centre gave me.”
A City of Culture centrepiece, built for the future
As Bradford celebrates its UK City of Culture 2025 status, the reopening of Bradford Arts Centre adds a powerful new cultural asset to the district. Pete Massey from Arts Council England called the venue “a transformed space that reflects 30 years of dedication to arts and community”.
The centre will operate with a ‘give what you decide’ model for ticketing – audiences book for free, then donate after the show if they choose, ensuring affordability and access.
Founders Dr Geetha and Dr Shripati Upadhyaya said, “The creative seed sown 30 years ago has grown into a massive oak tree. We’re proud to witness its transformation.”
Tickets available from Monday 1 September. For full programme details and to book, visit the Bradford Arts Centre website.
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