May Blog
May has been super busy over here at Kala Sangam. From staff trips to Archive Adventures, our final Kala Sangam performance to our Arts and Heritage project, this month we have done it all! Lots of exciting changes are happening, but for now, check out what we got up to in May…
Capital Update
Things are really starting to come together on site with plastering and painting now underway throughout the building! If you keep an eye on the outside of the building over the next week you’ll see our brand new front doors being installed. Inside, the theatre seating bank is nearly complete and we’ve been hard at work levelling the foyer floor ahead of it’s new finish. It’s definitely starting to look like an Arts Centre again!
Last Kala Sangam Performance
As we look ahead to returning to St Peter’s House, we will officially become Bradford Arts Centre in July…but before then, please join us for one final Kala Sangam performance – Shivaangee Agrawal’s Come Rest In Chaos.
Shivaangee is one of an exciting new generation of South Asian dancers and choreographers working in the UK today – combining Indian Classical dance with contemporary styles to create work that is both modern and firmly rooted in tradition. We are very excited to be bringing her work to Bradford just as we grow into a new organisation that is maintaining and celebrating its South Asian roots.
We are also delighted to be partnering with Bradford 2025 for this special performance at their pop up arts venue, Loading Bay.
Samanata Commission
Jaivant Patel Company, Wolverhampton and Kala Sangam, Bradford are once again offering seed commissions to a South Asian LGBTQIA+ identifying artist/creative to support the development of innovative new performance-based work. Samānatā translates as equality.
Seed commission applications for this performance-based work will place South Asian Queerness at the forefront of its subject matter, to address current under-representation on the UK cultural landscape. For more information, click here.
Staff Trip
Team Kala Sangam went to see the opening night of Common Wealth’s performance ‘Public Interest’ at Loading Bay. It was a really interesting performance and we even got the chance to get involved with the actors… Check out Jess, Alex and Lauren getting dressed up to look the part!
What Have Our Staff Been Up To
Mo has been very busy keeping up with his now 4 month old little boy! His sleeping pattern is great, so Mo has been full of energy at work with our facilities team as they start making plans for the big move back to St Peter’s House.
Jess and Lauren opened up their first joint exhibition ‘In Full Colour’ over at Trapezium Arts. Their opening day saw nearly 100 people attend, including most of team Kala Sangam. With 90 pieces in total, the exhibition shows work they have both created, from paintings to sculpture, photography to collage, and even film. Jess has also been working towards Thornton Art Trail!
Alex Croft and Ifty had a great time at the launch of Modus Arts new Tape Letters exhibition at Loading Bay. Alex reckons it’s one of the most stylish exhibitions he’s ever seen!
Steve visited Co-op Live in Manchester – an amazing new venue with a capacity of over 23,000, and saw Bruce Springsteen, also known as ‘The Boss’. He performed for almost 3 hours – not bad for a 74 year old! The show was hit after hit: from Born to Run to Dancing in the Dark – and they certainly were!
Archive Adventures
We have just posted our 17th Archive Adventure video! And we are happy to share that our video project is extending until the start of September! We now have 27 jam packed videos to share with you all, full of our favourite moment from Kala Sangam’s history. This month, we spoke to our Education and Outreach Officer Fay, former staff member Pav, Rev. Canon Ned Lunn of Bradford Cathedral, board member and former staff member Rashmi, and Bradford artist Razwan Ul-Haq, who is one of our Heritage commissions. Check out the videos here.
Arts and Heritage Update
Ellie and Grace at Bloomin Buds took a trip to Manchester for an exciting day of filling their creative cups. The first stop was The Whitworth for the Women in Revolt exhibition. Surrounding themselves with a mixture of artforms, inspired them with lots of new ideas to feed into their group’s final responses. Along with feeling the girl power. Next stop was Manchester HOME for a youth leader CPD training session with the amazing company, Wise Children. The pair threw themselves straight in, learning all things ensemble building, performance skills and unfiltered playfulness. The groups have enjoyed experimenting with the new skills and games and are getting ready to begin building their pieces.
Over at South Square, the community garden planted by ESOL learners at Lower Grange Community Centre has been growing well and the group collected flowers and leaves from the garden to create beautiful eco-printed silk fabric with the help of textile artist Claire Wellesley-Smith. The Soul Girls have completed their family of sculptures made from recycled materials. The sculptures will be displayed as part of the Soul Girls Art Trail in Allerton, launching Saturday 19th July at Cafe West. We’re also excited to be working with Bradford Youth Service and Beckfoot Thornton students to begin building a public art installation inspired by what it means to be a young person in Bradford.
Kathak Classes
Fancy trying something new? Why not sign up for our Kathak Classes with RHYTHMOSAIC at Bank House, every Saturday morning 10am – 11am. Sign up here.
Booking Spaces
We are still taking room bookings for Kala Sangam at Bank House as we gear up to move back into St Peter’s House later this year. So, if you’re looking for a meeting room, training space or conference hall in the heart of the city centre, please email steveoconnell@kalasangam.org . Our building is accessible, and all rooms have a projector, flipchart and fast Wi-Fi. Don’t forget, we also have in-house catering offering refreshments and food throughout your session.
