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

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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.