A £7.5 million transformation of Bradford’s former General Post Office is entering its final stages, as the building prepares to relaunch this October as the Bradford Arts Centre.
Refurbishment of the five-storey, Grade II-listed St Peter’s House — home to the Kala Sangam Arts Centre since 2007 — began in January 2024. While originally set for a summer completion, minor delays have pushed the reopening back by a few weeks.
Once complete, the venue will feature a 170-seat theatre, five dance studios, and significantly improved accessibility, including two new lifts.
Built in the 1880s and once home to both a museum and Bradford’s central post office, the building is being reshaped into a cultural hub for the city. CEO Alex Croft called the project “transformational,” saying:
“Bradford deserves this building. It deserves this space.”
Despite delays, the centre’s performance programme remains intact. The name change — from Kala Sangam to Bradford Arts Centre — follows a year-long consultation with over 30 local arts groups.
Croft added:
“This entire project has been about opening up access. The new name makes it clear: this is Bradford’s arts centre — and it’s for everyone.”
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