Community Heritage in England

Formerly known as Kala Sangam, Bradford Arts Centre is Bradford’s new place to meet up, get more creative, and be wowed by South Asian and contemporary performance.

Whether people are taking time out to explore their creativity, develop new work, or see exceptional South Asian dance and contemporary performance, this is a space for everyone.

Bradford Arts Centre has been funded by:

• DCMS – Cultural Development Fund
• National Lottery Heritage Fund
• Bradford Council
• Garfield Weston Foundation
• Foyle Foundation

St Peter’s House, Bradford Arts Centre’s base in the city, is undergoing a multi-million-pound redevelopment to expand its role as a welcoming, inclusive arts space. The charity offers free access, ‘Give What You Decide’ performances, and tailored support for artists through free studio space. Income from meeting room hire sustains their work, which includes artist development, dance classes, and community programmes. Rooted in respect and authentic connection, the project deepens cultural understanding and celebrates heritage, ensuring the building remains a vibrant hub for creativity and connection.

The transformed building includes a brand new state-of-the art 170-seat theatre, five purpose-built rehearsal studios, four meeting rooms, a conference venue, office space for creative businesses, and the home of BCB Radio. The new Sangam Lounge is an informal space to meet and relax, and honours the legacy of the arts organisation, Kala Sangam (‘Kala’ meaning arts and ‘Sangam’ meaning meeting point in Sanskrit). Newly commissioned artworks by Yorkshire-based artists Razwan Ul-Haq, Turbynes and Eve Wright, a final-year student from Bradford College and community groups U3A and Womenzone, are being installed throughout the centre, reflecting the cultural heritage of both the organisation and the building.

The transformation of St Peter’s House preserves a vital heritage asset, repurposing it as a flagship arts centre that engages diverse communities. Alongside capital works, the charity has delivered a two-year arts and heritage project with 17 community groups exploring and sharing their heritage through different art forms, including visual arts, dance, drama, and music. Showcasing these creative expressions deepens the public connection to heritage and celebrates the stories that shape the city’s cultural identity.

A Grade II-listed building since 1974, St Peter’s House was built as the General Post Office (GPO), designed by the Post Office’s architect Sir Henry Tanner, and first opened on 1 September 1887. Later that year, a telegraph office also opened inside the building. As a GPO it was Bradford’s most important post office and acted as the service’s city headquarters. In 2008, it became the home of Kala Sangam. Bradford Arts Centre therefore builds on a long history of St Peter’s as a place for local residents to communicate and connect.

Originally founded as the South Asian arts organisation Kala Sangam in 1993, Bradford Arts Centre moved into St Peter’s House in Little Germany in 2008. Through performances, artist development, dance classes, schools and community programmes and more, the charity works towards deepening the understanding between people and sharing culture and heritage to connect people in the here and now. The multimillion- pound capital redevelopment of St Peter’s House marks a transformative chapter in the journey of Kala Sangam, returning to the space with a new name, Bradford Arts Centre, in late 2025.