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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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