Local artists and members of the community gathered together on Thursday to mark the month of Ramadan with a special Open Arts Iftar.
The popular evening was hosted at Kala Sangam, where members of the team fasted and invited local people to come and open their fast together with arts as the backdrop.
The event was open to people of all backgrounds as well as those who don’t participate in Ramadan or are fasting. Those who attended joined in the tradition of opening fast with a date and some water and were then treated to Nasheed’s, with performances by Faizan Imrani, and sumptuous food from Aziz Catering.
Mohammed Iftikar, Facilities Manager at Kala Sangam told Asian Standard: “My faith is very important to me and it’s great to be able to share that with friends and colleagues. As well as non-Muslim members of the team fasting for the day, we had people from across Bradford’s communities sharing food and conversation in a warm, welcoming space. I love that the Arts Iftar is now part of our annual programme, and I am looking forward to how it will continue to break down barriers and bring people together.”
Alex Corwin, Marketing and Programme Manager at Kala Sangam was one of the non-Muslim team members fasting on the day. He admitted he wasn’t familiar with Ramadan until they hosted their first Arts Iftar last year. He says he has found “running them and fasting to be important and powerful experiences.” On his experience of fasting he added: “Although I have only fasted for a day, it feels like it has brought our team closer together and I love the sense of community and support on the day.”
Kala Sangam Trustee and Associate Director at Leeds Playhouse Sameena Hussai
n also found the Arts Iftar to be a ‘beautiful evening’. She said: “The Open Arts Iftar was a beautiful evening, the Nasheed’s dedicated to parents was very poignant and a beautiful way to start the evening. We need more spaces and moments to come together like this.”
Well in the words of Kamal Kaan, actor and writer the Arts Iftar was certainly a ‘blockbuster’ evening, which was thoroughly loved. He was delighted to share: “I loved it last year, but it was even better this year. Families and young people coming to Kala Sangam is very special to see and it’s great to share our culture with people who might not necessarily see it otherwise. The food was amazing and long live the Arts Iftar at Kala Sangam.”
