A promotional film produced by Pishdaad Modaressi Chahardehi for the new Bradford Arts Centre looking back on the three years it has taken to transform the centre into an inclusive and accessible arts venue in the city. Title: August 2023 Over a series of aerial views of Bradford Arts Centre several voices talk about why the art centre originally known as Kala Sangam was established. A second montage of archival images of the building and a voice talking about its history opening in 1881...

A promotional film produced by Pishdaad Modaressi Chahardehi for the new Bradford Arts Centre looking back on the three years it has taken to transform the centre into an inclusive and accessible arts venue in the city. Title: August 2023 Over a series of aerial views of Bradford Arts Centre several voices talk about why the art centre originally known as Kala Sangam was established. A second montage of archival images of the building and a voice talking about its history opening in 1881 as the General Post Office for Bradford. As a man makes his way to the reception desk inside the centre, Alex Croft the CEO for the Bradford Arts Centre talks in voiceover about how the building was a centre for South Asian migrant communities and a place where people could communicate back home their cultural stories. As he speaks a historical plan of the building. As Alex Croft makes his way into the centre’s theatre space, he passes a group of performs rehearsing. Over a montage of various performers on stage and enthralled audiences watching on, Alex talks about how the centre is a first step for artists beginning careers or performing more experimental works in a safe space. Over of second montage of various artists performing at the centre as well as staff passing though a series of doors, Alex provides details on the different types of artists and community groups that use the centre as well as details of the facilities they can provide and the realisation that they were soon going to be running out of space. Over a montage around the arts centre a woman explains how it is an old building with a few issues. As Alex Croft talks about accessible issues with the building, he takes a group wearing high-viz jackets and hardhats on a tour of the building, including the roof. He then talks about 2017 ambitious plans to redevelop the whole building to become a more inclusive and accessible space to create a major arts centre he believes Bradford deserves. With the building now covered in scaffolding and cladding Alex takes groups of artists on a tour of various rooms showing them the work that is being done. In voiceover he talks about how the work will be transformative and how the new building will work for visitors. As hr walks around the art centre speaking with contractors, he provides details of what is being created including not just one studio theatre space available for arts and cultural activity every day but five with an additional three spaces being created for flexible activities. Over a montage of the spaces under construction Alex talks about creating a new two-hundred seated theatre space on the ground floor with state-of-the-art sound and lighting rigs as well as a new home for BCB Radio described as a vital community centred organisation. As Alex talks about the building have two new lifts making it for the first time ever fully accessible, founder member Dr Geetha Upadhyaya walks past outside looking up at the cladded building before standing beside Alex inside telling him he’s done a good job. Over another montage of workers finalising construction Alex, talks in voiceover about wanting to see the building alive with creativity and to feel the buzz of the activities taking place there. Title: 2 Year Later Through a large glass window inside the now finished Bradford Arts Centre the belltower of nearby Bradford Cathedral. Following a montage of some of the rooms and spaces in the completed and renovated centre Alex Croft walking into the new theatre space and begins to talk about what he has learned in the past two years and how all the hard work was worth it. Over a montage of opening day with invited guest arriving and chatting over drinks, Alex talks about how the centre had thousands of visitors in its opening week and that it was full and lively and had the spirit of Bradford and its communities. Over a montage of various cultural activities taking place at the centre featuring children and young people filmed on mobile phones, Alex explains this is why he considers the centre a vital community space with a state-of-the-art theatre. As guests make their way into the new theatre another montage of various performances taking place around the centre with Alex talking about the building having a new purpose which will drive it for the next hundred and fifty years and be relevant to the communities its sits within. Over another montage if various types of artists, dancers and musicians performing at the centre, positive comments about the centres potential and future are provided by Julie Hallas from Bradford Council, Rashmi Sudhir Trustee for the Bradford Art Centre and Jaivant Patel from Jaivant Patel Company. Over a final montage of aerial views of the centre a woman’s voice talks about seeing the centres transformation and growth being very rewarding. Title: Bradford Arts Centre Lottery Funded Arts Council. Supported using public funds by Arts Council England. City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council Funded by UK Government. Lottery Funded Arts Council. Supported using public funds by Arts Council England. Made possible by Heritage Funds. City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. Garfield Weston Foundation. Foyle Foundation Featuring Dr Sripati Upadhyaya (Founder), Shagufta Bibi (former Chair), Dr Geetha Upadhyaya OBE (Founder), Cashy C’s: The Musical, Intercultured Festival, Pick and Mix, Bradford South Asian Festival, Besharam [Shame-Less], Dhamaka Arts, Punjabi Routes Academy, BRAVE Festival, Mov, Ella Tighe, Toussaint to Move, Mobius Dance, Tech Styles International, Zahir Abbas Qawwal, Sensing Indian Classical Dance Credit: Video by Pishdaad Modaressi Chahardehi Additional Camera Work by Keyan and Kimia Modaressi Chahardehi End credit: Additional footage Jess Swift