About us

Wur Bradford (Wur means ‘we are’ or ‘our’  is an independent grassroots arts project which is about exploring how we can make our city and our world better through imagination and collective action.  Run by artists Jean McEwan, Chemaine Cooke and  Uzma Kazi,  Wur work with people to explore how creativity might be used to make empower us and connect us.
Our activities are led by the people who we work with, and have included a wide range of things from  workshops, events, projects, campaigns and discussions. We ran regular weekly sessions in a stall in Kirkgate Market for 2 and a half years from 2015 – 2017,  and we also work in  public spaces and venues throughout the city. We regularly work in partnership with and for other organisations Bradford and have done projects in collaboration with Bradford Council, Impressions Gallery, South Square Gallery, The Brick Box, University of Bradford, Bradford Civic Society, Purple Patch Arts to name but a few.

In 2017 we also ran a year long action research project ‘Power Up Creative Resistance’, exploring creative responses to social and political shifts, in collaboration with University of Bradford’s Peace Studies ‘Thinkspace’ groups, funded by Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

In 2018 we ran a project in Oastler Market called WE ARE HERE, which was celebrating it’s unique history, communities and stories,  working with market traders, members of the public and BCB community radio to tell the stories of the Market and its people through guided walks, printed ‘zines and sound. We shared this work at an exhibition at arts space Kala Sangam after the project.

To get an idea of some of the things we have done ( everything from creative  workshops to bannermaking to art parties to zine-making , self publishing fairs and guided walks) watch the slideshow below, and you can also watch a short video about Wur Bradford, made in late 2015 here at our space in Kirkgate Market.

We are currently looking at how how we can put our respond best to the challenging times we are living in. A new website is coming soon, which we will be updating soon with our plans. In the meantime, take care of yourselves and each other, and stay safe.

With love

Jean, Uzma and Chemaine, July 2020

Wur Bradford on facebook

Wur Bradford on twitter

Wur Bradford on instagram

 

 

Bridges Not Walls Bradford banner drop, Friday 20th January

A group of us ( Migrants Organise, Racial Justice Network, Wur Bradford and others) collectively organised a Bridges Not Walls banner drop action in Bradford this Friday 20th January, the day of Trump’s inauguration

Friday 20th January
8.30 – 10am
Pavillion Cafe, City Park, Bradford

On the 20th of January 2017, at approximately 5pm UK time Donald Trump will be sworn in as the new and 45th president of the United States. Those who have heard him know he is a racist, misogynist and against Muslims. He has spread fear, hatred and division amongst communities.
On this day we will be taking to bridges across the country to defy the rise of fascism across the world. In Bradford, we will be dropping a banner on top of the pavilion cafe at City Park at 8.30-10am and are inviting people to join us to give a simple, hopeful and unmistaken message to defy the rise of fascism across the world and to affirm that we prefer bridges across our communities not walls.
Bridges not walls call out http://bridgesnotwalls.uk/ is a chance for everyone everywhere to say in their own your words and as part of a bigger collective about need for peaceful and just world rid of oppression and hatred.
Because some media and politicians are creating a new normal where extreme views are tolerated, we must actively defend the rights of our most vulnerable brothers, sisters and communities. The situation is not going to fix itself and the government isn’t either so it is down to each one of us to take action and stand in solidarity with those whose message is of unity, building connections and looking out for each other.
Please see Wur Bradford Facebook page for more information on banner making session on Thursday 19th January 2-4pm –  https://www.facebook.com/events/234017930341188/  – join us in making a collective banner or  feel free to bring your own banners and posters on the day with your own messages of solidarity.  ALL ARE WELCOME!

#BridgesNotWalls
#LoveTrumpsHate

Facebook event page for the action: https://www.facebook.com/events/789488467857122/

The action has been organised collectively by Migrants Organise, Racial Justice Network, Wur Bradford and others.

‘Bridges Not Walls’ Bradford action: planning meeting and banner making sessions

Bradford is joining the Bridges Not Walls national day of action on 20th January the day Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States of America. http://bridgesnotwalls.uk/
That day, together, people across the UK will drop banners from bridges across the country to send a simple, hopeful and unmistakable message:
” We will build bridges, not walls, to a peaceful and just world, rid of oppression and hatred”
Wur Bradford along  with Racial Justice Network  and other friends are joining to do a Bradford Bridges Not Walls action. We’ll make a banner and drop it from a bridge in Bradford (bridge tbc) on the morning of 20th January.

We invite you to join us to help make this happen! Here’s how you can get involved

1. Come to an informal alanning meeting, Thursday 12th January 2-3pm at Wur Bradford- a chance to chat and plan how we organise the action – all are welcome, no special skills required just your enthusiasm! (this will be a first for many of us but we will do it and learn together)
2. Banner making sessions at Wur Bradford on Saturday 14th January 2-4pm, and Thursday 19th January 2-4pm – join us in creating a banner to drop from a Bradford bridge on the 20th January. No specialist skills needed! You can also make your own posters and signs to hold up on the day
3. Come along to the banner drop on the morning of the 20th January – more details coming soon
4. Help spread the word via social media – follow our Wur Bradford facebook page for updates

 

Wur Bradford art space is situated in a stall in Kirkgate Market, above the shopping centre. You can find us at the back of the market -nearest the Westgate entrance, we are opposite Home From Home cafe

Appeal for Christmas gifts for Bradford asylum seeker and refugee children

We are collecting Christmas gifts for Bradford Refugee Action Children and Families Project who are hoping to give away Christmas presents to 250 local asylum seeking and refugee children this Christmas. Bring us a gift for a child  from 0-15 years old and we will pass it on to Bradford Refugee Action Children and Families Project to distribute to families. Games, lego, play-doh, crafty type things, footballs are all good types of gifts  – small and inexpensive is good! But no toy guns or violent games please.

 

Here’s more about Bradford Refugee Action Children and Families Project  and  their appeal

“All of our families live in Bradford and are and all are asylum seekers or refugees. Refugee and asylum seekers are some of the most vulnerable and isolated people in our society.  Particularly, as people are in the process of waiting for their asylum claim to be determined (which may take between 3 months to many years), they are not allowed to work, are often suffering trauma and under additional considerable stress and have financial restrictions severely limiting what they are able to do.  Many arrive with very little clothing, and no toys for the children to play with.
 Over the last 18 months we have seen a significant increase in newly arrived asylum seekers coming to Bradford. In this last quarter we have worked with 129 families all living in Bradford. For many of these children this will be their first Christmas in England and most of them will be away from extended family or friendship networks.  We will deliver the presents to the families as well as hold a Christmas/Holiday party to celebrate and share this season with the children to help to create some lasting happy memories for them. “

To contribute, drop a gift off to our stall in Kirkgate Market – we are open every Tuesday 12-2pm and Thursday 12-3pm. We are also open Saturday 3rd December between 12-4pm. You can find us opposite Home From Home Cafe, near the Westgate entrance to the market. We will wrap it for you and deliver to Bradford Refugee Action Children and Families Project  in time for Christmas.

 

 

Let’s Talk About.. Street Harassment

Let’s talk about street harassment: A conversation and creative ideas session

Wur Bradford
Kirkgate Market
1-3pm
Thursday 20th October

Some of us are very concerned about street harassment we have been witnessing  in our streets and other public spaces in Bradford. This is a problem which needs to be addressed and we all have a part to play. We want to see an end to this, and we want to explore what we can do to take action –  to educate, raise awareness and change attitudes so that street harassment becomes unacceptable in our city.

What is street harassment?

“Gender-based street harassment is unwanted comments, gestures, and actions forced on a stranger in a public place without their consent and is directed at them because of their actual or perceived sex, gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation.”
Street harassment is a human rights issue because it limits harassed persons’ ability to be in public, especially women’s. Read the United Nations’ stance on the issue.
(From Stop Street Harassment website http://www.stopstreetharassment.org/about/what-is-street-harassment/

This is a informal session to explore and share conversation and creative ideas about how we can tackle street harassment. Everyone is welcome!
We’ll capture the conversation and ideas through the making of a collective zine (a DIY magazine)  and we’ll sharing the knowledge we’ve gained and the distribute the zine at  Bradford Women of the World Festival 4-6th November, at which there will be a panel discussion about street harassment.

We’ll hear from women who have led and worked on campaigns in Bradford to combat street harassment  including Samayya Afzal    previous Women’s and Campaigns Officer at University of Bradford Union of Students, and others who have worked with interfaith groups. We’ll also hear from men who are actively trying to combat the issue and about what they want to do to raise awareness among other men.

We also welcome any other contributions – so if you have a perspective, experience, viewpoint or have information, resources or campaigns you think we should know about we would love to hear from you! Come along to the session, or you can also get in touch with us at wurbradford@gmail.com