Arts centre submits rebranding plans

Plans that will allow a South Asian arts centre to undergo a rebrand have been submitted.

Kala Sangam in Bradford is currently undergoing a major refurbishment and will be renamed Bradford Arts Centre on completion.

Based in St Peter's House, Bradford Council has already approved changes to the Grade II-listed building, including a 200-seat theatre, lobby, studio space, lift, and an area for radio station BCB.

The latest application is to replace the Kala Sangam signage on the building with Bradford Arts Centre branding.

Founded in 1993 and based in St Peter's House since 2008, Kala Sangam specialises in South Asian arts and culture.

Despite the change of name from Sanskrit to English, the organisation said work by South Asian artists would "remain at the core of our performance programme".

The listed building application says the current signage "has a poor relationship with the building".

St Peter's House was built in the 1880s as the city's General Post Office.

It adds: "The alternative signage proposed has greater consideration for the context of the heritage building and is practical for the functionality of the building moving forward."

Referring to the wider works to the building, the application says the changes "represent the revitalisation of the building to bring a refreshed relevance and increased engagement between the heritage asset and the public."

The rebranded Bradford Arts Centre is due to open in the summer so it can be used during Bradford's City of Culture year.

The arts centre is currently holding events at a space on Bank Street while the work to St Peter's House continues, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The work has received more than £5m funding from Government and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

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