Kala Sangam receives further funding for the redevelopment of its Grade II arts centre with major grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Garfield Weston Foundation.

It was announced today that Kala Sangam, Bradford’s arts centre, has been awarded £2,291,947 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and £250,000 from The Garfield Weston Foundation to support the company’s ambitious capital plans and enable delivery of a programme of activity with four local, diverse communities.

This investment comes with the charity having already secured £4,998,500 for the redevelopment from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s Cultural Development Fund in March 2023, alongside £200,000 of investment from Bradford Metropolitan District Council, and means the project is now able to move forward to construction.

Having closed to the public in December 2023, Kala Sangam expects building work to begin on site in February 2024. The redevelopment will transform the company’s arts centre, creating a new 200-seat theatre space, with Heritage Fund support contributing to the creation of five new studios and a new home for Bradford Community Broadcasting. A new entrance, two new lifts, Changing Places facility, foyer and central staircase will ensure the building is accessible to all when it reopens, as Bradford Arts Centre, during Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture in 2025.

Alex Croft, Creative Director of Kala Sangam said, ‘We have been on a two-year journey with the Heritage Fund through the project’s development phase that has seen heritage become embedded in our thinking, ways of working and the very fabric of our building. Thanks to their multi-million-pound investment, we can ensure the future for our landmark, heritage building, and engage our local communities to guarantee who we are, and what we do, is relevant to them.’

‘The funding we have received from The Garfield Weston Foundation is the final, critical piece of the jigsaw that we needed to be able to move forward with this transformational project. Without this investment we wouldn’t have been able to begin work in time to play a major role during the City of Culture year, so we are extremely grateful to their Trustees for their belief in the project.’

Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said, ‘We are absolutely thrilled to support Kala Sangam with this grant that will secure a long and bright future for the much-loved arts centre. Thanks to National Lottery players, this transformational project will reshape the Grade II Listed heritage building into an accessible and welcoming venue for all, and work with local communities to explore and celebrate their own heritage stories.

With heritage-led regeneration at its heart, it is an incredibly exciting time for Bradford. We are thoroughly looking forward to seeing it all come together as Bradford’s landmark year of culture takes shape in 2025.

During the redevelopment, Kala Sangam will be based at Bank House in central Bradford. This temporary home will house two studio spaces, allowing the company to continue its critical support for artists in the run up to Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture, and a range of spaces available to hire for meetings, events and conferences. Details of how to book these spaces will be released in early February.

The company will also be presenting an exciting 18-month programme of performances at venues across the Bradford district – starting with Kerry Wright’s landmark new play Kailey from 30 January at Keighley Creative. Tickets are available now here.