A long-standing Bradford arts venue has reopened its doors following a £7.9 million refurbishment and rebrand that has completely transformed the building.
Later this week, Bradford Arts Centre will officially welcome the public to its newly refurbished home, previously known as Kala Sangam.
Located at St Peter’s House in Little Germany, opposite The Broadway shopping centre, the venue has been closed since late 2023 to undergo a major redevelopment.
It reopens on Wednesday, 8 October, with the world premiere of Jaivant Patel Company’s ASTITVA taking place on Thursday 9 October, followed by the Bradford South Asian Festival over the weekend.
Before its refurbishment, Kala Sangam occupied only part of the upper floor of the Grade II-listed former General Post Office. The ground floor, previously used by Bradford Council, has now been integrated into the arts centre — expanding the space to include artist studios, conference facilities, and a new 170-seat theatre.
The £7.9 million redevelopment was jointly funded by the Department for Media, Culture and Sport, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Foyle Foundation, Bradford Council, and Bradford 2025.
One of the biggest challenges in the old building was accessibility. Previously, visitors with wheelchairs or buggies had to use a cramped lift or enter through Bradford Cathedral’s grounds. The transformation has completely opened up St Peter’s House, with new accessible entrances, a bright and spacious lobby, and an inviting new frontage.
The expanded theatre space is significantly larger than before, while the new studios can now be leased by artists and performers for just £1 a day.
Reflecting on the building’s history, Alex Croft, CEO of Bradford Arts Centre, said:
“The building was crucial for the people of Bradford — for successive waves of immigrant communities, it connected them to their homelands. We hope we’ve created a space that fosters a modern cultural exchange.”
He added that plans for the expansion had been in motion long before Bradford secured its UK City of Culture 2025 title.
“It’s transformed what we’re capable of,” he said. “Before, we had just one space for artistic, educational, and cultural delivery — now we have five studios and a much bigger theatre.”
The centre also plans to generate income by hiring out rooms for conferences and corporate events, helping to keep ticket prices as low as £1 for community audiences.
Croft said the redevelopment now gives them the scale and flexibility they always needed:
“Before, we didn’t have the capacity to make it work — now the scale has massively increased.”
A café on the top floor is expected to reopen in the New Year, offering a welcoming space for the public, whether or not they are attending a performance.
“It will be an open space for everyone,” said Croft.
The Autumn season features 17 events, including six premieres, four building takeovers, five City of Culture support programmes, and 12 development-supported shows.
The season opens with ASTITVA, a powerful new dance work exploring choreographer Jaivant Patel’s experiences growing up as a queer Indian man.
For tickets and the full programme, visit bdartscentre.co.uk/whats-on
