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

 

 

Fears In The Fight: using the arts to share and survive

A workshop with Wur friend and regular contributor, artist and activist Josie Tothill

Thursday 7th July

1-3pm

Free, all welcome!

“Things are dark and I often don’t feel well. Using art to communicate things that are difficult to say is a way of seeking solidarity in our city.
We will be doing collaborative collage making responding to the question

What are your doubts in struggles for progress?

Then responding as a group to answers that come up. And maybe by the end of it we’ll have ourselves a pretty decent zine and a new perspective.
Hope to see you there :)”

Zines about community and welcome

We’ve been busy over the last couple of weeks making collective zines together.Here are some images of our ‘Welcome’ zine which we put together for the Bradford Refugee Festival exhibition which happened this week in a popup shop in John Street.

The zine explored different ideas, thoughts, and experiences on the theme of ‘Welcome’ from members and friends of Wur, expressed in writing, drawings and collage. We are distributing around Bradford as we feel that being welcoming is something that is really important right now. Let us know if you would like a copy, or better still visit us at the stall to get one – we are open every Thursday 12-3pm.

This week we worked on a zine on the theme of ‘Community’ which is being specially made for the Printing Communities event at South Square on Friday 1st July

On the very heightened day of the EU referendum when feelings were running strong and people were feeling anxious, worried, upset, angry –   it felt really good to come together and make pages together about our various experiences of our different communities – and to remind ourselves, in the words of the late Jo Cox  MP who was tragically murdered last week, that
“We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than the things that divide us”

If you would like to contribute to our ‘Community’ zine, there’s still time! You don’t have to be from or based in Bradford. We welcome words, images or a combination of both- responding to any aspect, ideas or experiences of ‘Community’. Contributions could take the form of fiction, poetry, personal experiences or stories, drawing, photography, comic or collage. Contributions can be a few lines, or a few pages. You can contribute anonymously if you like.
The zine will be A5 portrait format (|14.8cm by 21cm) , and will be photocopied in black and white. If you are sending image files please send them in black and white. You can send your contribution either as a text document if you are sending words or as a jpeg if you want to send us an image or a page.

You can either email your contribution to wurbradford@gmail.com or post to 63 Nelson Street, Cross Roads, Keighley BD22 9EA to reach us by Wednesday 29th June.

All contributors will receive a free copy of the zine.

 

 

June events at Wur Bradford

Here’s a list of our June events which has everything from  workshops in creative writing and collective  zinemaking to a day of ‘Rubbish Ideas’ exploring how we can imagine a zero-waste Bradford. These events are all part of our  ‘Season of Change‘ – looking at the changes we want to make in ourselves, our communities, our city and the wider world. Come along and get involved! All of our events are free and open to all

You can find the Wur Bradford stall at the back of Kirkgate Market (above the shopping centre) opposite Home From Home cafe)

Saturday 4th June
Wur  Bradford at Bradford Refugee Festival, University of Bradford
10-3pm

This is a free festival with food, poetry, music, workshops, football tournaments and plenty of stalls to keep the whole family entertained!

Happening at

University of Bradford Union, Student Central, 
Longside Lane
, BD7 1SA

Wur Bradford will be running a drop in creative workshop showing people how to make ‘instant books’  (sometimes also called ‘zines’ – handmade, self published magazines) with collage, drawing and words.

 
Thursday 9th June
12-3pm
Exploring ideas of  WELCOME and EXCHANGE, and RAMADAN

‘Welcome Spell’ from ‘The Bradford Book of Modern Spells’ by friend of Wur, Mike Barrett

We will be making artwork and a collective ‘zine (hand-made magazine) on the theme of ‘Welcome’ for Bradford Refugee Week exhibition which will be taking place at 5 John Street, Bradford (outside Oastler Market) 20th – 25th June. Come join us and get involved!
We will also be looking at the idea of ‘Exchange’  and how we can share support, knowledge, skills and resources –  and asking:
What do you need?
What can you offer?

In the first week of this special month of Ramadan, our regular volunteer Mohammed will also be sharing personal experiences and reflections of fasting and faith.

 

 

Saturday 11th June
“Rubbish Ideas”: looking at waste and how we can remake and reuse things
1pm – 3pm

Join us at for a fun, creative session of sharing and workshopping ideas on how to find new uses for “rubbish” and change the way we value resources.
Activities will include a look at the inspirational Precious Plastic project; mapping Bradford districts’ existing circular economies and developing our own ideas.
‘Rubbish Ideas’ is part of the very first Bradford Open Source Circular Economy day – to  more about this international  movement and events happening elsewhere, at https://oscedays.org/
Before the session there will be a “Don’t Skip Breakfast” meet up at ‘Pay As You Feel’ cafe Saltaire Canteen, from 9 – 10.30am – where OSCE Days Bradford are hosting a drop in breakfast (PAYF) for anyone who wants to find out more and develop our own Bradford district based Open Sourced Circular Economy solutions.There will be talk and toast about all things circular and open sourced! The Canteen is one of the growing number of Real Junk Food cafes dedicated to ending food waste and poverty and is such is brilliant of example of how thinking differently. By combining a Pay As You Feel model with using good food that would otherwise be dumped, Real Junk Food Cafes are demonstrating that different values can operate successfully on the high street and solve problems.

 
Thursday  16th and 23rd June
12-3pm
Exploring ideas of COMMUNITY

Join us in making a collective ‘zine on the theme of ‘Community’ which will be part of  a Wur Bradford  zine stall at the ‘Printing Communities‘ event and exhibition at South Square Gallery  – event on Friday 1st July. (5-8pm, all welcome – posters,zines,  printmaking, workshops and pizza!)

 
Saturday 25th June
Tales of Transformation writing workshop with Bradford writer Elizabeth Hopkinson
1pm – 2.30pm

Join Elizabeth to hear the traditional Breton tale of Bisclavret, a medieval knight with a strange secret – he’s a werewolf!  Then have a go at writing your own tale of transformation, using Bisclavret’s story to help you.  We’ll be thinking about guilty secrets, unpunished crimes, and the changes we all go through in life.This workshop is suitable for all abilities, from beginners to experienced writers.
NB The workshop is free but places must booked in advance – email wurbradford@gmail.com to book your place

Elizabeth Hopkinson is a local writer of over 50 published short stories, many of which are inspired by traditional tales.  She is currently working on a novel series set in a fantasy version of 18th-century Italy

Wur Bradford is a collective,  inclusive arts and social space open to the public and to anyone who wants to connect, explore and imagine how we can make Bradford a better place. Wur Bradford is supported by Bradford Council, Bradford Markets and Two28.

 

Welcome back: Season of Change, starting Thursday 7th April

After a short break,  we are delighted to be back in our stall in Kirkgate Market this week to begin a new Season of Change – events, activities and workshops exploring the changes we want to see locally and globally and and how we can work together creatively to try to make these happen.

We have a few things planned, which include our Bradford Slideshow event on Saturday 9th April  looking at images of Bradford past and present( and thinking about what the future could be).

We will also  be running some  more food growing and foraging based activities with our friends The Plot and Grow Bradford, who we worked with in January, to develop our community map of places in Bradford for abundant wild food and recipes.

We are also plotting the start up of a regular  Wur Bradford zine which will be a collective self-published pamphlet featuring a mix of writing and images, interviews, reviews and recipes by Bradford people. We are lucky enough to have a photocopier in the space thanks our friends at HowDo? so it will be made and copied in-house.

As always, what we do is responsive to what people bring to Wur Bradford space, and we  are always keen support new ideas and activities – so if you have an idea for an event, a workshop, a discussion,  a campaign, or a project you would like to try out, or to see happen in the stall,  that relates to the theme of change in some way, then we would love to hear from you.

Come along this Thursday 7th April  any time between  12 and 3pm to have a chat to see what we are about and/or get involved, and a have free coffee on us from our lovely friends at Home From Home cafe who are at the stall opposite us.

On Thursday from 1-2pm we will also be hosting a discussion and game with local activist Lily McTaggart on the theme of Trident and it’s planned renewal

“What would YOU spend £100 billion of public money on? Come along and discuss the options, how and why you would make the decision in light of the upcoming question of Trident renewal.”

We look forward to seeing you then!

If you want to get involved by can’t make it down, you can email us at Wurbradford@gmail.com.

Best wishes

All at Wur Bradford

Wur Bradford is an art and social space based in Bradford’s Kirkgate Market, supported by Two28, Bradford Council and Bradford Markets. 

 

 

 

 

Women Make Zines workshops: Tell Your Story

 

Women Make Zines: Tell Your Story!

4 week course at Wur Bradford in Kirkgate Market opposite the Home from Home Cafe. 

Saturday 6, 13, 20 & 27 February, course fee £25/£20 conc.

 

Come and play in a safe exciting space, working towards making your own zine for the International Women’s Day celebration on 5^th March.

Join us each Saturday for 4 weeks in February, to learn the craft, history, nuts and bolts of of self published zines. Week by week you’ll gain confidence to create your own short run publication. We’ll be covering everything from content, layout and editing to bindings, different formats backgrounds and collage. We’ll also be having a special field trip to The Print Project on Shipley to see the letterpress in action.  Your zine will be exhibited for sale at the specially curated Loosely Bound  stall at Leeds Museum at the International Women’s Day celebration on 5^th March.

Open to everyone who self defines as female. Email wurbradford@gmail.com for more details, to ask questions and book.

Further information and Frequently Asked Questions:
Venue: Wur Bradford, Kirkgate Market, opposite Home from Home Cafe
Each Saturday: 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th February 11am-1pm, 2 hours per week plus a bit of homework time.

You’ll make a short run hand-made zine to exhibit and/or sell at International Women’s Day event 5th March at Leeds Museum.
Pre course homework: do a bit of online research, which zines best tickle your fancy and why? What sort of zine would you like to make? What do you want to tell the world? Make a few notes and bring them with you. If you have problems accessing the internet let us know and we can find other ways to get some info to you.
For a start try looking at: wemakezines.ning.com fanzine.tumblr.com leedszinefair.footprinters.co.uk sheffieldzinefest.wordpress.com zinenation.org

Week 1 – What are Zines? Why you should make one!
Different types of zine: perzine (splurge your soul), fanzine (what are you a fan of? Music/films/cake?), Accidental (woops I kinda tripped up over my own creativity, photocopied it and stapled it together). Compiling and photocopy skills. We’ll all make an A5 page on anything, any subject and we’ll put together a collaborative zine by the end of the session. Once it’s in order it’s all hands on deck to double-side copy, compile and staple that sucker.

Homework: make a basic plan for yer zine. Are you going to make your own or collaborate? How many pages? What will you put in it? Use the blank pages at the back of the zine we’ve just made to make a plan and bring it along to next week’s session.

Week 2 – The physical object. Different sizes, formats and bindings: A4, A5, A6, single folded sheets, random sizing. Bindings: saddle stitch, stab binding, coptic binding. We’ll cover them all, this will be a hands-on speedy session of making! We’ll also go over editing and compiling.

Homework: Start your zine! Chat to your new zine buddies to help if you get stuck!

Week 3 – Field trip. This week we’ll meet at the Print Project at Q20 studios in Shipley to take a look at the letterpress and witness original printing in action. More info here: theprintproject.co.uk.  We’ll then head back to Wur to have a go at collaging, making backgrounds and page layout. Note: This week will be a longer session and include getting to Shipley then back to Wur. If a longer session is going to cause problems don’t worry just chat to us!

Homework: Finish your zine! Bring your completed master(piece) along to the next session to be photocopied. Even if it’s not completed, bring it along anyway!

Week 4 – An hour of using text, cutting out, putting pictures together, printing, making backgrounds, layout, And why thinking long and hard about it is a really bad idea. Then we’ll be photocopying and compiling our zines ready for the 5th March.

Homework: Come along and have a laugh with us at the IWD event at Leeds Museum, 5th March

FAQ’S
Where is Wur Bradford?
Wur Bradford  is in the Kirkgate Market in Bradford City Centre. The easiest way to find it is to go into the market along the ramp above the Kirkgate Centre ‘Poundshop’ entrance. When you’re in the market turn right and we’re two stalls along, opposite the Home From Home cafe.

Is Wur accessible?
Kirkgate Market is accessible although the doors can be a bit tricky as they’re not automatic. If you think you may have problems with doors come into Kirkgate Market via the Kirkgate Centre on Darley Street, take the lift to the first floor then we’re straight through the market, look for the row of cafés. There is a small step to get into the Wur stall, which is open on two sides. We have a ramp which is wide enough for wheelchairs. If you have access needs please let us know and we’ll work together to make sure we can accommodate you as best we can.

Where is The Print Project?
At Q20 Creative Arts Hub, Dockfield Road, Shipley, BD17 7AD, about 10 minute walk from Shipley train station/Shipley town centre. There is on street parking on Dockfield Road.

I can’t make all the sessions, can I just do one or two?
Of course! Individual sessions are £7/£5 each. Have a look at the session outlines and see which ones are the most suitable for you.
I want to do the workshops, but I don’t want to write a whole zine, that sounds like school.
The brilliant thing about zines is you can do anything you want, no judgement, no spell check and the grammar nazis can’t see. There are infinite subjects, styles, page numbers and sizes, your final zine can be as large or small as you like. Zines can be anything: a celebration of brilliant people, a diary, a collection of favourite sayings, doodles you did on the bus, it’s totally up to you.

Can I bring my small person along with me?
Of course! Maybe you could make a collaborative zine?
What materials/techniques/software will we be using?
Mainly lots of different types of paper, scissors, craft knives, glue, felt tips, rubber stamps, tape, staplers, needle and thread. Collaging, book binding, stapling, drawing and photocopying (black and white only, although we do like using coloured paper and colouring zines in with highlighters). Hopefully we’ll have everything on hand, but if you want to include anything specialist chat with us. No computers….no no no.

If you’re selling our zines who gets the money?
You do.

Will there be biscuits?
There had better be biscuits…

I’ve got a question that isn’t frequently asked.
Drop us an email wurbradford@gmail.com, tweet @wurbradford, or post a question on the facebook event page and we’ll get back to you asap.

WMZ outlines-2

North By Northwest Zine

This is what happens when you veer from the point of a workshop and get into a silly conversation with people you don’t know that well… You make zines! We got chatting today at Uzma’s diary making workshop (no one actually made a diary) about North By Northwest (the Hitchcock film). Neither Dan, Andy or me had seen it, but resolved to make a zine about the film anyway.

If anyone hasn’t seen the film, but would like to contribute there is plenty of space. Currently there’s a review, illustrated Fall lyrics and an open conversation about what might be North by North West of Bradford. Please email scanned zine pages to wurbradford@gmail.com

Issue two is planned to be written when we get round to seeing what is reputedly a really good movie.

nbnw zine

Wur Bradford mini self publishing fair

Some photos from our Bradford Mini Self – Publishing Fair we hosted in the stall last month. It was a wonderful, convivial day with self-publishers from across Yorkshire and Lancashire coming to share their work via talks, readings, performances and discussions. We also had a fantastic array of self published books, pamphlets, comics zines and music to show and buy.

A heartfelt thanks to all who generously came to contribute  – it truly felt like a day of  sharing.

Contributing artists: Bruce Barnes  Stephen Pass   Penthouse Pressgang
Loosely Bound   Bradical zine Longbarrow Press  Gordian Projects   SW Zines   Louise Crosby  Bomb Shop  Sound Shack Records  Becky Kidner
Gadwhip  Synchronise Witches  SW Zines

A special thanks to lovely artist Emma Bolland from Gordian Projects   who took these great photos

 

Wur Bradford is an art and social space situated in Bradford’s Kirkgate Market and is supported by Bradford Council and Bradford Markets.

 

Upcoming creative workshops

We are delighted to announce a programme of creative workshops at Wur Bradford
for the coming months, supported by Bradford Council and Bradford Markets

All events are free, and suitable for all ages and abilities, so come down and get involved!

You can find us at
Wur Bradford art stall
opposite Home From Home cafe, near the Westgate entrance
Kirkgate Market
(above the shopping centre)
Kirkgate Market website here

Thursday 19th November
Postcards from Bradford 12-3pm
Create your own unique postcard using drawing, collage, photography or mixed media with your own message from or about Bradford

Saturday 21st November
Why DIY? Bradford mini self-publishing fair 12-3pm
Come along to our fun, inclusive event, to find out why people publish their own books, pamphlets, ‘zines (handmade magazines) , comics, music, find out how to do it yourself, and and get involved in a collaborative zine in a day!

Thursday 26th November
Make a concertina book 12-3pm
Learn how to make a simple book in a concertina format, with your own story, memories or messages, using collage, drawing, and printing techniques.

Saturday 28th November
A Birthday Party for Blake 12-3pm
An event celebrating the 258th birthday of Britain’s best loved art-poet-visionary-revolutionary William Blake, author of Jerusalem, and Dongs of Inoncence and Experience – with performances, readings ,creative activities, mini exhibition, a commemorative publication and ‘Dark Satanic Mills’ cake

Thursday 3rd December
Winter exchanges 12-3pm
Come along to a creative day about exchanges, exploring what giving and generosity means through sharing stories and creative activities

Saturday 5th December
Playing with spaces 9.30 – 12.30
Life is a stage.. come along to a creative session to make make sets and model boxes to find out how the spaces around us affect us.

Thursday 10th December:
Bradford midwinter ‘zine 12-3pm
Come and share your seasonal recipes, stories and memories for a special hand-made, self-published magazine celebrating the festive period. Everyone who contributes will receive a free copy!

Saturday 12th December
Digital photography 12-3pm
Bring your camera along and take part in activities aimed at helping you to think differently about your photography. Aimed at folk who never move off auto!

Thursday 17th December
Square Chapatti Club 12-2pm
Come along to share stories of personal change through creativity and dialogue in a friendly environment

Saturday 19th December
Bookbinding workshop 12-3pm
Learn how to make your own book with simple, easy to learn binding techniques.
Perfect for a Christmas gift

Thursday 7th January
Creative diary making session 12-3pm
With the new year upon us , come along and make a special personal development diary exploring new beginnings, goals, actions, hopes, fears for 2016

Thursday 14th January
Pinhole camera workshop 12-3pm
Learn how to make a pinhole camera with an everyday object and take and develop your own photograph in our temporary darkroom created especially for the event

Saturday 16th January
Secret messages and cryptography 12-3pm
Come along to write in invisible ink, make up codeword language, find out about simple encryption and decryption, make paper cup telephones, in a creative session exploring surveillance and spying.

If you have any questions , you can contact us at wurbradford@gmail.com

Why DIY it? Bradford mini self-publishing fair

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DO IT YOURSELF CREATIVITY!

Saturday 21st November
12-4pm

Wur Bradford stall
Kirkgate Market (opposite Home From Home cafe)Kirkgate, Bradford BD1 1QX

What is DIY publishing?
DIY, or self-publishing is the publication of a book, magazine, pamphlet or any other media by its author, without the involvement of a publisher.The author is responsible for and in control of the entire process from beginning to end, including the content, design and distribution.

How and why people do it themselves?
Come along to our fun, inclusive event,  celebrating ‘Do It Yourself’ publishing , with self- published books, pamphlets, ‘zines, comics, and music from Bradford and across Yorkshire to browse and buy, and an eclectic programme of discussions, performances,  and readings.
Come along to find out how and why people self-publish and get advice on how you can do it yourself, and to contribute to a collaborative DIY ‘zine ( a handmade magazine) in a day.

We will be featuring self-published books, pamphlets, comics, music and zines from the following:

Penthouse Pressgang
Loosely Bound 

Bradical zine
Longbarrow Press
Gordian Projects

SW Zines
Louise Crosby
Bomb Shop
Jean McEwan
Sound Shack Records
Black Dogs
Penny Andrews
Becky Kidner
The Common Swings
Calder Valley Scribblers
Gadwhip

Synchronise Witches

Bruce Barnes

Stephen Pass

 

Programme for the day
12- 12.30pm:

Bradford poet Bruce Barnes will read from some of his work

12.30 – 12.50

Beehive Poets member Stephen Pass will talk about how he   self-published his childrens’ book ‘Madge and the Mermaid’

 

1 – 1.30pm 

Bradical zine: a  chance to meet the creators and   contributors   behind ‘Bradical’ and discuss the themes of the zine

 

2pm:  Performance from Manchester based artist  Rosanne Robertson :

Too Much (with fibers) 2015 (20 minutes)

A live work using threads, fibers, wires, hair, tape loops and  voice. This live work is part of a project on the contemporary  condition of anxiety by artist Rosanne Robertson exploring  assemblage, performance sculpture and sound. This   performance with live action and sound making demonstrates  personal anxieties, small hidden fears and relationships with social fears related to expression of gender, sexuality and the body also presented in the self published booklet TOO MUCH  and original concertina hand stitched book. Both the original   book and limited edition booklet are available for sale via The  Penthouse self publishing project Press Gang–  and guests at Wur  Bradford mini self publishing fair.

 

2.20pm

Performance from  Debbie Sharp. Debbie sharp is a artist based in the north west of England
and part of The Penthouse Pressgang.

Constant Sleepless Nights

“Ive suffered from panic attacks at night since I was a child
A fear of someone breaking in
Being murdered in my sleep
I grew up in Bradford in the 70s when the Yorkshire ripper was about.
At that time there was a constant fear over the city.”

 

2.40pm  

Talk from Brian Lewis from Sheffield’s  Longbarrow Press

3pm

Reading from Gordian Projects   artist and writer  Emma Bolland

FREE, ALL WELCOME

Wur Bradford is an art & social space based in a stall in Bradford’s Kirkgate Market to explore how we can make our city better through imagination and creative action. More about the project here

This event is part of a series of winter creative workshops at Wur Bradford, supported by Bradford Council and Bradford Markets. The event is co-ordinated by Wur Bradford in collaboration with Bradford zine collective Loosely Bound

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/936031153170716/

FREE
ALL WELCOME

Wur Bradford is supported by Bradford Council and Bradford Markets.